The Lost Symbol Chapter 86-89

CHAPTER 86In the cerulean glow of his basement softlys, Malakh stood at the stone table and go along his preparations. As he worked, his empty stomach growled. He salaried no heed. His days of servitude to the whims of his flesh were behind him.Transformation requires sacrifice.Like worldy of historys close to spiritually evolved men, Malakh had committed to his path by making the noblest of flesh sacrifices. castration had been slight painful than he had imagined. And, he had learned, further more(prenominal) common. every year, thousands of men underwent surgical geldingorchiectomy, as the process was dealntheir motivations ranging from transgender issues, to moderate sexual addictions, to deep-seated spiritual beliefs. For Malakh, the terra firmas were of the highest character. Like the mythological self-castrated Attis, Malakh knew that achieving imsomebodyity required a clean break with the material bea of male and female.The androgyne is one.Nowadays, eunuchs were shunned, although the ancients still the inherent power of this transmutational sacrifice. Even the early Christians had perceive Jesus Himself animate its virtues in Matthew 1912 in that respect be those who nominate do themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to bring this, let him accept it. instrument Solomon had make a flesh sacrifice, although a single arrive at was a small price in the grand scheme. By darks end, however, Solomon would be sacrificing overmuch, much more.In order to create, I moldiness destroy.Such was the nature of polarity. spear Solomon, of course, deserved the fate that awaited him tonight. It would be a trying on end. Long agone, he had played the pivotal role in Malakhs mortal life path. For this reason, Peter had been chosen to play the pivotal role in Malakhs with child(p) translateation. This man had earned all the horror and pain he was ab come to the fore to endure. Peter Solomon was not the man the wo rld conceptualized he was.He sacrificed his own son.Peter Solomon had once presented his son, Zachary, with an impossible choicewealth or wisdom. Zachary chose poorly. The boys decision had begun a chain of events that eventually dragged the offspring man into the depths of hell. Soganlik Prison. Zachary Solomon had died in that Turkish prison. The whole world knew the story . . . yet what they didnt know was that Peter Solomon could restrain saved his son.I was there, Malakh thought. I heard it all.Malakh had never bury that night. Solomons brutal decision had meant the end of his son, Zach, tho it had been the birth of Malakh.Some must die that others may live. As the light over Malakhs head began changing color again, he realize the hour was late. He completed his preparations and headed screen up the ramp. It was time to attend to matters of the mortal world.CHAPTER 87All is revealed at the thirty-third degree, Katherine thought as she ran. I know how to transform the gain The answer had been right in front of them all night.Katherine and Langdon were alone now, chivalrous through the cathedrals annex, following signs for The Garth. Now, exactly as the dean had promised, they burst out of the cathedral into a massive, walled-in courtyard.The cathedral garth was a cloistered, pentagonal garden with a bronze postmodern fountain. Katherine was amazed how loudly the fountains flowing piss entrancemed to be reverberating in the courtyard. Then she realized it was not the fountain she was hearing. cleaver she shouted as a beam of light pierced the night sky above them. Get under that porticoThe dazzling glare of a searchlight flooded the garth average as Langdon and Katherine reached the other side, slipping down the stairs a Gothic arch into a tunnel that led to the outside lawn. They waited, flock in the tunnel, as the eggbeater passed overhead and began circling the cathedral in all-encompassing arcs.I guess Galloway was right about hearing visitors, Katherine said, impressed. Bad eye make for great ears. Her own ears now pounded rhythmically with her racing pulse.This way, Langdon said, clutching his daybag and locomote through the passage.Dean Galloway had given them a single key and a clear set of directions. Unfortunately, when they reached the end of the short tunnel, they embed themselves separated from their end by a wide-open expanse of lawn, currently flooded with light from the chopper overhead.We stopt get across, Katherine said.Hold on . . . look. Langdon pointed to a black tush that was materializing on the lawn to their left. The shadow began as an amorphous blob, further it was growing quickly, woful in their direction, be orgasm more defined, rushing at them profuseer and faster, stretching, and ultimately transforming itself into a massive black rectangle crowned by two impossibly tall spires.The cathedral facade is blocking the searchlight, Langdon said.Theyre landing out in frontLangdon gra bbed Katherines hand. Run NowInside the cathedral, Dean Galloway felt a lightness in his step that he had not felt in years. He moved through the Great Crossing, down the nave toward the narthex and the front doors.He could hear the helicopter hovering in front of the cathedral now, and he imagined its lights coming through the rose window in front of him, throwing spectacular modify all over the sanctuary. He recalled the days when he could see color. Ironically, the unlighted void that had become his world had illuminated many things for him. I see more clearly now than ever.Galloway had been called to God as a young man and over his lifetime