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达芬奇密码|The Da Vinci Code

Chapter 101|Chapter 100

属类: 双语小说 【分类】世界名著 -[作者: 丹-布朗] 阅读:[25804]
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罗伯特。兰登立在冷冷清清的牧师会礼堂庄严肃穆的圆屋顶下,眼睛定定地看着提彬握在手中的枪。

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"罗伯特,你到底是跟我呢,还是不跟我?"这位皇家学会的历史学家的话还在兰登寂静的脑海里回荡。

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兰登知道,他绝不可能给出什么行得通的答案。如果他答应提彬,那无异于出卖了索菲。而如果他严辞拒绝,那提彬除了将他们杀死,将别无选择。

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虽说兰登在学校里呆过多年,但他毕竟没在课堂上学过什么如何在枪口的威胁下应付冲突的技巧,不过学校倒是教会了他如何提供一些似是而非的答案。当一个问题没有正确的答案时,那就只有如实地作出反应了。

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兰登徘徊在"是"与"否"之间那个灰色的区间。

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他只好选择了沉默。

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他盯着手中的密码盒,只是选择了走开。

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他头也不抬地向后退去,进入到大厅里空旷的地带。这可是中立地带呢。他希望他对密码盒的关注能给提彬一个暗示,也许合作不失为一个理性的选择;但同时,他也希望他的沉默,会让索菲明白他并没将她抛弃。

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我所做的一切都是为了多争取一点考虑的时间啊。

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兰登私下里怀疑,或许花点时间考虑,也正是提彬要他做的事情呢。所以他才将密码盒给我,这样好让我感觉到做出决定的分量。这位英国皇家历史学家,希望通过让兰登实实在在地触摸到大师留下的密码盒,能让他完全领会到里面的东西对他们有多重要,从而激发他对学术的好奇心,并使他认识到:如果他不能将拱心石打开,将意味着给历史本身带来巨大的损失。

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在大厅对面,索菲仍处在枪口的威胁之下。兰登担心,找到密码盒里尚未破译的密码,恐怕将是他借此解救她的唯一希望了。如果我能解读这张地图,那么提彬就愿意跟我讨价还价。兰登将整个心思都用在这项重要的任务上,他慢慢踱着步子,走到更远的窗前……任凭他的头脑塞满了牛顿墓上众多的天体形状。

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你们寻找的圆球,本应在这位骑士的墓里。

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它道破了玫瑰般肌肤与受孕子宫的秘密。

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兰登转身背对着其他人,向那些巨大的窗户走去,他想在墙上的彩色拼花玻璃里寻找灵感的火花,然而却一无所获。

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站在索尼埃的角度去想一想吧,他这样敦促自己。他把目光投向外面的学院花园。索尼埃认为应该将什么样的球形物放入牛顿爵士的坟墓里呢?纷飞的雨中闪过无数恒星、彗星以及行星的形象,然而兰登并没在意它们。索尼埃不是研究科学的学者,而是人文学家、艺术家、历史学家。神圣女性……圣餐杯……圣洁的玫瑰……被放逐的抹大拉的玛利亚……女神的衰落……以及圣杯。

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传说中的圣杯,经常被描绘成一位残酷的女人,她在刚好让你看不见的黑暗中翩翩起舞,在你的耳边窃窃私语,诱惑着你再走近一步,最后消失在迷雾中。

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兰登凝视着学院花园里那片沙沙作响的树林,觉得顽皮的她此刻就在身边。征兆无处不在,就像在迷雾里嘲弄似的凸显出来的轮廓。这些英国最古老的苹果树的树枝,开满了五朵花瓣的花,它们全都像金星一样,闪着微光。女神来到了花园。现在她正在雨中跳舞,唱着那经历不知多少世纪的歌曲。她从开满花朵的树枝后面偷偷地探出头,似乎在提醒兰登,知识的果实蓬勃生长,远远超越了他力所能学的范围。

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在大厅的对面,雷。提彬爵士踌躇满志地望着仿佛被魔法镇住了的兰登凝视窗外。

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果然不出所料,他会回心转意的。提彬心想。

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一段时间以来,提彬一直怀疑兰登可能找到了开启圣杯的钥匙。就在他准备开始行动的当天晚上,兰登也安排了与雅克。索尼埃的见面,这决不是什么巧合。提彬窃听这位博物馆的馆长已有很长一段时间,他确信,这位馆长急于与兰登私下会面只能意味着一件事情--即兰登的神秘文稿触动了郇山隐修会敏感的神经,他误打误撞地触及到其中的真相,而索尼埃又害怕它被泄露出去。提彬确信这位大师把兰登叫去,就是要堵他的嘴。

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真相已经隐藏得太久了!

