Chapter 23 24/25

twenty four After a sleepless night, it was the darkest Friday morning of Steve Randall's life. He told Theo to prepare the car, not to the Krasnapolski Grand Hotel, but to the Victorian five-story building where Angela lived near the largest department store in Amsterdam. He called Angela Monty from Amstel 20 minutes ago, she wasn't there, it took a second call to find her, she was in his office to replace Lori Cook as Randall's secretary. That call was purely one-sided.He alone said hurriedly: "Angela, I have something urgent to see you, not in the office, somewhere outside. You said you have been to Amsterdam many times. How is that shop? Is there a coffee room? Anywhere we can sit for a few minutes, ground floor and fourth floor? Then go upstairs, I'll go right there, wait for me there."

Angela probably lied, most likely the traitor.But Randall just couldn't figure it out. He didn't understand why Angela would do this.She actually tried to cooperate with Frumi to sabotage the 'Second Resurrection' plan!It really doesn't make sense.Why is she against her father?What's the point of doing this?Originally, he didn't believe what Frumi said about the scandal about Professor Monty, but what Angela did couldn't be explained by common sense, unless she didn't love her parents or really hated him. . Whatever Angela's motives, she had betrayed them, the hard truth was there.In this way, what Frumi said last night was probably true, which Randall couldn't believe.If Angela was really the informer, then she not only betrayed them, but also cut off the love between them.It's unbelievable that just the day before yesterday and yesterday, they were still so loving and sweet!But he couldn't deny the iron-clad fact, that was what she did.

Thinking of this, Randall shuddered suddenly.The truth will be known in a moment.Although he was unwilling to face this reality, he had to force himself to face it.Moreover, he decided to force Angela to tell the truth at all costs. He saw Angela, with a tray in her hand, looking at the recipes hanging on the wall. He walks behind her. "Could you get me a cup of tea, please? I'll find a place inside." He turned quickly to avoid seeing Angela's face. "Good morning, honey!" Angela said affectionately. "Good morning!" He replied coldly. Then he took the tray.Tea, coffee and toast are served on the tray.He placed the tray between the two of them.In this way, he can excuse not to kiss Angela because there is a barrier in the middle.

He climbed onto the stool before placing the tray in his hand on the counter.After that, he took the sugar, put the sugar in the teacup, and stirred it slowly with a small spoon.Until then, he didn't look at Angela directly. "Hey, what's going on, Steve? You looked weird this morning." He met Angela's beautiful eyes full of confusion, and Randall murmured to himself that there was cunning and betrayal behind those eyes. He suddenly felt very sick, and he didn't know where to start. "Why are you looking at me like that, Steve?" she pressed. "What's wrong?"

"You look cold." It is difficult to continue this conversation.He heard his voice trembling and trembling, "Angela, last night, I heard something related to you." He took a deep breath and began to get to the point, "You have something to do Keep it from me about your father." Angela's complexion changed immediately. "What are you talking about? Who said I lied to you? What kind of rumors have you heard?" "You once told me that your father was unable to meet with the 'Second Resurrection' project for various reasons. He was always sent on business trips, either to the Middle East or elsewhere for archaeological digs, didn't he? His superiors are jealous of his achievements, so they try to suppress him. If he disobeys, it is very likely that he will not be able to continue teaching at the University of Rome. This is what you told me. I used to want to believe it, but last night, I heard And it's not like that at all. I don't know who to believe."

Angela's voice had already begun to tremble.Just like his voice just now. "What are you talking about? Will you please tell me the whole story?" "I heard that your father is currently living in seclusion on the outskirts of Rome. And he has never done any archaeological activities—I mean in the near future. He has lost his qualifications to teach at the University of Rome. Is that so?" Randall said Pausing here, he looked straight at Angela, expecting to see something in her eyes. Angela ignored his gaze, and she asked closely: "Randall, what else did you hear? What else do you know?"

Randall hesitated, wondering if he should tell other things. "It is said that your father was forced to resign because he defrauded the owner of the land in order to obtain 50% of the proceeds during the excavation. Later, the landowner reported to the government. The Italian government is unwilling to disclose this to the world. The scandal was dealt with in private. They compensated the owner for the loss and punished him by dismissing your father. It is understandable for you to hide this from me, because you are his biological daughter and you have an obligation Protect his reputation. But why would you do another unforgivable thing, Angela?"

"What's up?" "Why have you been reluctant to cooperate with the people of the 'Second Resurrection' project before, but once you learned that I was the head of the public relations department, you immediately joined our work? Is it because my publicity can reach you? The purpose of making your father famous? In this way, your father will have no worries when he comes back. Am I right? You have been trying your best to use me, lie to me, and deceive me?" Angela stared straight at him, "You believe I'm using you?" "I don't know, I'll try to prove it."

"Who told you all this?" "It's Frumi. I saw him last night. He talked to me a lot." "Frumi?" Angela asked back in surprise, "How did Frumi meet you?" "The people sent by Frumi found me last night. I went to see him in order to test the depth. We talked a lot, and we will talk about this issue later. Frumi told me personally that their purpose It is to sabotage our actions and destroy the new "Bible". Therefore, he has a lot of information about our people in his hand. What I just said was told by Frumi. I didn't believe it at first. There is, however, a more serious matter which obliges me to consider the veracity of these words."

"What's so serious?" "Let's talk about it later, okay? I want to clear up my doubts first. Tell me, is what Frumi said true?" "Then let me tell you," Angela's voice was a little trembling, "Frumi's words are false! Absolutely false, if I have concealed something from you before, it must be something else. Before I got to know you, there are some things I can't tell you. But about my father, Frumi is too much, my father has always been very frank and never lied. They are definitely spreading rumors." "Angela, if things are not what they say they are, what is the reality?"