had loved the church as much as any man could. Like many of his colleagues who had given their lives in earnest to God, Galloway was weary. He had spent his life straining to be heard above the din of ignorance.What did I expect?From the Crusades, to the Inquisition, to American politicsthe call in Jesus had been hijacked as an ally in all kinds of power struggles. Since the outset of time, the ignorant had always screamed the loudest, herding the unsuspecting masses and forcing them to do their bidding. They defended their worldly desires by citing Scripture they did not understand. They celebrated their intolerance as proof of their convictions. Now, aft(prenominal)(prenominal) all these years, mankind had finally managed to utterly erode everything that had once been so beautiful about Jesus.Tonight, encountering the symbol of the Rose Cross had fueled him with great hope, reminding him of the prophecies written in the Rosicrucian manifestos, which Galloway had read countless time in the away and could still recall.Chapter One Jehova will redeem humanity by unveil those secrets which he previously reserved only for the elect.Chapter Four The whole world shall become as one book and all the contradictions of science and theological system shall be reconciled.Chapter Seven Before the end of the world, God shal l create a great flood of spiritual light to alleviate the suffering of humankind.Chapter ogdoad Before this revelation is possible, the world must sleep away the drinking of her poisoned chalice, which was filled with the false life of the theological vine.Galloway knew the church had long ago disconnected her way, and he had dedicated his life to righting her course. Now, he realized, the moment was fast approaching.It is always darkest before the dawn.CIA field agent Turner Simkins was perched on the sashay of the Sikorsky helicopter as it touched down on the frosty grass. He leaped off, joined by his men, and immediately waved the chopper lynchpin up into the melodic line to keep an eye on all the exits.Nobody leaves this build.As the chopper rose concealment into the night sky, Simkins and his team ran up the stairs to the cathedrals main entrance. Before he could decide which of the six doors to pound on, one of them swung open.Yes? a calm voice said from the shadows .Simkins could barely make out the stooped figure in priests robes. Are you Dean Colin Galloway?I am, the old man replied.Im looking for Robert Langdon. Have you seen him?The old man stepped forward now, stare past(a) Simkins with eerie blank eyes. Now, wouldnt that be a miracle.CHAPTER 88Time is running game out.Security analyst Nola Kaye was already on edge, and the third mug of umber she was now drinking had begun coursing through her wish well an electric current.No word yet from Sato.Finally, her phone rang, and Nola leaped on it. OS, she answered. Nola here.Nola, its Rick Parrish in systems security.Nola slumped. No Sato. Hi, Rick. What can I do for you? I wanted to give you a heads-upour department may have information relevant to what youre work on tonight.Nola set down her coffee. How the hell do you know what Im operative on tonight? I beg your pardon?Sorry, its the new CI program were beta-testing, Parrish said. It keeps flagging your workstation number.Nola now rea lized what he was talking about. The dresser was currently running a new piece of collaborative integrating software designed to provide real-time alerts to disparate CIA departments when they happened to be touch related data fields. In an era of time-sensitive terrorist threats, the key to thwarting contingency was often as candid as a heads-up sexual intercourse you that the guy down the hall was analyzing the very data you take aimed. As far as Nola was concerned, this CI software had proven more of a animal magnetism than any real helpconstant interruption software, she called it.Right, I forgot, Nola said. What have you got? She was positive that nobody else in the building knew about this crisis, much less could be working on it. The only computer work Nola had make tonight was historical research for Sato on esoteric Masonic topics. Nonetheless, she was make to play the game.Well, its probably nothing, Parrish said, but we stopped a hacker tonight, and the CI progr am keeps suggesting I share the information with you.A hacker? Nola sipped her coffee. Im listening. close an hour ago, Parrish said, we snagged a guy named Zoubianis trying to access a blame on one of our internal databases. This guy claims it was a job for take away and that he has no idea why he was being paid to access this particular send or even that it was on a CIA server.Okay.We finished questioning him, and hes clean. alone heres the weird thingthe same file he was targeting had been flagged earlier tonight by an internal search engine. It looks worry someone piggybacked into our system, ran a specific keyword search, and generated a redaction. The thing is, the key course they apply are really strange. And theres one in particular that the CI flagged as a high-priority matchone thats unique to both of our data sets. He paused. Do you know the word . . . symbolon?Nola jolted upright, spilling coffee on her desk.The other keywords are just as unusual, Parrish continue d. Pyramid, portalGet down here, Nola commanded, mopping up her desk. And bring everything youve got These words actually mean something to you?NOWCHAPTER 89duomo College is an elegant, castlelike edifice located adjacent to the National Cathedral. The College of Preachers, as it was originally ideate by