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提彬知道,他必须赶快采取行动。塞拉斯的袭击将有助于完成两个目标:一方面,它可以阻止索尼埃说服兰登保持缄默;另一方面,它也可以确保如果拱心石落人提彬的手中,一旦他需要兰登,他就会跑到巴黎随时待命。

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安排索尼埃与塞拉斯的那次带来致命性灾难的会面实在是太容易了。我掌握了索尼埃最为之恐惧的内幕消息。昨天下午,塞拉斯打电话给这位馆长,把自己装扮成一位心烦意乱的牧师。他说:"索尼埃先生,请你宽恕我,有些事我必须马上跟你说。我本不应该破坏忏悔室的圣洁,然而眼下这种状况,我也只好这样做了。我刚才听到有个男人在忏悔,说是他谋害了你的家人。"索尼埃惊讶万分,但还是警惕地说:"我的家人死于车祸。这是警方经过调查做出的结论。""是的,他们是死于车祸。"塞拉斯抛下了诱饵:"可那人跟我说,他是故意将他们的车子撞到河里去的。"索尼埃在电话的另一端没有作声。

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"索尼埃先生,要不是那人说了一句让我担心你安全的话,我是不会打电话找你的。"

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他停了片刻,说:"那人还提到你的孙女索菲。"

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索菲名字的提及,无疑起到了催化剂的作用。这位馆长立即采取行动。他让塞拉斯立刻赶到他所知道的最安全的地方--即他在卢浮宫的办公室--见他。然后又打电话给索菲,警告她可能会有危险。他原先打算与兰登喝几盅的计划也很快被取消了。

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此刻,在大厅的另一头,兰登与索菲隔得远远的。提彬觉得已成功地将这对搭档分开了。索菲。奈芙依然不愿从命,但兰登的眼光明显就看得远了。他正努力地找寻密码。他深知找到圣杯,并使它得以从束缚中解脱出来的重要性。

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"即使他能够找到密码,也不会帮你。"索菲冷冷地说。

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提彬瞥了一眼兰登,却仍没忘记将枪对准索菲。他终于明白,他必须动用手中的武器。虽然这个想法困扰着他,但他知道,如果一旦下定了决心,他是决不会犹豫的。我已给了她许多改过自新的机会,圣杯可比我们中间的任何人都更重要啊!

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就在这时,兰登从窗户边转过身来。"那坟墓--"他突然面对他们说,眼中有淡淡的希望之光在闪烁。"我知道该站在哪个角度看牛顿爵士的坟墓。是的,我想我能找到密码。

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"提彬的心立即提到了喉咙口:"罗伯特,在哪里?你快告诉我!"

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索菲似乎被吓坏了:"罗伯特,不要!你不会帮他是不是?"

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兰登迈着坚定的步子,大步流星地走过来,将密码盒举到面前。"不,"他说,转身面对着雷。提彬,目光变得强硬起来。"他如果不放你走,我是不会说的。"

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提彬的乐观情绪立刻黯淡下来:"罗伯特,我们离得这么近。你该不是想跟我玩什么游戏吧?!""谁跟你玩游戏了?"兰登说:"你放她走,然后我就带你去看牛顿墓,一起把密码盒打开。""我哪儿也不去,"索菲大声宣布,她愤怒地眯上眼睛。"密码盒是我祖父给我的,你们没资格把它打开。"兰登猛地转过身,脸色阴森可怕。"索菲,我求你了!你现在处境很危险,我是想帮你呀!""你怎么帮?你想将我祖父拼了命也要保护起来的秘密泄露出去?他相信你,罗伯特。

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我以前也相信你呐。"兰登蓝色的眼睛此刻流露出一丝恐惧,提彬看到他们两人作对,不由暗暗地笑了。兰登试图向一个不值得同情的女人献殷勤,这比去做其他任何事情还要让人可怜。我们马上就要揭开历史上最大的秘密,可是他竟然还在跟一个已经证明了自己不配参与这次探索的女人纠缠不休。

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"索菲,"兰登恳求道:"我求你了--你必须走!"

