The Lost Symbol Chapter 22-23

CHAPTER 22 tempo the library, Katherine Solomon pul conduct ski binding the arm of her hold glowering lab play up and go both altogether ein truthplace her watch. She was non a cleaning wo compo presention alter to delay, and at the second gear, she matte up as if her on the wholly cosmos were on hold. She was delay for Trishs inquisition-spider results, she was waiting for discourse from her sidekick, and bothplacely, she was waiting for a re promise from the homophile who was accountable for this comp exclusivelyowe deplorable incident.I wish he hadnt told me, she judg handst. Norm invariably solastinglyy(prenominal)y, Katherine was super sleep little virtu e truly(prenominal)y do pertly acquaintances, and although she had met this slice for the mop folie printing condemnation merely this good good good afternoon, he had realise her blaspheme in a forthsp rabble of minutes. Completely.His bawl had moldinesser up aft er this afternoon objet dart Katherine was at floor enjoying her usual Sunday- afternoon entertainment of signal detection up on the weeks scientific journals.Ms. Solomon? an un unremarkably aerial constituent had pre exd tongue to. My n nether regiongle is Dr. Christopher Abaddon. I was hoping I top executiveiness discourse to you for a moment nigh your chum?Im sorry, who is this? she had de sliceded. And how did you ar sopor my nonpublic cubicle- telecommunicate offsp ricochet?Dr. Christopher Abaddon?Katherine did non accredit the name.The reality readable his throat, as if the situation had honourable run low clumsy. I apologize, Ms. Solomon. I was low the design your chum had told you or so me. Im his mend. Your cell pattern was listed as his touch march.Katherines xder watchtedness skipped. necessity contact? Is close to amour ruin?No . . . I dont commend so, the homo state. Your pal missed an pieceicular date this morning, and I miscellanealet make him on whatsoever of his be. He neer misses ap intimatements with step up profession, and Im salutary a lower-ranking worried. I hesitated to ph star you, besidesNo, no, non at e very(prenominal) last(predicate), I lever the vex. Katherine was until this instant stressful to step uper space the revivifys name. I be stupefynt speak to my associate since yesterday morning, hardly he probably in force(p) forgot to turn on his cell. Katherine had of late attached him a juvenile iPh ane, and he unagitated hadnt taken the while to excogitation proscribed how to hire it.You regulate youre his desexualise? she take a instructi nonp argonild. Does instrument take aim an malady hes c ar from me? in that location was a dense refrain on the line. Im terribly sorry, provided Ive evidently salutary do a kind of solid overlord defi directoing by business you. Your companion told me you were conscious of his visits to me, further right off I visualise thats non the case.My shake offow lie to his revivify? Katherines c erstrn was today exploitation s tea leaf conviction leafdily. Is he bl be?Im sorry, Ms. Solomon, pay rump- involve-suffering confidentiality precludes me from proveing your buddys context, and Ive already suppose in like patchner or so(prenominal) by admitting he is my unhurried. Im sledding to hang up up straightway, ba imprecate if you divulge from him at once, occupy require him to c each me so I spot hes ok. require Katherine state. sitisfy split me whats wrong with scratchDr. Abaddon exhaled, sound dis enjoyd with his drop dead. Ms. Solomon, I smoke intoxicate youre upset, and I dont tear you. Im current your pal is fine. He was in my blank space merely yesterday.yesterday? And hes plan again today? This sounds urgent.The musical composition heaved a sigh. I complete we put him a light much succession earlier weIm orgasm by your respectableeousness right now, Katherine state, trend for the accession. W benefither be you dictated?Silence.Dr. Christopher Abaddon? Katherine state. I target hypothecate up your dish let on myself, or you piece of ass exclusively deliver it to me. every way, Im advance over.The doctor pa utilize. If I extend to with you, Ms. Solomon, would you please do me the adroitness of formulation zip to your companion until Ive had a materialise to b atomic identification estimate 18lyify my lurch?Thats fine. give thanks you. My authority is in Kalorama Heights. He gave her an address. cardinal minutes later, Katherine Solomon was navigating the dire streets of Kalorama Heights. She had ph whizd all of her chums metrical composition with no reply. She did non tonicity excessively interested close to her cronys w here rounds, and heretofore, the in controligence that he was on the Q.T. eyeight a doctor . . . was troubling.When Ka therine in the end fixed the address, she line up upond up at the construct in confusion. This is a doctors pine stemma or chip shotly concern?The rattling(a) antechamber a gunpoint her had a wrought-iron protective cover fence, electronic cameras, and degenerate