the first Episcopal bishop of Washington, was founded to provide on overtaking education for clergy after their ordination. Today, the college offers a wide variety of programs on theology, global justice, healing, and spirituality.Langdon and Katherine had made the bankrupt across the lawn and used Galloways key to slip inside just as the helicopter rose back over the cathedral, its floodlights turning night back into day. Now, standing breathless inside the foyer, they surveyed their surroundings. The windows provided sufficient illumination, and Langdon saw no reason to turn the lights on and take a chance of broadcasting their whereabouts to the helicopter overhead. As they mo ved down the central hallway, they passed a series of group discussion halls, class styles, and sitting areas. The interior reminded Langdon of the neo-Gothic buildings of Yale Universitybreathtaking on the outside, and yet surprisingly utile on the inside, their period elegance having been retrofitted to endure heavy foot traffic. have here, Katherine said, motioning toward the far end of the hall.Katherine had yet to share with Langdon her new revelation regarding the profit, but apparently the reference to Isaacus Neutonuus had sparked it. All she had said as they crossed the lawn was that the pyramid could be transformed using simple science. Everything she needed, she believed, could probably be found in this building. Langdon had no idea what she needed or how Katherine intended to transform a hard piece of granite or gold, but considering he had just witnessed a cube metamorphose into a Rosicrucian cross, he was willing to have faith.They reached the end of the hall and Ka therine frowned, apparently not seeing what she wanted. You said this building has dormitory facilities?Yes, for residential conferences.So they must have a kitchen in here somewhere, right? Youre hungry?She frowned back at him. No, I need a lab.Of course you do. Langdon s puketed a descending staircase that exercise a promising symbol. Americas favorite pictogram.The basement kitchen was industrial looking stacks of stainless mark and big bowlsclearly designed to prepare for large groups. The kitchen had no windows. Katherine closed the door and flipped on the lights. The exhaust fans came on automatically.She began rooting around in the cupboards for whatever it was she needed. Robert, she directed, put the pyramid out on the island, if you would.Feeling like the novice sous chef taking orders from Daniel Boulud, Langdon did as he was told, removing the pyramid from his bag and placing the gold capstone on top of it. When he finished, Katherine was busy filling an enormous pot with piquant tap piss.Would you gratify lift this to the stove for me?Langdon heaved the sloshing pot onto the stove as Katherine turned on the gas burner and cranked up the flame.Are we doing lobsters? he asked hopefully.Very funny. No, were doing alchemy. And for the record, this is a pasta pot, not a lobster pot. She pointed to the perforated strainer insert that she had removed from the pot and hardened on the island beside the pyramid.Silly me. And boiling pasta is going to help us decipher the pyramid?Katherine ignored the comment, her tone turning serious. As Im legitimate you know, there is a historical and symbolic reason the Masons chose 33 as their highest degree.Of course, Langdon said. In the days of Pythagoras, six centuries before Christ, the tradition of numerology hailed the number 33 as the highest of all the Master Numbers. It was the most sacred figure, symbolizing churchman Truth. The tradition lived on within the Masons . . . and elsewhere. It was no a ccompaniment that Christians were taught that Jesus was crucified at age thirty-three, despite no real historical evidence to that effect. Nor was it coincidence that Joseph was said to have been thirty-three when he married the Virgin Mary, or that Jesus accomplished thirty-three miracles, or that Gods name was mentioned thirty-three times in Genesis, or that, in Islam, all the dwellers of heaven were permanently thirty-three years old.Thirty-three, Katherine said, is a sacred number in many recondite traditions.Correct. Langdon still had no idea what this had to do with a pasta pot.So it should come as no surprise to you that an early alchemist, Rosicrucian, and mystic like Isaac due north also considered the number thirty-three special.Im sure he did, Langdon replied. northward was deep into numerology, prophecy, and astrology, but what doesAll is revealed at the thirty-third degree.Langdon pulled Peters ring from his sacking and read the inscription. Then he glanced back at t he pot of pee. Sorry, you lost me.Robert, earlier tonight, we all assumed thirty-third degree referred to the Masonic degree, and yet when we revolved that ring thirty-three degrees, the cube transformed and revealed a cross. At that moment, we realized the word degree was being used in another sense.Yes. Degrees of arc.Exactly. But degree has a third meaning as well.Langdon eyed the pot of water on the stove. Temperature.Exactly she said. It was right in front of us all night. All is revealed at the thirty-third degree. If we bring this pyramids temperature to thirty-three degrees . . . it may just reveal something.Langdon knew Katherine Solomon was exceptionally bright, and yet she seemed to be missing a rather obvious point. If Im not mistaken, thirty-three degrees is almost freezing. Shouldnt we be pose the pyramid in the freezer?Katherine smiled. Not if we want to follow the recipe written by the great alchemist and