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索菲摇摇头:"我不会走的,除非你把密码盒给我,或者把它砸掉。"

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"你说什么?"兰登目瞪口呆。

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"罗伯特,我祖父宁愿看到秘密永远消失,也不愿看到它落入凶手之手。"索菲的双眼看似充盈了泪水,其实却没有。她径直转过身,瞪着提彬,说:"你想杀我就开枪吧。我是不会让我祖父的遗物落入你手中的。"很好。提彬用枪对准了她。

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"别开枪!"兰登大声喊道,他举起胳膊,将密码盒悬在坚硬的石板上方,摆出摇摇欲坠的模样。"雷爵士,如果你敢开枪,我就把它丢在地上。"

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提彬大声笑起来:"你这样虚张声势,吓得倒雷米,可吓不倒我。我对你是再了解不过的了。""是吗?"

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"是的,我了解。我的朋友,你需要活动活动你僵硬的脸庞。虽然浪费了我一点时间,但我还是看出来了,你在撒谎。你不知道密码藏在牛顿坟墓的哪个地方。""你真的知道吗,罗伯特?你知道藏在坟墓的哪个地方吗?"

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"我知道。"

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然而兰登游移不定的眼神还是被提彬捕捉到了。他在撒谎,是为了解救索菲铤而走险玩弄的拙劣的伎俩。提彬不由对罗伯特。兰登深感失望。

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我是位孤单的骑士,身边都是一些微不足道的人。我将不得不依靠自己,去破译开启拱心石的密码。

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现在,罗伯特。兰登与索菲。奈芙对提彬而言除了是威胁还是威胁……而且他们的存在,对圣杯本身也是威胁。他的内心不亚于接下来寻找密码的过程那般痛苦,他知道自己可以凭良心行事。不过眼下唯一的难题,就是如何说服兰登放下拱心石,这样,提彬就可以平安无事地结束这场游戏。

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兰登知道自己撒的谎露馅了。

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他看到提彬露出可怕的然而坚毅的神情,他知道这样的时刻就要来临了。如果我松手把拱心石掉在地上,他就会杀死我们。他即使不看索菲,也能够让我听到她在无言地拼命向他祈求。罗伯特,这个人是不配得到圣杯的。别让它落到他的手中,不管要付出多大的代价。

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几分钟前,兰登独自站在窗前俯视学院花园的时候,就已经拿定了主意。

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我要保护索菲。

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也要保护圣杯。

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兰登差点绝望地喊出声来。可我不知道该怎么办啊!

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就在他完全绝望之时,他的思路反倒前所未有地变得清晰起来。罗伯特,真相就在你的眼前。他也不知道是从哪里领悟来的。圣杯并未嘲弄你,它只是在呼唤能够配得上它的人。

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于是,他像一位顺从的臣民,在雷。提彬前面几码之外的地方弯下腰,将密码盒放到离石头地面只有几英寸的上方。

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"是的,罗伯特,"提彬轻声地说,用枪对准了他。"把它放下。"

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兰登眼望天空,注视着牧师会礼堂圆顶上的许多空洞。他将身子蹲得更低了,低头盯着提彬手中笔直对准了他的枪。

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"雷,对不起了。"

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他利索地跳起来,胳膊往天空一挥,将手中的密码盒径直朝头上的圆顶上掷去。

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雷。提彬觉得自己并没有扣动扳机,但"美杜莎"手枪还是发出了震耳欲聋的响声。此刻,兰登蜷缩的身子已站了起来,差不多跟地面垂直了。子弹落在兰登脚下附近的地面上。提彬企图调整瞄准的方向,气急败坏地再次开枪,然而似乎却有一种更强大的力量,将他的目光吸引到头顶的圆形篷顶上。

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我的拱心石!

