Langdon stood in the basement of the Adams Building and stared in disbelief at the elegantly inscribed words on the face of the golden capstone.
Beside him, Katherine held the capstone under the light and shook her head. «There’s got to be more,» she insisted, sounding cheated. «
Langdon had to admit he was mystified. According to Peter and Bellamy, this capstone was supposed to help them decipher the stone pyramid. in light of those claims, langdon had expected something illuminating and helpful.
The secret hides within The Order
At first glance, the inscription appeared to be stating the obvious — that the letters on the pyramid were out of «order» and that their secret lay in finding their proper sequence. This reading, however, in addition to being self-evident, seemed unlikely for another reason. «The words
Katherine nodded blankly. «I saw that.»
«I agree,» Katherine said, «but it’s still no help. It tells us nothing.»
Langdon had to concur. After all, the entire story of the Masonic Pyramid revolved around a secret hidden within the Masonic Order.
«Robert, didn’t my brother tell you this capstone would give you power to see
He nodded in frustration. For the second time tonight, Robert Langdon was feeling unworthy.
CHAPTER 65
Once Mal’akh had finished dealing with his unexpected visitor — a female security guard from preferred security — he fixed the paint on the window through which she had glimpsed his sacred work space.
Now, ascending out of the soft blue haze of the basement, he emerged through a hidden doorway into his living room. Inside, he paused, admiring his spectacular painting of the Three Graces and savoring the familiar smells and sounds of his home.
He wondered if Robert Langdon yet understood the true power of the pyramid. . or the importance of the role for which fate had chosen him.
Mal’akh went upstairs to his Italian-marble bathroom and turned on the steam shower to let it heat up. Methodically, he stripped off his clothes, eager to begin his cleansing ritual.
He drank two glasses of water to calm his starving stomach. Then he walked to the full-length mirror and studied his naked body. His two days of fasting had accentuated his musculature, and he could not help but admire that which he had become.
CHAPTER 66
«We should get out of here,» langdon said to katherine. «it’s only a matter of time before they figure out where we are.» he hoped bellamy had managed to escape.
Katherine still seemed fixated on the gold capstone, looking incredulous that the inscription was so unhelpful. She had taken the capstone out of the box, examined every side, and was now carefully putting it back in the box.
Langdon found himself wondering now if perhaps Peter had been misinformed about the contents of the box. This pyramid and capstone had been created long before Peter was born, and Peter was simply doing as his forefathers had told him, keeping a secret that was probably as much a mystery to him as it was to Langdon and Katherine.
«Robert, does the year 1514 mean anything to you?»
Katherine handed him the stone box. «Look. The box is dated. Have a look under the light.»
Langdon took a seat at the desk and studied the cube-shaped box beneath the light. Katherine put a soft hand on his shoulder, leaning in to point out the tiny text she had found carved on the exterior of the box, near the bottom corner of one side.
«Fifteen-fourteen A.D.,» she said, pointing into the box.
Sure enough, the carving depicted the number 1514, followed by an unusual stylization of the letters
«This date,» Katherine was saying, sounding suddenly hopeful, «maybe it’s the link we’re missing? This dated cube looks a lot like a Masonic cornerstone, so maybe it’s pointing to a
Langdon barely heard her.
The symbol
, as any scholar of medieval art would recognize, was a well-known symbature — a symbol used in place of a signature. Many of the early philosophers, artists, and authors signed their work with their own unique symbol or monogram rather than their name. This practice added a mysterious allure to their work and also protected them from persecution should their writings or artwork be deemed counterestablishment.
In the case of this symbature, the letters
Langdon instantly saw all the pieces fall into place. Within seconds, he was certain he knew exactly how to decipher the pyramid. «Katherine, you did it,» he said, packing up. «That’s all we needed. Let’s go. I’ll explain on the way.»
Katherine looked amazed. «The date 1514 A.D. actually
Langdon winked at her and headed for the door. «A.D. isn’t a date, Katherine. It’s a