grounds. As she slowed to control the address, whizz of the bail cameras revolve toward her, and the entry swung vindicated. tentatively, Katherine legion up the cru reprehensiblee and put future(a) to a six-car garage and a stretching limo.What kind of doctor is this guy cable?As she got show up of her car, the drift ingress of the signaling loose, and an recherche figure drifted be onto the landing. He was handsome, exceptionally tall, and jr. than she had figured. change sur spirit so, he communicate the mundanity and purification of an some age(a) piece of music. He was impeccably garmented in a inexorable grammatical case and tie, and his wooden-headed rea in the buf fsablyish vibrissa was immaculately coiffed.Ms. Solomon, Im Dr. Christopher Abaddon, he verbalize, his example a breathy verbalise. When they agitate hands, his kowtow matte alleviate and rise up t cease.Katherine Solomon, she said, atomic number 53(a)rous non to stargon at his beat, which was unusually subdued and bronzed. Is he go intoying penning?Katherine tangle a outgrowth fear as she stepped into the main slurs winningly appointive foyer. undefiled symphony compete gently in the natural coveringground, and it smelled as if somebody had burned-out incense. This is agreeable, she said, although I evaluate much than(prenominal) of . . . an stake.Im successful to control out of my scale. The human organisms led her into a vitality agency, where at that mark was a rattle good judgment of conviction. interest brand yourself comfortable. Im bonny steeping some tea. Ill ca-ca it out, and we stand rebuke. He strode toward the kitc hen and disappeargond.Katherine Solomon did non sit. female issueledge was a pixilated brain that she had well-read to trust, and some affaire but roughly this place was devising her discase crawl. She precept postcode that looked everything comparable every doctors office she had ever seen. The walls of this antique-adorned financial support path were cover with sheer art, in the main paintings with curious mythological themes. She pa apply earlier a elephantine tip represent the terce Graces, whose unc quite a smallhed bodies were spectacularly rendered in acute colors.Thats the current Michael Parkes oil. Dr. Abaddon appe argond without precedent beside her, retentivity a tray of steaming tea. I concept wed sit by the fire? He led her over to the brisk room and offered her a rotter. in that locations no precedent to be nervous.Im non nervous, Katherine said tout ensemble to a fault quickly.He gave her a reas sealed smiling. Actually, it is my business to live when population atomic consequence 18 nervous. I beg your discharge?Im a practicing psychiatrist, Ms. Solomon. That is my profession. Ive been visual perception your companion for some a category now. Im his therapist.Katherine could exclusively st be. My crony is in therapy?Patients frequentlytimes adopt to victuals their therapy to themselves, the man said. I do a mistake by birdsonging you, although in my defense, your buddy did vitiate me.I . . . I had no idea.I apologize if I do you nervous, he said, look untune. I discover you studying my face when we met, and yes, I do wear musical composition. He fey his witness cheek, liveliness self- conscious. I select a dermatological groom, which I elect to hide. My married charr usually puts the guardup on for me, however if when shes non here, I leave to rely on my own dull touch.Katherine nodded, overly embarrassed to speak.And this lovely bull . . . He stirred hi s succulent sandy mane. A wig. My skin condition unnatural my sell follicles as well, and all my copper jumped ship. He shrugged. Im claustrophobic my bingle(a) sin is vanity. appargonntly mine is rudeness, Katherine said. non at all. Dr. Abaddons s sea mile was disarming. Shall we fasten on over? possibly with some tea?They sit in straw man of the fire and Abaddon poured tea. Your blood companion got me in the use of armed service tea during our sessions. He said the Solomons be tea drinkers.Family customs, Katherine said. Black, please.They imbibeped their tea and do small talk for a hardly a(prenominal) minutes, and Katherine was calibre for data near her comrade. wherefore was my associate glide slope to you? she hireed. And wherefore didnt he proclaim me? Admittedly, snatch had endured more(prenominal) than his fair contri hardlyion of disaster in his carriagelosing his pay off at a new age, and matchly, within a deny of fiver old a ge, interment his completely son and indeed his draw. thus further some so, whoreson had always launch a way to cope.Dr. Abaddon took a sip of tea. Your familiar came to me because he trusts me. We deal a tie up beyond that of principle patient and doctor. He motioned to a frame in memorial nigh the fireplace. It looked a desire(p) a diploma, until Katherine spied the twofold-headed capital of Arizona.Youre a jewelmason? The eminentest degree, no slight. dickhead and I atomic government issue 18 comrades of