"You know the laws of land management in Italy. When my father was conducting that archaeological excavation, the owners of the land were two brothers and a sister. Originally, my father raised the issue of ownership in advance and said that the land they owned It can be transferred to my dad by renting or selling." "Did your dad tell them what he was doing before he did it?" Randall asked. "Of course, the owner of the land thinks that Dad is talking crazy, and he is a little out of his mind. The wasteland is useless. If someone wants it, they can't wait to deal with it quickly. So when Dad puts forward conditions, of course they don't want it. May I miss this good opportunity in vain, and quickly agree to sell the land." "So your father's actions were completely legal? Why did Frumi say your father was a liar?" "It must have been Tulla who got in the way. After Dad made that archaeological discovery, Tula was so jealous that he wanted to stink my dad all at once to satisfy his deformity. He conspired with the two brothers Afterwards, he went to the government to sue him for nothing. Although their plot did not succeed, but for the sake of prudence, the investigators who received his accusation still investigated it seriously. After careful investigation, it was proved that everything about my father The procedures are all legal, and he did not defraud other people's land. Naturally, their accusation is self-contained. My father is innocent, and this is well documented." "Then why did your father resign anyway, Angela?" "My dad is quite sensitive and self-respecting. He is still hurt and hit. Although he is relieved, he feels that he has not been trusted by others. Even his friends for many years do not believe him. To have doubts about him, And investigate him, try him, what's the point in that? So he's tired of politics all at once, he's achieved what he's been aiming for in his life, and that's enough." "Is he retired now?" "That's right, my father is now engrossed in desk work, mainly writing and research. He has long since lost interest in outside work, and he doesn't want to get involved in any entanglements. But the damn Tulla still doesn't want to let him go, he doesn't want to Let him live a quiet life. What Frumi told you must have been heard from him. Why doesn't he believe it? As long as it is beneficial to him and can help him deal with our materials, why should he refuse to believe it? ?Anyway, his purpose is to destroy us. He will deal with all those related to the "Second Resurrection" plan. As for why you asked me why I didn't want to join this operation until I met you, and why I made a special trip to Milan went to see you only because I want to be sure that your propaganda reports about my dad are true. As his daughter, I want to be sure that this discovery report is completely correct." "Then why did you come to Amsterdam for a consultancy job?" Angela smiled slightly when she heard the words, "I didn't come here to take advantage of you, and I didn't need it. I came here after accepting your request. I didn't need to come here because I wanted to get enough publicity for my father. Here. My dad's status in this event is unparalleled, and I want to stay close to you." Randall was greatly moved when he heard the words.But he reminded himself, how do you know that this is not a sugar-coated cannonball?Before the truth is known, he can't soften himself first.There was one other worst thing he had to bring up, even though in doing so their relationship might be ruined.Angela was Matthew, she was Judas who had betrayed them, and he had to tell her what he had discovered before anyone else knew. Didn't Angela talk about the purpose of coming to Amsterdam to work with him? "Well, Angela, don't you have any other reason to be here?" Angela frowned. "Other reasons? Besides this, what other reasons can I have?" "Like trying to do something for someone other than your father and me." "Anyone else? You..." Randall originally wanted to inquire from the side, but it seemed that it would not work, so he had to go straight in. "Angela, why did you come to us as Frumi's agent? Why did you pass on our secrets to our enemies?" He had never seen her look like this, an expression that was neither frightened nor frightened, but completely dumbfounded.It took a long time to say: "What, what did you say?" He repeated word for word what he had just said, and added: "I have irrefutable proof that you belong to Frumi." "Steve, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?" He still didn't want to digress: "Late yesterday afternoon, I distributed a classified document to 12 people involved in our mission. One copy ended up in Froomi's hands, and the other was yours. Angela, this is a fact, an undeniable fact." Her doubts turned out to be genuine, "Secret documents? What secret documents did I give Froomi? You just don't make sense. I don't know Frumi, I've never seen one in my life, Neither do I. How would I? Why would I do that? Steve, are you crazy? What the hell are you talking about?" "I'm going to tell you what I want to say, so listen carefully!" So he told her straight up that the first classified document had been leaked to Frumi, and how he had set a trap, and how he had seen her code "Matthew" printed on the second document the night before. One copy is in Frumi's office. "The document with 'Matthew' on it was delivered to you by hand, Angela, and I have a receipt signed by you. Now, do you remember?" "Yes," she said, "I do remember. I got it—let me see—oh yes, I dozed off in the hotel for a while after you left, and when I woke up I realized it was late, so I Hurry up to the Krasnapolski Hotel looking for something to do. I went to the office and started clearing my files - not much - and moving things to your secretary's office. Security guards But—by the way—I got that file from him, and I glanced at it to see if it was important, and it didn't look like anything important. So I put it in one of my file folders Then moved to Lori's office. There was an empty drawer in the second cabinet, and I opened the folder with the files, put the file in, and put it in that drawer. That's where I put it. Remember it well, it must still be there." After hearing her words, Randall weighed them up.She was, if not absolutely honest, the most brazen liar he had ever seen.But the chances of her being honest about this matter were remote. "Angela," Randall said, "there's only one document with 'Matthew' on it, and you told me it was in your file, but I'm in Frumi's office Saw it. The same document cannot be in your office and his at the same time." "I'm sorry," she said, "I can't explain any more. I can show you my file right away." "Okay, let me see." Angela stood up from the high stool in the bar, facing Randall: "You don't believe me, do you!" "I only know what I know—that Frumi showed me your paper." "Steve, can't you see the pointlessness of me helping that bloody Frumi? He wants to ruin the 'Second Resurrection' project and damage the reputation of the International New Testament. I want to help this Engineering and making the new bible more acceptable. If not for your sake, then of course to see my father's name and hope he is honored. Why would I be with someone who is trying to destroy my father cooperation?" "I don't know why. Maybe there's a lot I don't know about Professor Monty or Angela Monty. For all I know, you probably hate your father." "Oh, Steve," she cried in despair.She picked up her wallet, and Randall was taking it out to pay for the meal. "I'll let you see that I still have your papers." The two took the elevator back to the ground floor without saying a word, and 10 minutes later, they came to Lori Cook's office, which is Angela's current office. Randall stood gloomy to the side, while Angela opened the second metal cabinet and pulled out the third drawer to look for it.But after digging around, I couldn't find that document. "I may have misplaced it, but I'll find it soon." A few minutes passed, and she couldn't find it. She stood up, a little panicked and dazed. Randall still hasn't dispelled his suspicions about her. "You must have put it in the file?" "I think so." She was a little uncertain. "After I moved, these clips were placed in this position on the table. I started to..." "Did anyone come into your office before you finished and locked the locker?" "Anyone? Oh, yes, yes. I didn't mention it at dinner last night because it didn't look like the visitors were important." She walked to the table. "You've had a few people come to you. I... let me think about it... I've got the name of everyone who came or called." She opened the center desk drawer and pulled out a shorthand pad , turn to the first page. "Taylor came in for a little while and said she had worked with you and wanted to ask if you needed her to do anything else. I told her you weren't there and said I didn't know where you were." "I was downstairs checking with Heldrin that all the documents had been distributed." He gestured to the shorthand pad in her hand, "Who are the others?" Angela turned the page, "Alexander and—" She