Chapter 18 Chapter Sixteen

When Fache would figure out that she hadn't left the Louvre, Sophie didn't know.Seeing Langdon's embarrassment, she also began to wonder if it was appropriate to push him into a corner of the men's room. She pictured her grandfather's dead body, naked like an eagle with outstretched wings.There was a time when her grandfather was the most important person in her life, but strangely, she is not saddened by his death now.They had become strangers, and their relationship broke down one March night.That happened ten years ago, when Sophie was twenty-two.Sophie, who is studying at a postgraduate school in the UK, returned home a few days early and witnessed some things her grandfather did that she was not supposed to see.She could hardly believe her eyes that day.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes... Shocked and humiliated, Sophie refused to accept her grandfather's painstaking excuses, and immediately moved out with her savings and found a small apartment to share with several people.She swore never to tell anyone what she had seen or heard.Grandfather sent postcards and letters, trying everything to get in touch with her, begging Sophie to give him a chance to explain in person.How to explain? Sophie replied only once—to ask her grandfather not to call her again, or to wait for her in public.Sophie worries that his explanation will be more terrifying than the matter itself.

Incredibly, Grandpa never gave up trying.Today, Sophie's wardrobe drawer contains the letters her grandfather wrote to her for ten years.The grandfather kept his promise, fulfilled Sophie's request, and never called her again. until this afternoon. "Sophie?" Grandpa's voice sounded very old from the answering machine. "I have respected your wishes for a long time... I would not have made the call either, but I must tell you that something terrible has happened." Sophie shuddered in the kitchen of her flat, hearing her grandfather's voice again after all these years.The gentle voice of the grandfather brought back many fond memories of childhood.

"Sophie, please listen to me," said the grandfather in English.When Sophie was a child, her grandfather spoke English to her.Practice French at school and English at home. "You should be reasonable. Have you read the letters I wrote to you? Don't you understand?" He paused, then continued, "We must talk at once. Please grant this wish to Grandfather. Call now Call me at the Louvre. I think you and I are in extreme danger." Sophie stared intently at the answering machine.Danger?What is he saying? "Princess..." Grandpa's voice was choked up with some unknown emotion. "I know I'm hiding something from you and it's costing me your love. But this time for your own safety. Now, you must know the truth. Please, I must tell you the truth about your family .”

Suddenly, Sophie was so tense that she could hear her own heartbeat.My family?Sophie lost her parents when she was four years old.The car they were in fell off the bridge and into the fast-flowing river.Sophie's grandmother and brother were also in the car.In this way, Sophie's whole family ceased to exist in an instant.She has a box of newspaper clippings to prove it. Sophie hadn't expected that his grandfather's words had stirred a pang of longing in her heart.My family!In an instant, the dream that woke up Sophie in childhood appeared before her eyes countless times: My family is still alive!They are going home!But this dream has gradually disappeared and been gradually forgotten.

Sophie, your family is dead.They will never come back. "Sophie..." came the grandfather's voice on the answering machine, "I've waited a long time to tell you the truth. I've been waiting for the right moment, but I can't wait any longer. When you hear the message, call Come meet me at the Louvre. I'll be waiting for you here all night. I'm afraid we're both in danger. You need to know a lot." The message is over. Sophie stood there silently, and it took several minutes for her trembling to stop.She pondered over her grandfather's message, guessed his real intention, and thought of a possibility: this is a trap.

Evidently, the grandfather was desperate to see her and was using all means.Sophie grew more disgusted with him.Sophie suspected that it was because he was terminally ill and unscrupulously asked Sophie to see him for the last time.If that was the case, he would have been wise to find such an excuse. Sophie didn't call, and had no intention of doing so.But now, her thinking is being questioned.Grandpa was murdered in the museum he was in charge of and wrote a string of codes on the floor. She can be sure that this is the password left for her. Although Sophie still doesn't know the meaning of the code, she is sure that the mystery of the code itself can prove that it is reserved for her.Sophie, who was brought up by Jacques Saunière as a lover of ciphers, Scrabble and riddles, was naturally enthusiastic and gifted at cryptography.On countless Sundays, they used to do cipher games and Scrabble together for the newspaper.At the age of twelve, Sophie was already able to complete the Scrabble game on the "Le Monde" independently.Her grandfather made her do the harder English Scrabble, number riddles and code substitutions, and Sophie did them all.Sophie later turned her hobby into a career as a codebreaker for the Justice Department.

Tonight, as a codebreaker, Sophie admires her grandfather for linking two total strangers with just one simple code - Sophie Neveu and Robert Langdon.But why would he do this? Unfortunately, from Langdon's bewildered eyes, Sophie could see that the American was just as puzzled as she was.