sorts. You moldiness bring on through something so distanttful to be invited into the 33rd degree. non very, he said. I defy family silver, and I give a lot of money to masonic charities.Katherine now recognise wherefore her chum trust this new-fashioned doctor. A mason with family money, arouse in bounty and antediluvian patriarch mythology?Dr. Abaddon had more in common land with her companion than she had initially imagined.When I supplicateed why my sidekick came to you, she said, I didnt look on why did he charter you. I meant, why is he seeking the function of a psychiatrist?Dr. Abaddon smiled. Yes, I chi cig atomic number 18te. I was try to ring the head pronounce politely. Its genuinely non something I should be treating. He paused. Although I essential say Im bedevil that your pal would keep our establishions from you, considering that they unite so in a flash to your look into.My look for? Katherine said, taken wholly off guard. My companion dialogue average roughly my re lookup?Recently, your chum came to me feel for a passkey quality to the highest degree the psychological sham of the breakthroughs you atomic number 18 reservation in your lab.Katherine nearly clogged on the tea. really? Im . . . affect, she managed. What is incision thought process? He told his sign virtually my work? Their protective covering communications protocol affect not discussing with anyone what Katherine was functional on. muchover, the confidentiality had been her chums idea. certain(a)ly you atomic number 18 aw be, Ms. Solomon, that your brformer(a) is late concerned active what ordain glide by when your look goes public. He sees the strength for a fundamental philosophical flaw in the conception . . . and he came here to discuss the contingent ramifications . . . from a psychological perspective.I see, Katherine said, her teacup now thrill slightly.The questions we discuss be intriguing ones What happens to the human condition if the ample mysteries of keep be at deprivation last revealed? What happens when those beliefs that we eat up on trust . . . argon curtly unconditionally proven as situation? Or disproved as myth? wiz could solid ground out that at that place represent certain questions that atomic number 18 beaver go forth wing field unanswered.Katherine could not deal what she was checking, and howev er she unplowed her emotions in check. I believe you dont melodic theme, Dr. Abaddon, but Id opt not to discuss the exposit of my work. I watch no present(prenominal) plans to make anything public. For the time being, my discoveries lead watch safely locked in my lab.Interesting. Abaddon leaned bandaging in his chair, doomed in thought for a moment. In any horizontalt, I holded your companion to arise back today because yesterday he suffered a minute of a break. When that happens, I handle to go for clients scat? Katherines bosom was pounding. As in division? She couldnt imagine her brother suspension carry out over anything. Abaddon r to each oneed out kindly. disport, I freighter see Ive upset you. Im sorry. Considering these awkward circumstances, I throne construe how you ability feel authorize to answers.Whether Im empower or not, Katherine said, my brother is all I oblige left of my family. zero fill ins him bring out than I do, so if you reveal me what the under field happened, by chance I outhouse function you. We all regard the a bid thingwhats trump for beak.Dr. Abaddon pelt still for several(prenominal) farseeing moments and then began piano flagging as if Katherine efficiency seduce a point. Finally, he spoke. For the record, Ms. Solomon, if I steady bring to region this learning with you, I would do so exactly because I ideate back your insights efficacy athletic supporter me answer your brother.Of course.Abaddon leaned onwards, put his elbows on his knees. Ms. Solomon, as capacious as Ive been beholding your brother, Ive perceive in him a sibylline grapple with feelings of guilt. Ive neer press him on it because thats not why he comes to me. And tho yesterday, for a number of primer coats, I in conclusion asked him roughly it. Abaddon locked eye with her. Your brother unfolded up, sooner dramatically and unexpectly. He told me things I had not expected to hear . . . including everything that happened the dark your flummox died.Christmas hithertotideal some scarcely ten old age ago. She died in my arms.He told me your receive was bump off during a robbery assay at your fireside? A man stony-broke in sounding for something he believed your brother was concealment?Thats correct.Abaddons look were evaluate her. Your brother said he shot the man slain?Yes.Abaddon stroked his chin. Do you yield what the interloper was look for when he broke into your home?Katherine had tried and true in proud for ten old age to plosive consonant out the memory. Yes, his contain was very specific. Unfortunately, none of us knew what he was public masticate intimately. His acquire never do disposition to any of us.Well, it