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时间仿佛顿时凝固了,变成了一个缓慢移动的梦。此时时刻,提彬整个的身心,都转移到空中的拱心石上去了。他注视着在空中飞行的拱心石的顶部……它在空中盘旋了一会……然后迅即跌落,翻着跟头,朝石头地板上砸了下来。

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提彬所有的希望与梦想,随着拱心石骤然跌落到地上。它可不能掉下来啊!我得去接住它!提彬本能地作出了反应。他放下枪,飞身上前。他扔下拐杖,伸出他柔软的、修过指甲的手去接,舒展了胳膊和手指头,在空中一把将拱心石抓在了手里。

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他以一副胜利者的姿态,紧紧地把拱心石攥在手中,向前倒了下去。但他觉得似乎倒下得太快了。由于没有什么东西能够阻止他倒下,他张开的胳膊首先碰到了地面,密码盒猛地撞到地板上,里面的玻璃瓶立刻发出令人难受的"嘎吱嘎吱"支离破碎的声音。

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提彬足足有一秒钟屏住了呼吸。他张开手脚。躺在冰冷的的地板上,眼睛顺着伸展的胳膊望过去,呆呆地盯着掌心里的大理石圆筒,默默的祈祷里面的玻璃瓶子仍然完好无损。紧接着,一股刺鼻的醋的气味弥漫在空气里。提彬感到那冰凉的液体,正经过刻度盘流到他的手心里。

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极度的恐惧攫住了他。不要!醋汩汩地流出来,提彬的脑海中闪过了瓶子里莎草纸在溶释的镜头。罗伯特,你这个傻瓜!完了,看来秘密是找不到了!

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提彬情不自禁地抽泣起来。如果找不到圣杯,一切全完了。他真不敢相信,兰登竟会做出这样的事来。他全身颤抖着,拼命想把圆筒掰开。他强烈地希望,能赶在莎草纸永远溶释在醋里之前,飞快地将藏在它身上的历史看上一眼。然而,令他震惊的是,当他使劲拉住拱心石的两头时,圆石筒突然分开了。他喘着粗气,注视着里面。不过,里面除了玻璃的残渣碎片外,什么也没有。他并没看到有什么正在溶解的莎草纸。提彬翻了个身,抬头看着兰登。索菲站在兰登的身边,正拿枪朝下对准了他。

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提彬一脸茫然,他回过头,看到了拱心石。奇怪的是,刻度盘已不再如方才那样杂乱了。它们组成了一个由五个字母组成的单词:APPLE.

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"当年夏娃吃下苹果,"兰登冷静地说:"触犯了上帝的圣怒,因此犯下了原罪。于是苹果就成了神圣女性堕落的象征。"提彬觉得真相突然以一种质朴得让人难受的方式朝他劈头盖脸地袭来。那个本来应该放在牛顿坟墓上的圆球竟然是从天而降,砸在牛顿头上并给他终生事业带来灵感的红艳艳的苹果。是他辛勤劳作的果实!是怀有身孕的玫瑰般肌肤。

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"罗伯特,"提彬结结巴巴地说,他已被震惊的情绪所淹没了。"原来你把拱心石打开过了。地图在……在哪里?"

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兰登眼皮不眨一下,将手伸进斜纹软呢大衣靠近胸部的口袋里,小心翼翼地拿出一张卷起来的似乎一碰即碎的莎草纸。兰登就在提彬躺着的几码之外,将莎草纸往地上摊开,认真地看起来。过了很长时间,才看到他脸上出一丝会心的微笑。

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他知道了!提彬渴望自己也能知道。他终生的梦想此刻就在眼前。"告诉我!"提彬请求道:"我求你了,上帝啊,求你告诉我。现在还不算太晚吧?"

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这时,沉重的脚步声如雷鸣一般,从通往牧师会礼堂的大厅里传来,兰登平静地将莎草纸收好,塞回到口袋里。

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"不要!"提彬大声喊道,他拼命想站起来,然而却是徒劳。

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屋里的门"砰"的推开了,贝祖。法希像只闯进竞技场的公牛一样闯了进来,他凶狠的目光飞快扫视了一周,这才发现所要寻找的目标--正无助地躺在地上的雷。提彬爵士。他轻松地吐了一口气,将"马努汉"牌手枪放进皮套里,转而向索菲说:"奈芙侦探,看到你和兰登安然无恙我就放心了。刚才我叫你们进来的时候,你们就应该进来。"英国警察紧跟在法希后面进来,他们一把捉住这只沮丧的瓮中之鳖,给他戴上了手铐。

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索菲看到法希,似乎惊讶万分:"你们是怎么找到我们的?"