stopped suddenly, "I remember! I was so stupid for forgetting. His name is here, got it down. You see, Steve Husband, look." Her fingers flicked across the shorthand pad and came to a penciled name: Dr. Florian Knight. "Nate?" Randall asked. "This is Dr. Knight." Angela said with relief, "thank God for finally figuring it out, now you should trust me. Yes, Dr. Knight was with you in a publicity meeting and you promised to give him some materials , so that he can make a short summary when you ask him for some information. Is that what you told him?" "right." "While you were not here, he found the clip I had on the table and said maybe he could find out what you told him about it. He showed me his high-level security card, so I had no reason to deny him .He went through all the files and said that what he needed was probably in your office, but now he would like to borrow your recent papers because he just joined the project and wanted to know about your plans, he said the second The material will be returned to me tomorrow morning." "Did he come back this morning?" She glanced at the table, a little uneasy, "Obviously not, he must still be holding it." "No, it's not in his hands anymore." Randall said coldly, "It's already in Frumi's hands." He clenched his fist and hit hard, "Dr. As expected." "What did you expect?" "nothing." "Shouldn't I lend him the papers?" "This is not important now, anyway, at that time you don't know whether it should be." "Steve, now you know I have nothing to do with Frumi? Now, do you trust me? Come on, I'll go with you to Dr. Knight's office and he'll confirm everything I told you. Maybe he I'll give you an explanation." "I don't want any explanation from him." There was a bitterness in Randall's words. Randall condemned himself for not being emotional.For since he had learned from Dr. Knight's fiancée in London that he hated Dr. Jeffries and the International New Testament, he should not have encouraged him to take part in the work.From the start, Knight is the weakest link, the one most likely to sell the book to vent his personal grievances.In fact, he was wary of him yesterday, so he didn't distribute the secret documents to him, but the fault was still on him, damn it. Angela was waiting: "Should we go see him?" "You don't have to go," he said, trying to force a smile, "Angela, forgive me for misunderstanding you, all I can say is—I love you." She threw herself into his arms, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips to his.After the kiss, she murmured, "I love you much more than you love me." He smiled and said, "I'll go and see." He pulled her away, "Now, go and see Dr. Knight, I'm going to see him alone." Randall quickly went down the hall and rushed to Dr. Knight's office. Dr. Knight is away. The secretary explained that he had called to say he would not be coming today. "Where is he?" "At his hotel, the Hotel San Lucercio." "Holy what?" "Let me write it down for you. San Lucercio, at 9 Waldec Piedmontlan, where almost all the priests and theologians who take part in our project live, a strange hotel. " Before Randall had time to ask where it was, he took the address she handed over and rushed to the door. "Shall I call Dr. Knight and tell him you're going to see him?" the secretary called. "No, I'd like to frighten him." This is indeed a strange hotel. At first glance, the Hotel San Lucercio looked less like a hotel than an ordinary apartment building.The five-story building sits on a broad street. Randall had never known anything about the San Lucercio Hotel—a hotel reserved for Catholic priests, nuns, and Christian priests and their families.After Randall got off the car, he didn't care to observe the hotel building, and walked directly to the service desk. "I'm here to see Dr. Knight, and I'm working with him." The fat receptionist put his hand on the phone. "Is he waiting for you?" "possible." "I'll call to see, may I ask, what is your last name?" After reporting his name, Randall walked nervously to the door of the prayer hall and dining room, stared casually at the brown wooden tables and chairs for a while, and then returned to the table, at which time the receptionist just hung up the receiver on the phone. "Dr. Knight is here," she said. "He's on the fourth floor. He's waiting for you at the landing." Instead of being tense, agitated, and angry as before, he was unusually calm and comfortable.Walking back to his cell with Randall, he still seemed deeply enmeshed in his affairs, acting a little detached. Knight lived in a room smaller than his