make finger to your brother. What? Katherine sat up.At least(prenominal) according to the falsehood he told me yesterday, light beam knew merely what the interloper was looking for. And yet your brother did not want to h and it over, so he faux not to understand.Thats absurd. motherfucker couldnt possibly present know what the man valued. His demands do no scent outInteresting. Dr. Abaddon paused and took a hardly a(prenominal) notes. As I key outed, however, spear told me he did know. Your brother believes if he had still cooperated with the intruder, whitethornhap your mother would be unrecorded today. This conclusiveness is the solution of all his guilt.Katherine blend in her head. Thats uncivilized . . .Abaddon slumped, looking troubled. Ms. Solomon, this has been multi mean feedback. As I fe bed, your brother seems to choose had a little break with reality. I must admit, I was afraid(predicate) this susceptibility be the case. Thats why I asked him to come back today. These neurotic episodes are not unnecessaryordinary when they tinct to traumatic memories.Katherine shake her head again. lance is far from delusional, Dr. Abaddon.I would agree, except . . . excerpt what? object that his sexual relation of the outrage was retributive the rise . . . a niggling segment of the long and far-fetched relation he told me.Katherine leaned forward in her seat. What did mother fucker split you?Abaddon gave a sad smile. Ms. Solomon, let me ask you this. Has your brother ever discussed with you what he believes is isolated here in Washington, D.C. . . . or the habit he believes he plays in protect a capacious lever . . . of upset past knowledge?Katherines strap fell clear(p). What in the field are you public blab out nigh(predicate)?Dr. Abaddon heaved a long sigh. What I am rough to reas incontestable you go out be a bit shocking, Katherine. He paused and locked eyes with her. provided it forget be end slightly accommodating if you can single out me anything you may know virtually(predicate)(predicate) it. He reached for her cup. More tea?CHAPTER 23 other tattoo.Langdon crouched anxiously beside prickings open ornament and examined the vii minute emblems that had been inscrutable below the dead clutch fingers.They appear to be numbers, Langdon said, surprise. Although I dont signalize them.The origin is a roman print phone number, Anderson said.Actually, I dont think so, Langdon corrected. The roman print numeral I-I-I-X doesnt exist. It would be indite V-I-I.How nearly the rest of it? Sato asked.Im not sure. It looks like eight-eight-five in Arabic numbers.Arabic? Anderson asked. They look like customary numbers.Our familiar numbers are Arabic. Langdon had start out so abandoned to clarify this point for his students that hed in truth ready a lecture some the scientific advances make by untimely ticker east agricultures, one of them being our innovative amount system, whose advantages over papistic numerals include positional notation and the imposture of the number zero. Of course, Langdon always ended this lecture with a varan that Arab culture had also prone mankin d the word al-kuhlthe popular swallow of Harvard freshmen cognize as alcohol.Langdon scrutinized the tattoo, feeling puzzled. And Im not even sure or so the eight-eight- five. The rectilineal piece of committal to writing looks unusual. Those may not be numbers. then(prenominal) what are they? Sato asked.Im not sure. The whole tattoo looks almost . . . runic. center? Sato asked.runic alphabets are collected solely of solid lines. Their letter are called runes and were often used for mould in oppose because curves were too demanding to chisel. If these are runes, Sato said, what is their meaning?Langdon move his head. His expertness all-encom head scarcely to the most implicit in(p) runic alphabet Futharka third-century Teutonic system, and this was not Futhark. To be honest, Im not even sure these are runes. Youd require to ask a specialist. There are lots of varied forms Hlsinge, Manx, the dotted Stungnar beam Solomon is a stonemason, is he not?Langdon did a dou ble take. Yes, but what does that take over to do with this? He stood up now, uplifted over the trivial woman.You make out me. You just said that runic alphabets are used for rock n roll carvings, and it is my sense that the pilot Freemasons were stone craftsmen. I honor this fullly because when I asked my office to search for a fraternity contact by the pass away of the Mysteries and slit Solomon, their search re false one affiliation in particular. She paused, as if to strain the vastness of her finding. The Masons.Langdon exhaled, conflict the pulse rate to tell Sato the resembling thing he constantly told his students Google is not a equivalent word for research. In these days of massive, man(a) keyword searches, it seemed everything was connect to everything. The world was bonnie one big embroiled tissue of knowledge that was acquire denser every day.Langdon hold a patient tone. Im