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法希指了指提彬,说:"他进教堂时犯了个错误,因此泄露了了他的身份。教堂里的保卫人员听到警方寻找他的广播,便告诉了我们。"提彬像疯子一样大喊起来:"寻找圣杯的地图,就在兰登的口袋里!"

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警察们将提彬举起来,架了出去。他掉转头,像狼一样吼道:"罗伯特,你快告诉我圣杯藏在哪里!"兰登在他经过身边时,直盯着他的眼睛:"雷爵士,只有配得上的人才能找到圣杯。这还是你教我的呢。"

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Bishop Manuel Aringarosa’s body had endured many kinds of pain, and yet the searing heat of thebullet wound in his chest felt profoundly foreign to him. Deep and grave. Not a wound of theflesh... but closer to the soul.

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He opened his eyes, trying to see, but the rain on his face blurred his vision. Where am I? He couldfeel powerful arms holding him, carrying his limp body like a rag doll, his black cassock flapping.

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Lifting a weary arm, he mopped his eyes and saw the man holding him was Silas. The great albinowas struggling down a misty sidewalk, shouting for a hospital, his voice a heartrending wail ofagony. His red eyes were focused dead ahead, tears streaming down his pale, blood-spattered face.

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"My son," Aringarosa whispered, "you’re hurt."Silas glanced down, his visage contorted in anguish. "I am so very sorry, Father." He seemedalmost too pained to speak.

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"No, Silas," Aringarosa replied. "It is I who am sorry. This is my fault." The Teacher promised methere would be no killing, and I told you to obey him fully. "I was too eager. Too fearful. You and Iwere deceived." The Teacher was never going to deliver us the Holy Grail.

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Cradled in the arms of the man he had taken in all those years ago, Bishop Aringarosa felt himselfreel back in time. To Spain. To his modest beginnings, building a small Catholic church in Oviedowith Silas. And later, to New York City, where he had proclaimed the glory of God with thetowering Opus Dei Center on Lexington Avenue.

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Five months ago, Aringarosa had received devastating news. His life’s work was in jeopardy. Herecalled, with vivid detail, the meeting inside Castel Gandolfo that had changed his life... the newsthat had set this entire calamity into motion.

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Aringarosa had entered Gandolfo’s Astronomy Library with his head held high, fully expecting tobe lauded by throngs of welcoming hands, all eager to pat him on the back for his superior workrepresenting Catholicism in America.

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But only three people were present.

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The Vatican secretariat. Obese. Dour.

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Two high-ranking Italian cardinals. Sanctimonious. Smug.

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"Secretariat?" Aringarosa said, puzzled.

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The rotund overseer of legal affairs shook Aringarosa’s hand and motioned to the chair oppositehim. "Please, make yourself comfortable."Aringarosa sat, sensing something was wrong.

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"I am not skilled in small talk, Bishop," the secretariat said, "so let me be direct about the reasonfor your visit.""Please. Speak openly." Aringarosa glanced at the two cardinals, who seemed to be measuring himwith self-righteous anticipation.

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"As you are well aware," the secretariat said, "His Holiness and others in Rome have beenconcerned lately with the political fallout from Opus Dei’s more controversial practices."Aringarosa felt himself bristle instantly. He already had been through this on numerous occasionswith the new pontiff, who, to Aringarosa’s great dismay, had turned out to be a distressingly ferventvoice for liberal change in the Church.

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"I want to assure you," the secretariat added quickly, "that His Holiness does not seek to changeanything about the way you run your ministry."I should hope not! "Then why am I here?"The enormous man sighed. "Bishop, I am not sure how to say this delicately, so I will state itdirectly. Two days ago, the Secretariat Council voted unanimously to revoke the Vatican’s sanctionof Opus Dei."Aringarosa was certain he had heard incorrectly. "I beg your pardon?""Plainly stated, six months from today, Opus Dei will no longer be considered a prelature of theVatican. You will be a church unto yourself. The Holy See will be disassociating itself from you.

