|
CHAPTER 99
Sir Leigh Teabing felt rueful as he gazed out over the barrel of his Medusa revolver at Robert
Langdon and Sophie Neveu. "My friends," he said, "since the moment you walked into my home
last night, I have done everything in my power to keep you out of harm's way. But your persistence
has now put me in a difficult position."
He could see the expressions of shock and betrayal on Sophie's and Langdon's faces, and yet he
was confident that soon they would both understand the chain of events that had guided the three of
them to this unlikely crossroads.
There is so much I have to tell you both... so much you do not yet understand.
"Please believe," Teabing said, "I never had any intention of your being involved. You came to my
home. You came searching for me."
"Leigh?" Langdon finally managed. "What the hell are you doing? We thought you were in trouble.
We came here to help you!"
"As I trusted you would," he said. "We have much to discuss."
Langdon and Sophie seemed unable to tear their stunned gazes from the revolver aimed at them.
"It is simply to ensure your full attention," Teabing said. "If I had wanted to harm you, you would
be dead by now. When you walked into my home last night, I risked everything to spare your lives.
I am a man of honor, and I vowed in my deepest conscience only to sacrifice those who had
betrayed the Sangreal."
"What are you talking about?" Langdon said. "Betrayed the Sangreal?"
"I discovered a terrible truth," Teabing said, sighing. "I learned why the Sangreal documents were
never revealed to the world. I learned that the Priory had decided not to release the truth after all.
That's why the millennium passed without any revelation, why nothing happened as we entered the
End of Days."
Langdon drew a breath, about to protest.
"The Priory," Teabing continued, "was given a sacred charge to share the truth. To release the
Sangreal documents when the End of Days arrived. For centuries, men like Da Vinci, Botticelli,
and Newton risked everything to protect the documents and carry out that charge. And now, at the
ultimate moment of truth, Jacques Saunière changed his mind. The man honored with the greatest
responsibility in Christian history eschewed his duty. He decided the time was not right." Teabing
turned to Sophie. "He failed the Grail. He failed the Priory. And he failed the memory of all the
generations that had worked to make that moment possible."
"You?" Sophie declared, glancing up now, her green eyes boring into him with rage and
realization. "You are the one responsible for my grandfather's murder?"
Teabing scoffed. "Your grandfather and his sénéchaux were traitors to the Grail."
Sophie felt a fury rising from deep within. He's lying!
Teabing's voice was relentless. "Your grandfather sold out to the Church. It is obvious they
pressured him to keep the truth quiet."
Sophie shook her head. "The Church had no influence on my grandfather!"
Teabing laughed coldly. "My dear, the Church has two thousand years of experience pressuring
those who threaten to unveil its lies. Since the days of Constantine, the Church has successfully
hidden the truth about Mary Magdalene and Jesus. We should not be surprised that now, once
again, they have found a way to keep the world in the dark. The Church may no longer employ
crusaders to slaughter non-believers, but their influence is no less persuasive. No less insidious."
He paused, as if to punctuate his next point. "Miss Neveu, for some time now your grandfather has
wanted to tell you the truth about your family."
Sophie was stunned. "How could you know that?"
"My methods are immaterial. The important thing for you to grasp right now is this." He took a
deep breath. "The deaths of your mother, father, grandmother, and brother were not accidental."
The words sent Sophie's emotions reeling. She opened her mouth to speak but was unable.
Langdon shook his head. "What are you saying?"
"Robert, it explains everything. All the pieces fit. History repeats itself. The Church has a
precedent of murder when it comes to silencing the Sangreal. With the End of Days imminent,
killing the Grand Master's loved ones sent a very clear message. Be quiet, or you and Sophie are
next."
"It was a car accident," Sophie stammered, feeling the childhood pain welling inside her. "An
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