cramped London bedroom.The furnishings are also very simple-a bed, a washbasin, a folding table, and a wardrobe. It is estimated that there are at least two sets of clothes in it.A chair with armrests leans lonely under the high window sill. "Sit down," Knight said, with more warmth and less arrogance in his tone. "If this hotel hadn't strictly prohibited alcohol, I'd like to get you something to drink. Other than that, I think the place is quite comfortable." Knight sat on the edge of the bed, and continued, "Mr. Randall, I'm sorry to make you go so far. I was going to go back to the office tomorrow to listen to your orders, but you are here. Is there anything special?" ?” "Yes, something very special." Randall emphasized again, "And it's about you." "Oh, is it? I'm just in, sir." Randall didn't want to talk nonsense, he wanted to get to the point. "Dr. Knight, at the end of work yesterday, you borrowed some materials from my secretary, Miss Angela. Among the materials, I prepared a confidential document. A few hours later, the confidential document arrived at our project. at the hands of his sworn enemy, Frumi." He paused, waiting for Nate's reaction, either in surprise or in denial.However, the professor at Oxford University remained calm. "I'm sorry to hear that," Dr. Knight said calmly, opened a food box, grabbed a mint and handed it to Randall.Before Randall saw it, he had already thrown one into his mouth. "It doesn't surprise me." Randall was a little surprised, staring at him, "Aren't you surprised?" "Oh, although I didn't expect it to go to Frumi, it's possible that's always been there. I'm just surprised you figured it out. Are you sure Froome has the log? " "You may be sure that I am telling the truth. I saw Frumi last night, and I saw the paper in his hand." "And you must be the one I borrowed from Miss Angela?" "That's it, exactly the same," snapped Randall, surprised by the scholar's indifference to his traitorous ways. "I'll tell you right now, how I caught up with you." Randall told as quickly as possible how to use the password name on the document cleverly, and then described in detail how he met Frumi and how he confronted Angela.After speaking, he fixed his eyes on Knight again.The British scholar was still tasting his mints, but his hand holding the food box was shaking a little. "What else do you have to say about this?" Randall exclaimed angrily, wanting to know everything. "Very clever," said Dr. Knight with some admiration. "And you're very unintelligent, downright stupid in fact," said Randall, "from what I've heard of your "Jesus Story" being aborted due to the imminent release of the International New Testament. Afterwards, I decided you weren't safe security-wise. I should have known that a poor man who hated the plan could do anything." The food box in Dr. Knight's hand trembled more and more, "So you know everything about me?" "I've known it since I started in London, but I've been fascinated by your wealth of knowledge, and your potential value to our project - and Miss Valerie's entreaties." "Ah! Valerie." "So, I put aside all doubts and convinced myself that you can come and will be a trustworthy person. I was wrong, you betrayed us. I will go back and report everything I know. You pack your bags and go Bar." "No," Dr. Knight blurted out, almost frantic. His originally calm face suddenly became painful, and wrinkles appeared in the air above the furrowed brows.To Randall, he seemed suddenly 20 years older. "No, don't tell them," he begged, "don't let them fire me!" "Don't let them?" Randall was a little shocked, "You admitted that you gave the confidential documents to Frumi?" ------------------ 25 "I never gave Frumi anything directly, nothing at all, and believe me, if I did betray you, it would be in trivial matters. But things have changed now, and now you can Trust me completely. I am totally dedicated to the 'Second Resurrection', it is my life and I cannot allow myself to be separated from this work." He stood up, paced anxiously, and wrung his hands. Randall stared, stunned, at him pacing up and down.Knight's attitude and what he said were very different from his actions.He must be sick, Randall concluded he was crazy, a hysterical madman.Randall was determined to prod him back to reality. "Dr. Knight, how do you explain your efforts to 'the second resurrection' while admitting, just a few minutes ago, that you gave Frumi our secret papers? Do you expect us to keep a Traitor?" "I'm not a traitor!" roared Dr. Knight, moving towards Randall and standing in front of