Rosicrucian mystic who signed his papers Jeova Sanctus Unus .Isaacus Neutonuus wrote recipes?Robert, temperature is the unfathomed alchemical catalyst, and it was not always measured in Fahrenheit and Celsius. There are far older temperature scales, one of them invented by IsaacThe Newton dental plate Langdon said, realizing she was right.Yes Isaac Newton invented an entire system of quantifying temperature based entirely on congenital phenomena. The temperature of melting ice was Newtons base point, and he called it the zeroth degree. She paused. I estimate you can guess what degree he assigned the temperature of boiling waterthe king of all alchemical processes?Thirty-three.Yes, thirty-three The thirty-third degree. On the Newton Scale, the temperature of boiling water is thirty-three degrees. I remember asking my associate once why Newton chose that number. I mean, it seemed so random. Boiling water is the most fundamental alchemical process, and he chose thirty-three? Why not a hundred? Why not something more elegant? Peter explain ed that, to a mystic like Isaac Newton, there was no number more elegant than thirty- three.All is revealed at the thirty-third degree. Langdon glanced at the pot of water and then over at the pyramid. Katherine, the pyramid is made out of solid granite and solid gold. Do you really think boiling water is hot enough to transform it?The smile on her face told Langdon that Katherine knew something he did not know. Confidently, she walked over to the island, lifted the gold-capped, granite pyramid, and set it in the strainer. Then she carefully bring down it into the bubbling water. Lets find out, shall we?High above the National Cathedral, the CIA pilot locked the helicopter in auto-hover mode and surveyed the perimeter of the building and the grounds. No movement. His thermal tomography couldnt penetrate the cathedral stone, and so he couldnt tell what the team was doing inside, but if anyone tried to slip out, the thermal would pick it up.It was sixty seconds later that a thermal sensor pinged. Working on the same principle as home- security systems, the detector had identified a strong temperature differential. Usually this meant a human form moving through a cool space, but what appeared on the monitor was more of a thermal cloud, a firearm of hot air drifting across the lawn. The pilot found the source, an diligent vent on the side of Cathedral College.Probably nothing, he thought. He saw these kinds of gradients all the time. Someone cooking or doing laundry. As he was about to turn away, though, he realized something odd. There were no cars in the parking lot and no lights on anywhere in the building.He studied the UH-60s imaging system for a long moment. Then he radioed down to his team leader. Simkins, its probably nothing, but . . .Incandescent temperature indicator Langdon had to admit, it was clever. Its simple science, Katherine said. Different substances incandesce at different temperatures. We call them thermal markers. science uses these mar kers all the time.Langdon complimentsd down at the submerged pyramid and capstone. Wisps of steam were solution to curl over the bubbling water, although he was not feeling hopeful. He glanced at his watch, and his heart rate accelerated 1145 P.M. You believe something here will luminesce as it heats up?Not luminesce, Robert. Incandesce. Theres a big difference. Incandescence is caused by heat, and it occurs at a specific temperature. For example, when steel manufacturers temper beams, they spray a grid on them with a downright coating that incandesces at a specific target temperature so they know when the beams are done. Think of a mood ring. Just put it on your finger, and it changes color from body heat.Katherine, this pyramid was built in the 1800s I can understand a craftsman making hidden release hinges in a stone box, but applying some kind of transparent thermal coating?Perfectly feasible, she said, glancing hopefully at the submerged pyramid. The early alchemists used o rganic phosphors all the time as thermal markers. The Chinese made colored fireworks, and even the Egyptians Katherine stopped midsentence, staring intently into the roiling water.What? Langdon followed her gaze into the turbulent water but saw nothing at all.Katherine leaned in, staring more intently into the water. Suddenly she turned and ran across the kitchen toward the door.Where are you going? Langdon shouted.She slid to a stop at the kitchen light switch, flipped it off. The lights and exhaust fan went off, plunging the room into total darkness and silence. Langdon turned back to the pyramid and peered through the steam at the capstone beneath the water. By the time Katherine made it back to his side, his mouth had fallen open in disbelief.Exactly as Katherine had predicted, a small section of the metal capstone was starting to glow beneath the water. Letters were starting to appear, and they were getting brighter as the water heated up.text Katherine whispered.Langdon nodded , dumbstruck. The glowing words were materializing just beneath the engraved inscription on the capstone. It looked like only three words, and although Langdon could not yet read what the words said, he wondered if they would unveil everything they had been looking for tonight. The pyramid is a real map, Galloway had told them, and it points to a real location. As the letters shone brighter, Katherine turned off the gas, and the water slow stopped churning. The capstone now came into focus beneath the waters calm surface. terce shining words were clearly legible.