Chapter 107 Chapter 105

Late night had fallen on Rosslyn Chapel. Robert Langdon stood alone on the porch outside the cobblestone house, listening happily to the long-lost laughter behind the screen door.He held a cup of strong Brazilian coffee in his hand, which relieved him for a while of the weariness that was creeping in, but he felt that the coffee would soon lose its effect, because the weariness had penetrated into his bones. "Why did you sneak out?" Suddenly someone behind him was talking to him. He turned to look.It turned out to be Sophie's grandma, her silver hair shone with a faint white light in the night.Her original name was Mary Showell, and she had been so for at least twenty-eight of the past years.

Langdon gave her a languid smile. "I just want you to get together alone." He looked through the window and saw Sophie talking to her brother.Mary came and stood beside him. "Mr. Langdon, when I heard of Saunière's murder, I was concerned for Sophie's safety. However, I couldn't be more relieved to see her standing at the door of our house tonight. Thank you very much." Langdon didn't know how to answer for a moment.Although he would have liked Sophie and her grandmother to have a little more time to talk in private, Mary let him stay. "Mr. Langdon, my husband obviously trusts you, and so do I."

Langdon just stayed, standing by Sophie's side.Without saying a word, she listened in amazement as Mary told the story of Sophie's late parents.Incredibly.Both came from the Merovingian family - direct descendants of Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ.Sophie's parents and grandparents changed their family surnames to Plantard and St. Carlyle for safety reasons.Their children are the closest surviving family members of the royal lineage, and are therefore closely guarded by the Priory of Sion.When Sophie's parents die in a car accident of unknown cause, the Priory of Sion begins to worry that the identity of their royal blood has not been discovered.

"Me and your grandfather," Mary explained, almost choking on pain, "as soon as I got the call, I had to make an important decision. We found your parents' car in the river." She erased With tears in his eyes, he continued: "The six of us - including two of your grandchildren - were planning to go on a car trip together. Fortunately, however, we changed our plans at the last minute and it ended up being just you and your parents. .Jacques and I heard that there was a car accident and had no idea what happened...or if it was a real car accident." Mary looked at Sophie and said, "But we know we have to protect our grandchildren. So I took what I thought was the surest way. Your grandfather called the police and said that your brother and I were in the car... Both of our bodies were obviously swept away by the rapids. Then your brother and I met The Priory of Mount Sion went into hiding together. Jacques is a very famous person, so it is rare to have the luck of being anonymous. However, the main reason is that, as the eldest of the family, Sophie, you will stay in Paris to receive education, and Jacques brought up so that I could be closer to the Priory of Sion so that I could have their protection." She whispered instead: "Separating a family was the hardest choice we ever made. Jacques and I rarely Meetings, even meeting, are in the most hidden places... under the protection of the Priory of Mount Sion. The rules and regulations of this organization are always strictly observed by its members."

Langdon felt that her story was getting more and more relevant, but at the same time, he felt that it was not for him, so he went outside.Now, as he gazed at the steeple of Rosslyn Chapel, it tormented him with its unsolved mystery.Is the Holy Grail really in Rosslyn Chapel?If the answer is yes, where is the sword and the holy grail mentioned by Saunière in the poem? "Let me get it." Mary gestured to Langdon's hand. "Oh, thanks." Langdon handed over the empty coffee cup. Mary stared at him. "Mr. Langdon, I mean what you're holding in your other hand."

Langdon looked down, only to realize that he was holding the papyrus left by Saunière in his hand.He took it out again, hoping to find something he had overlooked before. "I'm sorry, but of course it's for you." Mary took the papyrus, seemingly amused. "I knew a man in Paris who was probably anxious to get back this rosewood box. André Vernet was a good friend of Jacques, and Jacques obviously trusted him. In order to live up to Jacques' entrustment, keep this box , Andre would do anything." Even willing to shoot me.Looking back, Langdon decided not to mention that he might have smashed the poor guy's nose.When he thought of Paris, the three captains of the guard who were killed the night before flashed in his mind. "What about the Priory of Mount Xion? What's the matter now?"

"Mr. Langdon, the great wheel of history has been set in motion. This organization has endured for hundreds of years, and it will withstand this test. There will always be someone who will come forward and rebuild." Langdon wondered all night whether Sophie's grandmother had anything to do with the running of the Priory of Sion.Regardless, the organization has historically included women.Four of its leaders have been women.The Chief of Guards was traditionally a man - that is, the guard - while a woman occupied a higher status and may hold the highest office. Langdon thought of Ray Teabing and Westminster Abbey.This seems to be a thing of the past life. "Could it be that the Catholic Church is coercing your husband not to release the Grail Documents at the end of the world?"