him, "Don't you understand? I was going to be a traitor, I was at first, but—once I learned the truth— —I can't, now you must keep me, and if I can't stay, I'll kill myself." "What the hell are you talking about?" Randall yelled. "I can't understand a word of it. This is ridiculous. I've seen enough." Randall started to stand up when Nate grabbed his shoulders with both hands and held him down. "No, no, wait, Randall, give me a chance to explain. I'm going to tell you the whole thing, and you'll understand. I'm afraid, but I see I have to, or it's all over. , please listen to me." It wasn't until Randall sat back that Dr. Knight moved away and walked over, trying to control his passion, trying to say what he had to say.He finally calmed down, sat back on the bed, stared at the floor, seemed a little guilty, and began to preach: "When you first came here I was going to have the cheek to say it, and I thought my frankness would clear your antagonism and finally understand. Oh, you made me know that I did something wrong, yes I did some bad things , but I've secretly reformed myself and I'm trustworthy. But I see you still think I'm a traitor, and actually you're trying to fire me. I see it's impossible not to tell the truth now, and I don't think I have anything reason to protect others." "Others?" Randall sat up and listened to him with concern. "And there's no reason to be afraid to tell you what happened last night and this morning." He raised his eyes. "I wonder if you can understand me." "Go on," Randall said. "Thank you. As for my hatred and anger at Jeffreys, it is quite true, and it would be too indiscreet, dear Hughes, to tell you that. But I can forgive her, for my sake and for hers. She has begged me to join The Second Resurrection, and I have, but not for the reasons she imagines. I am here, and as you might suspect, I am unreliable. I know that The Second Resurrection has Its enemies, I know who they are, I've read about the meeting between Plummer and Frumi. I don't have a plan, but there's an awareness lurking deep within me, and that's through me with the 'second Membership of The Resurrection, I might be able to save myself." "You mean money?" "Oh—yes. If I must confess, I used to think that money was my only salvation. I was broke at one point because the International New Testament was coming out. I needed money to restore my hearing, I needed money to Marry Valerie Hughes, and I will support her, and I will live a real life as a young English scholar should live." "So you found Cedric Cao Lumer?" "That's not necessary," said Dr. Knight. "He found me, or rather, someone representing Plummer." Randall raised an eyebrow. "Someone else? Someone from Krasnapolsky?" "yes." Randall reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a tiny tape recorder. "if you do not mind……" "You want to record me? For what purpose?" "If someone else is involved with you." "Understood, will this help clear my sins?" "I can't guarantee that, Dr. Knight. If you have a valid reason, I'll tape it to your advantage. If I'm not satisfied with your story, I'll return the tape to you so you can report directly to Five a publisher to tell your story." "Fair enough." Randall turned the volume down to minimum and placed them on the floor between the two of them.Dr. Knight looked at the tape recorder and said, "My jury, it will encourage me to confess, and I will give the fullest, fairest defense possible." "You said that when you got here, you lived in Krasnapolski, and someone who wasn't Plummer came to negotiate with you?" Randall urged him. "Someone who knew my personal situation somehow, the unpublished status of The Jesus Story, and my disability, and my outrages, needs, desires. He suggested that there was a way to get me Money that was supposed to be mine, I turned it down. I couldn't bring myself to betray a man who trusted me, and I didn't want to see myself being Judas. He still came to me during that time. I had a habit of as long as it was what I received Secret plans or important things I hear, I'm going to write them down. I didn't do anything until the man came to me again. I asked him how much my services were worth, and the man asked me what I could offer. On an impulse to test it out, I handed my man a small collection of documents from the 'Second Resurrection' project, and shortly thereafter I was taken to see Plummer, who was very unassuming. , told me that what I had to offer was very useful." "Is that how they knew the date of our planned press conference at the Palace and broadcast it to the