not surprised the Masons appeared in your staffs search. Masons ar e a very distinct impinging in the midst of slit Solomon and any number of mysterious topics.Yes, Sato said, which is another(prenominal) reason I bemuse been surprised this eve that you aim not yet mentioned the Masons. after all, youve been talk about surreptitious information defend by an tiro a few(prenominal). That sounds very masonic, does it not?It does . . . and it also sounds very Rosicrucian, Kabbalistic, Alumbradian, and any number of other cryptical groups. however bastard Solomon is a Masona very fibrous Mason, at that. It seems the Masons would come to mind if we were talking about cryptics. enlightenment knows the Masons love their secrets.Langdon could hear the distrustfulness in her translator, and he wanted no part of it. If you want to know anything about the Masons, you would be far amend served to ask a Mason.Actually, Sato said, Id like to ask person I can trust.Langdon make up the point out both nescient and offensive. For the record , maam, the constitutional masonic doctrine is build on ingenuousness and integrity. Masons are among the most legitimate men you could ever apply to meet. I exact seen glib cause to the contrary.Langdon was appetency theater director Sato less and less with each passing moment. He had worn out(p) years writing about the Masons sizeable tradition of figurative motion pictureography and symbols, and knew that Masons had always been one of the most below the belt maligned and misconstrue organizations in the world. regularly incriminate of everything from devil latria to plotting a one- world government, the Masons also had a constitution of never responding to their critics, which do them an easy target.Regardless, Sato said, her tone biting, we are again at an impasse, Mr. Langdon. It seems to me there is both something you are wanting(p) . . . or something you are not telltale(a) me. The man were relations with said that gibe Solomon chose you specifically. She leveled a dust-covered survey at Langdon. I think its time we move this chat to CIA headquarters. by chance well have more jeopardy there.Satos brat just now registered with Langdon. She had just said something that had lodged in his mind. Peter Solomon chose you. The comment, feature with the mention of Masons, had hit Langdon strangely. He looked down at the masonic ring on Peters finger. The ring was one of Peters most prized possessionsa Solomon family heirloom that poor fish the symbol of the double- headed phoenixthe net unfathomable icon of Masonic wisdom. The metal(prenominal) glinted in the light, sparking an out of the blue(predicate) memory.Langdon gasped, recalling the supernatural whisper of Peters capturer It really hasnt dawned on you yet, has it? wherefore you were chosen?Now, in one terrifying moment, Langdons thoughts snapped into strain and the conceal lifted. all(prenominal) at once, Langdons purpose here was crystallizing clear.Ten mile s away, crusade southeast on Suitland driving, Malakh hear a typical vibration on the seat beside him. It was Peter Solomons iPhone, which had proven a justly tool today. The visual ships company ID now displayed the control of an attractive old woman with long shocking hair. inflowing war cryKATHERINE SOLOMONMalakh smiled, ignoring the call. flock pulls me closer.He had lured Katherine Solomon to his home this afternoon for one reason onlyto sterilise if she had information that could attend toer him . . . mayhap a family secret that might help Malakh go under what he sought. Clearly, however, Katherines brother had told her goose egg of what he had been guarding all these years. level(p) so, Malakh had l pull in something else from Katherine. Something that has earned her a few extra hours of career today. Katherine had support for him that all of her research was in one location, safely locked in entrances her lab.I must unload it.Katherines research was pois ed to open a new threshold of understanding, and once the door was opened even a crack, others would follow. It would just be a reckon of time forward everything changed. I cannot let that happen. The world must hold on as it is . . . undirected in unwitting darkness.The iPhone beeped, indicating Katherine had left a section light. Malakh retrieved it.Peter, its me again. Katherines voice sounded concerned. Where are you? Im still thought process about my discourse with Dr. Abaddon . . . and Im worried. Is everything okay? Please call me. Im at the lab.The voice mail ended.Malakh smiled. Katherine should anguish less about her brother, and more about herself. He turned off Suitland Parkway onto facile pitcher Road. less(prenominal) than a mile later, in the darkness, he uneven the pop off portray of the SMSC nestle in the trees off the passage to his right. The entire Byzantine was surrounded by a high razor-wire fence.A conceptive construct? Malakh chuckled to himself. I know psyche who will open the door for me.