"My God, of course not. The so-called end of the world is just something paranoid. In the literature of the Priory of Sion, there is no definite date for the Holy Grail to be made public. In fact, the Priory of Sion Will never approve of the Holy Grail being made public." "Never?" Langdon was dumbfounded. "It is not the Holy Grail itself that serves our souls, but the mysteries and amazing things hidden in it. The beauty of the Holy Grail lies in its ethereal nature." Mary Showell raised her head at this time, staring at Rosslyn Chapel, continued: "For some, the Holy Grail will immortalize them; for others, it is a journey to find lost documents that record a little-known history. But for For most people, I suspect that the Holy Grail is simply a great thought...a jewel out of reach, that even in today's tumultuous world, it can bring us some useful enlightenment."

"However, if the "Holy Grail Documents" are kept secret, won't the history of Mary Magdalene be lost forever in the dust of history?" Langdon said. "Really? Look around you. You'll see her history being told through art, music, and books. And every day, every day. The pendulum of the clock is swinging, and we're beginning to feel the history The danger...felt that we were on a path of destruction. We began to feel the need to restore the divine feminine to what it was." She paused for a moment. "You told me you were writing a book about the divine feminine symbol. Is it a work?"

"yes." She smiled and said, "Mr. Langdon, then finish it and continue singing her songs. Our world needs contemporary bards." Langdon fell silent, feeling the weight of her words.On the other side of the open sky, a new moon is rising slowly over the treetops.He turned his eyes to Rosslyn Chapel, and a childlike desire rose in him to understand the many mysteries that lay within it. "Don't ask, now is not the time." He told himself.He glanced at the papyrus in Mary's hand, then at Rosslyn Chapel. "Mr. Langdon, you can ask any questions." Mary said happily, "You have the right to do so."