world?" "Yes. Plummer told me that the material was useful, but not enough, and asked me to continue to supply him with new material. And the most important thing in the meantime was to get a new Bible, or at least The details in it. And Plummer said he had other ways of getting it." "Henning?" Randall asked. "What did you say?" "Don't say anything, let's go on." "They don't want to take chances, they want double the insurance. So Plummer said the price, the price--a hearty price, enough to solve all my problems, irresistible. I agreed. Get them a new Bible, or at least a copy of the newly discovered material in the Bible, which I promised to give them yesterday." Randall was shocked again. "How can you be sure you'll get a copy? The book is locked and the key is in the hands of the printer, and all the proofs are kept in the cellar." 奈特博士摇了摇手指头。“不都是，但是请不要把我的叙述岔开去。我昨天本打算搞一本新《圣经》的稿本的，但没搞到。因为我不能交给他，所以我急于缓和一下和我的——我的碰头人的关系，并来证明我的好意。于是我找了一点零星的东西给他们，其中就有你写有'马太'字样的备忘录。” "Understood." “当然，他们还是不满意。他们想要的是新《圣经》。那天晚上我觉得肯定能弄到一份的，也就是指昨天晚上。” “但是，你没能弄到。”兰德尔道。 “相反，我能弄到，而且确已弄到手了。” 兰德尔身子倾向前，“你拿到了《国际新约》？” “几乎不费吹灰之力，兰德尔。你知道，不是所有的校样都在地窖里。每个主要负责任的神学家都有一份，杰弗里斯博士也有一份。不要忘了，我们的关系是很近的，我可以看到他所有的参考书。我知道他把自己的那份《国际新约》锁在他的公文包里，他另外还有字码锁在上面。但是，他这个人很散漫，心不在焉的，经常把什么都记下来以免遗忘。我在他的房间里找那个字码，正如我所料，是写下来的，我于是记住了字码。我必须在他出去的时候弄到他的公文包，他本打算前天晚上出去的。但又推迟了时问。我知道昨天晚上他又要出去，等他走了以后，我进了他的房间，打开了公文包，取出《国际新约》校样。我偷偷地把书带出旅馆，拿到一个我早些时候就发现的一个晚上也开的复印商店去，把这份新资料复印了下来，也就是彼得罗纳斯羊皮纸报告和詹姆斯福音书的译本。我把这些都复印下来后，又回到杰弗里斯博士的房间，把它又放回公文包锁好，拿着我的复印件回了自己的房问。” 兰德尔气都透不过来了，“你把这个交给了他们？” 奈特博士又摇了一下手指。“我本打算要这样的，我打算拿起电话叫我的碰头人来取，同时换回昨天晚上交上去的30页零零碎碎的材料。可是，你知道，我仍然是我——一个学者，一个富有好奇心的学者，在没有变成一个精神务实的商人之前，我控制不住自己想要读一下这个詹姆斯福音的想法。” “你读了。”兰德尔缓缓地说，“后来又怎么样了呢？” “奇迹啊！”奈特博士很简单地说。 "what?" “我和我们的主交流过之后发生了奇迹，兰德尔先生。如果你很了解我的话，你会知道我这人对宗教很感兴趣，但我不是一个纯粹宗教人士。我一直从旁观的角度，客观地认为，耶稣是一个学者，我从来没有走近过他或者从内心里接受他。但是昨天晚上，我读了詹姆斯福音，坐在这儿，就像我现在坐在床上，我哭了。第一次我清清楚楚地看见了耶稣，第一次感受到了他的爱心，他的伟大。我被一种从未体验过的强烈的感情巨浪给攒住了。你能理解吗？” 兰德尔点了点头，但仍然保持着沉默。 “我躺在床上，闭上眼睛，”奈特博士越来越激动，“我被主耶稣的爱浸润着，被我对他由衷的信仰，被一种希望配得上他的欲望包围着。我一定是睡着了，梦中，也许在醒着的间歇，我看见了耶稣，我能看到他袍子上的折边，我听到他对我说话，我乞求他宽恕我的罪孽，已往犯过的以及还没有犯的所有罪过。我发誓我要一生忠于他。他，于是祝福我并声明以后我的一切都会好起来的。你以为这段插曲、这个梦或者白日梦说明我快是个疯子、狂人了，是不是？如果不是后来又发生的事情，我倒也是这么想的。” 奈特博士有点不能自己了，陷入了深深的内省当中，停止了谈话。兰德尔试图把他拉回到现实中来，“弗洛里安，后来呢？” 奈特博士眨了眨眼睛，“不可思议，”他说，“今天早晨我早早就醒来了，阳光透过窗户在我的身上游移。我被灵感浸透着。我想洗涤掉我的卑鄙，我感到一种平和，我静静地躺着，后来我听到一声甜美可爱的鸟的瞅瞅声，它在窗外叫着。一只鸟，我听到一只鸟在唱歌。我，多年了没有听到过一声鸟叫——我甚至很少听见过人说话，除非他站在我旁边大声喊叫。我聋了这么多年，我听到了一声鸟叫，而且我当时没戴助听器，我并没有戴助听器上床。看，就在那儿，在床边的桌子上，我昨天晚上就放在那儿了，我现在也没戴，你还没注意到吧。可是我能清清楚楚地听见你在这间屋里说的每一句话，不费一点力气就能听见。今天上午，我激动得要发疯。听到鸟叫后，我从床上跳起来，打开我的半导体收音机，音乐流淌出来传人我的耳朵。我冲向门口，打开房门，我能听见仆人们在大厅那边叽喳。我向主保证过，我将把自己交给他，他宽恕了我，恢复了我的听力，他治愈了我，这就是奇迹啊！你相信我吗，兰德尔！” “我相信你，弗洛里安，”兰德尔被深深地打动了，他想知道下一刻又要发生了什么，他不能等得太久。 “当我恢复平静后，我打了个电话，给我的——我的接头人。我告诉他我准备见他，我没有去上班，却在阿姆斯特丹郊区他的偏僻的隐居的房子里见了他。我立刻告诉他说我没有能够为他弄到新《圣经》，我告诉他我为自己作过的保证遗憾，甚至为曾经交给他那些不重要的材料遗憾。事实上，我要求过他归还我昨天交给他的东西，你的所有的备忘录。他说还不了，那个在别人手里，大概它已在弗鲁米手里了，尽管我并不知道。” "Yes, that's right." “这时，那个人——也就是我的接头人——他催促我继续试着为他们弄到《圣经》。我说我一想到这儿就反感。他说他肯定他们会付给我大大多于答应过的数目，我说我对讨价还价不感兴趣。于是，他就开始威胁我说，我要是不合作，他就会揭发我参与过这件事情。我告诉他说我顾不了那么多，我就离开了他。我回到这儿，把我弄到的《国际新约》的复印件撕掉了，以免这些内容落到弗鲁米的手里。随后我听说你要来见我，现在你明白了我欠这本书，欠詹姆斯，欠这项工程什么了吧？明白了为什么我乞求你不要解雇我吧？我一定要呆下去，我一定要为这项好的工作尽绵薄之力。” 兰德尔一直在倾听、思索。毫无疑问，奈特博士的听力是恢复了，不管什么方式：或奇迹、或心理因素。在某种程度上，是的，这确实是个奇迹。洛丽?库克的奇迹是否是个骗局不再重要，奈特博士的奇迹是能为新《圣经》的宣传提供足够的证据的。但是，这个奇迹，兰德尔自语道，是个他永远不能告诉五位发行人的奇迹，更不要说利用它去卖《国际新约》的事了。他想建议奈特博士接着戴上他的助听器，直至新《圣经》成功地发行。至于奈特博士的真诚是毫无疑问的，不言自明的，只是还有一件事。 “弗洛里安，”兰德尔道，“正如你所说，你想留下来和我们一道干我们这项好工作，但你必须首先告诉我，我们中间真正的告密人，那个第一个与你联系接头的人，那个联系人也就是弗鲁米的朋友。” “事实上他不是弗鲁米的朋友，”奈特博士道，“我肯定他不知道弗鲁米本人。他是普卢默的一个朋友。他第一次带我去普卢默那儿我就清楚这一点。我们是在弗塔西奥夜总会见的面，我们坐在长凳上，就在那儿，两个人吸着大麻烟枪管。他们看上去很亲密，我肯定我的接头人把我们的秘密给了普卢默，普卢默肯定又接着交给了弗鲁米。” “对，”兰德尔道，“现在把普卢默接头的那个人，'第二次复活'计划的叛徒的名字告诉我，你一定要告诉我。” “我们的犹大？”奈特博士道。“汉斯?博加德斯，我们这项工程的图书室管理员，他是个我们要铲除掉的人——如果我们不想让我们的主耶稣再次或永远被钉上十字架的话。” 回到克拉斯波斯基大酒店一层，史蒂夫?兰德尔径直走向他的办公室。 在秘书小间里，安杰拉?蒙蒂从她的打字稿上疑惑地抬起眼来。“是弗洛里安?奈特博士吗？” "no." “我很高兴不是他。不过，那又是谁呢？” “现在先不说，安杰拉。我们一会儿再来讨论。给我接戴克哈德博士。如果他还没来，接乔治?惠勒。” 兰德尔接着进了自己的办公室。他从口袋里掏出录音机，把卡式磁带往回倒了几分钟，放了放，又接着往回倒，听了一次又停下，开始抹去一些神秘的信息。尔后他满意地把录音机塞进公文包等安杰拉打电话给他。 最后，他有点不耐烦，等不得了，便拿起公文包回到安杰拉的办公室，正好安杰拉要挂上电话。 “对不起，史蒂夫，”她说。“他们两个都不在城里。戴克哈德博士的秘书说发行人们都在德国美因茨，今天上午要约亨宁先生会面。” “她说了他们什么时候回阿姆斯特丹吗？” “我问过了，她说不准，她不知道。” 兰德尔低声地咒骂着，他将不得不自己来干这件苦差事了。他知道会见博加德斯太关键了，不能再等了，事情处于紧急关头。 “好，安杰拉，多谢，再见。” 他跨步走上走廊，往右一拐，停在190号门前。门上用5种语言印着“图书馆”字样，下面，用草写印刷体写着：汉斯?博加德斯。 兰德尔硬起心肠，走了进去。 汉斯?博加德斯坐在一个宽大的桌子边，桌上高高地堆满了参考书，他正伏在一本打开的书上记着什么，他那长长的金黄色头发往前搭着，挡住了他的脸。听见门开关的声音，他的脑袋一动，那女人般年轻的五官显露出惊奇的神情。他刚要从椅子上站起来，兰德尔一个手势制止了他。 “就这样别动。”兰德尔说，坐在他正对面的椅子上。 兰德尔一面重重地把公文包放到桌上，打开它，一面直视着这个年轻的荷兰图书馆管理员。和从前一样，兰德尔很反感博加德斯，除去那两只青蛙眼和那肥厚的嘴唇，这个图书馆管理员的脸几乎是平平的。他的肤色苍白，近乎白血病人。 “你好，兰德尔先生。”他尖声尖气地说。 “我这儿有点儿关于你的事。”兰德尔先生说。 图书室的管理员的注意力一下转到了公文包上，“美因茨《圣经》最后的版本——出来了？” “没出来，”兰德尔说，“可是出来时，汉斯，你可能是看不到它的人之一了。” 