Chapter 35 Chapter Thirty-Four

"Okay. I need you to redeploy and pay close attention. That building is called the Temple of the Shrine of Armas, and it is the headquarters of a mysterious society." Simkin, who had worked in Washington, D.C. for many years, knew nothing of the temple, or of any ancient secret society headquarters in Franklin Square. "This building," said Sato, "belongs to an aristocratic society called the Mysterious Holy Land of Ancient Arabia." "Unheard of." "I think you've heard," Sato said, "that they're a Masonry-affiliated organization, more commonly known as the 'Holy Brothers.'"

Simkin glanced dubiously at the ornate temple.Shriners?The one that built hospitals for kids? "Ma'am, if our target discovers that this building is actually the 'Regimental Meeting' on Franklin Square, he doesn't need the address. He just bypasses the agreed meeting place and goes straight to the correct address." "I thought so too. Keep an eye on the entrance." "Yes, ma'am." "Has Agent Hartman sent a message from Kala Loma Heights?" "Oh, not yet." Strange, Simkin thought, looking at his watch.He delayed. Catherine Solomon choked with the rag that had slipped from her mouth to her throat.The man who kidnapped her had carried her down the narrow steep slope, stopped at a small side room, carried her inside, and placed her on a wooden chair.He also twisted her bound wrists to the back of the chair, preventing her from moving.

A tattooed arm reached out and pulled the rag out of her mouth. Catherine panted heavily, took a deep breath, coughed and choked, and then the precious air was poured into her lungs.Gradually, the field of vision became clear.The room she was in was clearly a boiler room sort of place—big pipes in the walls, fluorescent lights, the sound of running water.However, before she had time to look carefully at her surroundings, her eyes stopped on the floor beside her.There was a pile of clothing—sweaters, tweed sport coats, loafers, Mickey Mouse watches. "My God!" She turned her head to face the tattooed monster. "What did you do to Robert?"

In the pitch blackness, Langdon was listening with bated breath, and now he could hear faint movements outside.there's noise?He began pounding on the box, shouting with all his might, "Help! Can anyone hear me?" As if far away, a vague voice sounded: "Robert! My God, no! No!" He recognized the voice.It was Catherine, and she sounded horrified. Instinctively, Langdon started groping along the bottom of the box, looking for a source of air.It didn't take long for him to find it.There is a small air vent!The purpose-made small holes are a bit like the drains or pipes in the sink, except that in this case, you can only go in and out, and the soft, steady air is coming out of the small pipes.

Langdon's relief lasted only a brief moment.Then there was a frightening noise from the air vent.There was no doubt that it was the sound of liquid gurgling... straight at him. Catherine couldn't believe what she was seeing, the sound of water flowing so clearly, pouring from a pipe into Langdon's box.This formation is like a magician performing a magic trick on the stage. He's pouring water into the box? Catherine writhed to break free, ignoring the wire that bound her wrist deeply.She could only sit and watch the scene in horror.She heard Langdon beating desperately, but the beating stopped when the water flowed into the bottom of the tank.The silence was terrifying.Then, the pounding sounded again, with deeper and more urgent despair.

"Let him out!" Catherine begged him. "Please! You can't do this." "Drowning is a very painful way to die, you know that." The man walked around her slowly and said indifferently, "Your assistant, Tracy, can tell you that." The water gurgling into the box from the back of Langdon's head was warm...normal body temperature.The water was several inches deep, and the bare back was completely submerged.When the water flooded his chest, the cruel reality quickly approached Langdon. Panicking grew, he raised his arms and beat them again, desperately.

"You've got to let him out!" pleaded Catherine, weeping. "We'll do whatever you want! Where's Peter? Tell me! We'll do what you say! We've cracked the pyramid's— " "No, you didn't crack it. You were playing me. Not only did you hide something, but you also brought a government agent to my house. You expect me to reward you for this kind of behavior." Catherine said nothing, and the man put his huge hand on her shoulder and slowly dragged her forward.The arms bound by the wires were twisted behind the chair, and she could only stretch the shoulder bones, and the pain hit her, and she was almost pulled out of her joints. "What is the address on the pyramid?"