Langdon blushed unconsciously. "Want to know if the Holy Grail is in Rosslyn Chapel?" "Then can you tell me?" Mary sighed with mock sullenness. "Why can't people let the Holy Grail go?" She laughed, obviously amused by herself. "Why do you think the Holy Grail is here?" Langdon pointed to the papyrus in her hand and said, "Your husband clearly mentioned Rosslyn Chapel in his poem, and he also mentioned the sword and the chalice that guard the chalice. But I don't see it here." What a symbol of the Blade and the Holy Grail." "The blade and the chalice?" Mary asked. "And what do they look like?" Langdon knew she was teasing him, but he followed through with the play, quickly describing the markers. Mary had a thoughtful look on her face: "Ah, yes, of course. The blade represents something masculine, and I believe that's how it's drawn, isn't it?" She put her index finger in the palm of her hand. A graph is drawn. △ "Right," Langdon said.Mary drew him an unusual "unknown" blade pattern, although he had seen it depicted in two ways. "And the other way around," she said, drawing again in the palm of her hand: "It's the Holy Grail, and it represents women." ▽ "You're right," Langdon said. "But you said that among the hundreds of symbols in our Rosslyn Chapel, you can't see these two shapes." "I haven't seen it." "Then if I tell you, you'll sleep peacefully, right?" Before Langdon could answer, Mary Chauwell had left the corridor and was heading for the church.Langdon hurriedly followed her into the ancient building.Mary turned on the lamp and pointed to the center floor of the chapel. "Mr. Langdon, come here and see the blade and the grail you're looking for." Langdon stared at the worn flagstone floor, but it was empty. "There's nothing here..." Mary sighed, and began to walk down the famous shabby path to the church grounds.This evening, Langdon saw tourists passing the same trail just after dark.He shifted his gaze to look at the huge marker, but still felt dazed. "But that's the Star of David--" I secretly marveled in my heart. "The blade and the chalice. Two in one." "The Star of David...the perfect union between man and woman...the Seal of Solomon...is believed to be the place where Yahweh, the god of men, and Shekinah, the god of women, lived, the sign of the Holy of Holies." It took Langdon a minute to come up with a sentence: "The poem does refer to Rosslyn Chapel, absolutely." Mary smiled slightly: "Obviously so." However, these reminders made him feel chills: "So the Holy Grail is in the underground palace under our feet?" Mary laughed: "It only exists in our souls. The Priory of Sion shouldered one of the oldest missions, which is to hope that one day the Holy Grail will be returned to its native France, where it can rest forever .We have had to carry it around the country for hundreds of years to keep it safe, which is degrading to its dignity. Jacques has wanted to bring it back to France and build it since he became a master. A queen's resting place, in which it is hoped to restore its reputation." "So did he succeed?" Mary's expression became serious: "Mr. Langdon, considering you have helped me a lot tonight, as the president of the Roslyn Supervisory Committee, I can tell you clearly that the Holy Grail is no longer here." Langdon decided to chase after him: "But the place pointed by the keystone should be where the Holy Grail is hidden. But why does it say it is Rosslyn Chapel?" "Perhaps you have misunderstood its meaning. You know, the Holy Grail can be deceiving, as my husband sometimes is." "But how can he say so clearly?" he asked: "We stand above a subterranean palace marked by swords and chalices, under a ceiling carved with various planets, art created by master stonemasons Surrounded by crystals. It's all an allusion to Rosslyn Chapel." "Well, then, let's take a look at the mysterious poem." She unfolded the papyrus and read it aloud with mockery. "The Holy Grail awaits beneath the ancient Rosslyn Chapel. The blade and the chalice guarded her door together. She lies in the arms of the beloved masterpieces of masters, Rest at last under a starry sky. " After she finished reading, she was stunned for a few seconds, and a knowing smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. "Oh, Jacques, Jacques." Langdon looked at her expectantly; "You know?" "Mr. Langdon, you have seen the church floor. We can look at simple things in many ways." Langdon struggled to understand her words.Everything about Jacques Saunière seemed to have a double meaning, but Langdon couldn't see it.Mary was tired. She yawned and said, "Mr. Langdon, I'll tell you all. I've never officially visited where the Holy Grail is now buried. But I'm sure I married a A man of great reputation...women's intuition is often very keen." Langdon wanted to speak a few words, but Mary didn't stop. "It makes me sad that after all your hard work, you have to leave Rosslyn Chapel with nothing. But I know that you will eventually find the answer you are looking for. One day you will understand." She smiled slightly Smiling: "And when you wake up, I believe that all people like you will keep its secret in their hearts." Then there was the sound of someone approaching the door. "I said where did you two go?" Sophie came in and said. "I was just about to go," replied her grandma, walking over to Sophie who was standing in the doorway. "Good night, my princess." She kissed Sophie on the forehead and said, "Don't keep Mr. Langdon out late." Langdon and Sophie watched her grandma return to the big cobblestone house.Then Sophie turned to look at him with affection in her eyes. "I really didn't expect it to end like this." But it did match the two of us, Langdon thought.He could see Sophie had mixed feelings.tonight.The news she received has changed her life forever. "Are you okay? There's still a lot to take your time." Sophie smiled quietly. "I have a family. That's where I'll start. Who we are and where we come from will take some time to understand." Langdon remained silent. "Will you stay with us after tonight?" she asked. "Will you stay with us for at least a few days?" Langdon sighed. He had nothing more to ask for. "Sophie, you need to spend a little time with your family. I'll be heading back to Paris in the morning." She looked disappointed, but seemed to know he was right.For a long time, neither of them spoke.Finally, Sophie leaned over, took his hand, and led him out of the church.They came to a small plateau on the cliff.From here they looked across the Scottish countryside, bathed in silvery moonlight leaking from parting clouds.They just stood there without saying a word, holding hands, resisting the sudden tiredness together.Then the stars came out, too, but in the western sky one star shone coolly, brighter than any other star.Langdon smiled silently when he saw it.That was the morning star—the ancient goddess, shining as patiently as ever. The night was getting colder, and the refreshing wind was coming up from the valley below.After a while, Langdon looked at Sophie. Her eyes were tightly closed, and the corners of her mouth were relaxed, revealing a contented smile.Langdon felt his eyelids begin to grow heavy.He took her hand reluctantly: "Sophie?" She slowly opened her eyes and faced him.Her face, under the silver moonlight, is so beautiful.She smiled wearily. "Ok." Thinking of going back to Paris alone, Langdon suddenly became inexplicably sad. "I'll probably go before you wake up." He paused, a knot in his throat. "I'm sorry, I'm not very good at--" Sophie reached out, put her hand on his face, then leaned over and kissed his cheek tenderly. "When can I see you again?" Langdon quickly calculated in his mind, but a dazed expression appeared on his face. "When?" He stopped, curious in his heart, did she know that he had been thinking about the same question? "Well, actually, next month I'm going to Florence for a conference. I'm going to have nothing to do for a week there." "Are you inviting me?" "We're going to live in luxury there. They're going to book me a room at the Brunelleschi Hotel." Sophie smiled mischievously: "Mr. Langdon, you are too self-assertive." He said flatteringly, "I mean--" "Robert, I am very willing to meet you in Florence. But you have to promise me one condition." Her tone became serious: "Don't take me around to see museums, churches, and tombs , or go to see paintings and cultural relics." "In Florence, you mean? That's how we kill the week? But we don't have anything else to do." Sophie leaned forward and kissed him again, but this time on the lips.The bodies of the two were entangled together, touching gently at first, and finally sticking together completely.Sophie's eyes were full of longing as she pulled away to walk away. "Okay." Langdon said with feigned ease, "That's it for our date."