博加德斯苍白的眼睫毛警觉地眨动着，他舔舔那肥厚的嘴唇，“什么——我不——你什么意思？” “这个，”兰德尔说着，拿起微型录音机，故意把机器放在两人中间的桌上，他按下放音键。“你将听到的第一个声音弗洛里安?奈特博士，另一个便是我，音是不到一小时前录的。” 磁带开始转动，奈特博士的声音清晰逼真无误地传出来。兰德尔往前倾了下身子，把音量稍稍放大，又坐回到椅子里，双臂叠叉在胸前看着正在倾听的管理员。 当奈特博士的忏悔充满了这满是书籍的房间时，汉斯?博加德斯没有血色的脸开始变色了，几片粉红覆盖上了他僵硬的脸颊，他一动也不动，只听见他逐渐加速的喘息声合着奈特博士的说话声。 磁带几乎要到头了，奈特博士庄重的——现在成了无情的——结束谈话的指控在桌上响起来。 “我们的犹大？汉斯?博加德斯，我们这项工程图书管理员，他是个我们要除掉的人——如果我们不想让我们的主耶稣再次或永远钉上十字架的话。” 之后，是磁带磨擦发出的轻微的沙沙声。兰德尔伸手关了录音机，放回公文包里。 他冷冷地直视博加德斯呆滞的目光，“你愿意当着奈特博士的面以及出版委员会、赫尔德林队长的面承认这个吗？” 汉斯?博加德斯没有回答。 “好，汉斯，你已经被发现了。对我们来说，幸运的是你交给你的朋友普卢默，尔后又给弗鲁米的东西只不过是一些价值不大的东西。你再也不会弄到更多的了，当然还有《国际新约》的校样。我这就去告诉赫尔德林，让他派一个警卫上来监视你——直到我今天找到戴克哈德或者惠勒，报告给他们，然后让他们解雇你。” 兰德尔等着他发出歇斯底里的狂叫，来得太迟的否认还有疯狂为自己辩护的种种场面。 什么表现也没有。 这个年轻的荷兰人胖胖的脸上裂出一丝邪恶、近乎恶毒的笑容。“你这个傻瓜，兰德尔先生。你的那些老板——他们可不会解雇我。” 这倒是件新鲜事，是兰德尔压根儿没预料到的，他竟如此厚颜无耻。“你以为不会？假如我们……” “我知道不会，”博加德斯打断了他。“一旦他们听到我了解的东西，他们就不敢炒我的鱿鱼，我会一直干我的工作，直到哪天我自己想走，不把新《圣经》拿到手我是不会走的。” 这个年轻的荷兰人一定是疯子，兰德尔心想，跟他说话没有用。兰德尔把椅子往后一推。“好吧，我们来看看你是不是被解雇了，我这就打电话给美因茨的戴克哈德和惠勒。” 博加德斯两手按着桌子，仍然很得意地冲着兰德尔笑着，“好啊，打吧。”他说，“可是，打时一定要告诉他们，汉斯?博加德斯，靠着他的天才，在他们的《圣经》里发现一个所有的科学家、经文学者们以及神学家们都没有发现的错误。告诉他们，汉斯?博加德斯在他们的新《圣经》里发现了一个致命的错误，一个足以毁掉它，证明它是假的，并且整个毁了它的错误。如果他们选择让这个错误公诸世人的话，就让他们赶我走好啦。” 兰德尔肯定这个家伙绝对是疯了。可这个年轻的荷兰人却用一种如此深信不疑的口气说话。他的脑袋像计算机，能发现一切东西，内奥米说过的。兰德尔仍坐在椅子上。“新《圣经》里有一个致命的错误？你根本没有见过，更不用说读了，你怎么会发现的？” “我早读够了，”博加德斯说，“我注意有一年了。我看，我听，东一点，西一点。我是资料管理员，他们来让我查一个词，一个句子，一段话，一段引言。这些查询是秘而不宣的，但我从不同查询中获得了整个概念。当然对这本新《圣经》我所知不多，其新内容我连90％都不知道，不过我确实知道里面一些有关耶稣到目前为止还不为人知的事实。我也知道耶稣曾经离开古巴勒斯坦，去过许多地方，其中就有罗马。” 兰德尔大为惊奇，不禁对这位图书馆管理员刮目相看了。“好吧，就算你知道其中一小点内容，你以为我会相信你凭你知道的这一小点内容就能发现其中的缺点和错误？” “一个致命的错误！” “很好，一群全世界最伟大的专家研究了数年竟会忽视了致命的错误？” “是的，”博加德斯说，“因为他们视野狭窄，只看到了他们想看的东西。因为他们眯着眼睛看真理。我告诉你，这种事情阿姆斯特丹发生过，1937年至1943年间，一个名叫汉斯?百?米格伦的人发现了6张新的不为人知的弗米尔斯的画。米格伦以800万荷兰盾——合300万美元的价格卖给了世界上最大的博物馆和收藏家。批评家们以及专家们都认为这些是弗米尔斯的真迹，那些批评家和专家都没注意到一幅画里面耶稣的两只手是模仿的。模仿米格伦本人的手画的，还有一幅画里的椅子模仿的是万?米格伦现代画室里的一把椅子，帆布上用的油彩中含着合成树脂，而这种树脂在1900年以后才出现，可是弗米尔斯则死于1675年。这些弗米尔斯的画不过是骗局，后来被戳穿了。但是任何一个明眼人是不需要看整幅画才发现它的瑕疵的，带合成树脂的帆布的一英寸的1/5就足够了。所以，同样，我已经看了你们《圣经》帆布中一英寸的1/5，我看得够多了，足可以称它为赝品。” 听到这里，兰德尔便想多了解一些，“这个所谓的瑕疵你已经给了普卢默和弗鲁米了吗？” 博加德斯有些迟疑了：“不，我没有，还没有。” “为什么没有？” “这个——这是私人问题。” 兰德尔手按桌子站了起来，“好吧，现在我肯定你在扯谎。如果你发现了《圣经》的什么错误，你早就会直接给普卢默了，他给你付钱干这个，是不是？” 博加德斯跳了起来，脸上愤怒得变成了红色，“他什么也没给我，我这样做是因为我爱他。” 兰德尔愣愣地站着，这就是了，他意识到了博加德斯和普卢默是对互相忠实于对方的同性恋人，他碰着了同性恋人的神经末梢。 博加德斯扭过头去。“只我自己知道，我连普卢默都没告诉。我知道这对于他，甚至比新本《圣经》都更为重要。如果他就此错误写篇文章公之于众，他，他就会名利双收。但是我把这个作为——美国电影里总说的——我最后的王牌。因为最近，最近普卢默对我不那么好了。还有——我知道，他对我不忠。他有了另外一个更年轻、更有吸引力的人，普卢默告诉我说，这个完了后，他就带我去北非度假，他答应了，只要我答应带给他新本《圣经》。是的，新本《圣经》就足以让他留在我身边了。但一旦发生意外，我要抓紧我的王牌，我保留的这一手永远不会告诉他。” 兰德尔对这个失节的荷兰人发出的如怨如诉的声音有些害怕了，这是一种害怕失去对方的绝望。现在，兰德尔在想这个管理员的话到底有多少可信度，这个《国际新约》里有什么东西会有损于它呢？博加德斯不得不编了谎话来恐吓出版者们留住他并把新发现的资料交给他。除了质问这个叛徒外没有别的选择了。 “汉斯，”兰德尔冲着荷兰人大声吼叫道。 博加德斯自己正沉浸在与普卢默的痛苦之中，几乎忘了自己不是一个人在办公室里。 “汉斯，你没有告诉我什么理由不让我报告给出版商们让他们来马上解雇你，你自吹什么发现了新本《圣经》里的错误。如果你发现了这个错误，那么你现在就马上说出来。不然的话，我是没有理由不告诉他们将你轰出去的。” “你不相信？”博加德斯愤怒地说。 但也没有再说别的。 兰德尔有些迟疑：“我正等着听。” 博加德斯舔舔他肥厚的嘴唇，仍然沉默。 “好，”兰德尔说，“现在我敢肯定——你不但是个叛徒而且是个骗子，我这就告诉他们除掉你。” 他转身朝门口走去。 “听着！”博加德斯突然大叫一声，他一下冲过来挡住要离开的兰德尔。“你可以告诉他们除掉我，可是你最好别只告诉这些，即使他们知道也为时晚了。不管怎么样，对他们来说已经晚了。你告诉他们看纸草纸9号，从上数第四行。除了我之外没有人知道那句话是什么意思。一旦我交给普卢默，公之于世，那'第二次复活'计划就完了。但是……”他停下来喘了口气，“我保证永远不披露这个错误。如果他们不尽快交给我他们的《圣经》的话，他们就彻底失去一切了！” “汉斯，他们今天就会把你从这儿踢出去。”兰德尔说。 “告诉他们看看纸草纸第九号的第四行，他们就会看到的。” 兰德尔推开他，打开门走了出去。 好的，他会看的。 一个小时后，他看到了。 兰德尔此刻正坐在他的办公桌边，用肩膀扛着电话听筒，等着接线员为他找到美因茨工作的乔?L?惠勒。 兰德尔趁等着的空闲，又把手里的那份打印资料看了一遍。这些资料上有他从博加德斯那里了解的所有“错误”：在詹姆斯福音书，即纸草纸的第九号第四行。 获得这条信息可真不容易。其一，兰德尔不是什么学者；其二，他无从看到地窖里的那些原稿。另外，他不懂阿拉米语，最后一条成了一大绊脚石。他想起他的机密档案中有现存的唯一的一套埃德隆所摄的照片时，那最后一个困难更成了关键性的难题。 他把那张印有第九号的纸草纸的照片研究了一番，根本看不懂，那些蚂蚁似的曲线笔划和点点，有的甚至看也看不清。在画面上左一道右一道，这些对兰德尔来说真是犹如天书。但是旁边还附着一张表，上面写着各章节的名称以及段落编号，以注明詹姆斯福音书的译本上各阿拉米文出现的行数，第九号纸草纸文稿第四行在《国际新约》的英文版本上应是在詹姆斯福音的第23章第66节。 因为他没有被批准保留那本《国际新约》的复印件，兰德尔想找找谁手头还有一份，但出版商们都不在城里。奈特博士早把自己那份复印件毁掉了。忽然，兰德尔记起奈特博士曾用过杰弗里斯博士的那一本。 兰德尔找到了正在办公室的杰弗里斯博士，这个英国神学家极乐意合作。“呣，詹姆斯本第23章第66节，呣，让我瞧瞧。”兰德尔找到了译本的那一行，“我们的主，在带着教徒逃出罗马的那天晚上穿过了富西纳斯湖的大片土地。那个湖早就被凯撒大帝派人排干了，那时罗马人已经在开垦并耕耘了。” 简单、明了、清楚。 那么博加德斯指出的那个致命错误在哪儿呢？ 犹太人是公元49年被赶出罗马的，耶稣也在其中。据詹姆斯福音所说，那年耶稣已死了，是他生命的最后一年，这儿又有什么错吗？ 兰德尔又找来亚历山大和泰勒给他找出的所有关于凯撒大帝以及公元49年犹太人被逐出罗马，还有富西纳斯湖被开垦为农田第三件有关的资料。他没告诉他们他在找什么。这些研究人员搜罗尽了古代的文件。不久，兰德尔的下属交上了各自发现的材料。 兰德尔一个人独自翻阅着这些资料，忽然发现了一个日期，刹那间，他认出来这就是博加德斯所指的所谓“致命的错误”。 富西纳斯湖一度是罗马城旁一个几乎全被陆地包围的湖泊，这个湖没有出口，每年古罗马的雨季来临时，富西纳斯的湖水就会上涨，溢满，淹没土地。凯撒大帝曾派他的工程人员把这个湖排干，他们制定了一个计划，这是项艰巨的工程。工程要建一条3英里长的隧道，从富西纳斯湖到远处的西里斯河，中间要穿过附近山上的硬石。凯撒组织了3万劳力苦干了10年来穿凿建筑这条隧道。完成之后，他把富西纳斯湖的水沿隧道放出，排干了整个湖水，把这个湖床改造成农田。 据詹姆斯福音记载，公元49年耶稣穿过了这个已成农田的富西纳斯湖。 据罗马史学家们声称：凯撒大帝直到公元52年才把富西纳斯湖水排干改造成为农田。 这就是错误所在，博加德斯所谓的错误所在。 公元49年，耶稣飞行穿过了这片干涸的湖床，尽管那个不可辩驳的事实存在，也就是那一年那个湖还在，而且直到耶稣死后3年才被排干。 詹姆斯福音书上的年代错误是人人可见的，但从来没有人注意它，正如迄今没人查证过一样，除了那个荷兰图书管理员。然而，一旦被指出并向世界各地加以宣传，公众便会不安，正如此刻兰德尔的不安一样。 对这个错误肯定会有一个说法。