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His Holiness agrees and we are already drawing up the legal papers.""But... that is impossible!""On the contrary, it is quite possible. And necessary. His Holiness has become uneasy with youraggressive recruiting policies and your practices of corporal mortification." He paused. "Also yourpolicies regarding women. Quite frankly, Opus Dei has become a liability and an embarrassment."Bishop Aringarosa was stupefied. "An embarrassment?""Certainly you cannot be surprised it has come to this.""Opus Dei is the only Catholic organization whose numbers are growing! We now have overeleven hundred priests!""True. A troubling issue for us all."Aringarosa shot to his feet. "Ask His Holiness if Opus Dei was an embarrassment in 1982 when wehelped the Vatican Bank!""The Vatican will always be grateful for that," the secretariat said, his tone appeasing, "and yetthere are those who still believe your financial munificence in 1982 is the only reason you weregranted prelature status in the first place.""That is not true!" The insinuation offended Aringarosa deeply.

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"Whatever the case, we plan to act in good faith. We are drawing up severance terms that willinclude a reimbursement of those monies. It will be paid in five installments.""You are buying me off?" Aringarosa demanded. "Paying me to go quietly? When Opus Dei is theonly remaining voice of reason!"One of the cardinals glanced up. "I’m sorry, did you say reason?"Aringarosa leaned across the table, sharpening his tone to a point. "Do you really wonder whyCatholics are leaving the Church? Look around you, Cardinal. People have lost respect. The rigorsof faith are gone. The doctrine has become a buffet line. Abstinence, confession, communion,baptism, mass—take your pick—choose whatever combination pleases you and ignore the rest.

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What kind of spiritual guidance is the Church offering?""Third-century laws," the second cardinal said, "cannot be applied to the modern followers ofChrist. The rules are not workable in today’s society.""Well, they seem to be working for Opus Dei!""Bishop Aringarosa," the secretariat said, his voice conclusive. "Out of respect for yourorganization’s relationship with the previous Pope, His Holiness will be giving Opus Dei sixmonths to voluntarily break away from the Vatican. I suggest you cite your differences of opinionwith the Holy See and establish yourself as your own Christian organization.""I refuse!" Aringarosa declared. "And I’ll tell him that in person!""I’m afraid His Holiness no longer cares to meet with you."Aringarosa stood up. "He would not dare abolish a personal prelature established by a previousPope!""I’m sorry." The secretariat’s eyes did not flinch. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away."Aringarosa had staggered from that meeting in bewilderment and panic. Returning to New York,he stared out at the skyline in disillusionment for days, overwhelmed with sadness for the future ofChristianity.

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It was several weeks later that he received the phone call that changed all that. The caller soundedFrench and identified himself as the Teacher—a title common in the prelature. He said he knew ofthe Vatican’s plans to pull support from Opus Dei.

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How could he know that? Aringarosa wondered. He had hoped only a handful of Vatican powerbrokers knew of Opus Dei’s impending annulment. Apparently the word was out. When it came tocontaining gossip, no walls in the world were as porous as those surrounding Vatican City.

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"I have ears everywhere, Bishop," the Teacher whispered, "and with these ears I have gainedcertain knowledge. With your help, I can uncover the hiding place of a sacred relic that will bringyou enormous power... enough power to make the Vatican bow before you. Enough power to savethe Faith." He paused. "Not just for Opus Dei. But for all of us."The Lord taketh away... and the Lord giveth. Aringarosa felt a glorious ray of hope. "Tell me yourplan."Bishop Aringarosa was unconscious when the doors of St. Mary’s Hospital hissed open. Silaslurched into the entryway delirious with exhaustion. Dropping to his knees on the tile floor, hecried out for help. Everyone in the reception area gaped in wonderment at the half-naked albinooffering forth a bleeding clergyman.

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The doctor who helped Silas heave the delirious bishop onto a gurney looked gloomy as he feltAringarosa’s pulse. "He’s lost a lot of blood. I am not hopeful."Aringarosa’s eyes flickered, and he returned for a moment, his gaze locating Silas. "My child..."Silas’s soul thundered with remorse and rage. "Father, if it takes my lifetime, I will find the onewho deceived us, and I will kill him."Aringarosa shook his head, looking sad as they prepared to wheel him away. "Silas... if you havelearned nothing from me, please... learn this." He took Silas’s hand and gave it a firm squeeze.

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"Forgiveness is God’s greatest gift.""But Father..."Aringarosa closed his eyes. "Silas, you must pray."

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