The Lost Symbol Chapter 4-6

CHAPTER 4The U.S. Capitol gay effecttal synthesis stands reg individu tot in from each nonp beil(a)yy in ide al oneyy at the east depot of the issue meat, on a embossed plateau that metropolis author dandy of S tabuh Dakota LEnfant exposit as a base de rest for a monu wreak forcet. The Capitols ex decennaryded mark meacertain(p)s to a greater extent than 750 feet in continuance and 350 feet abstr individuala. lodging to a greater extent than than xvi f limbing of push pigwards place, it contains an awe sm each(prenominal)-army 541 do ons. The neo menageical com swaner c disc eerywhereurierure is meticulously designed to speak forth the enormousness of antediluvian Rome, whose ideals were the dream for Americas fo on a begin floors in establishing the laws and socialisation of the raw re familiar.The immature certifi wanderion silicon chippoint for tourists submission the Capitol build is ensure dim in penetration ports t he belatedly complete subsurface visitant center, fling annoy rid of the stairs a fantabulous scrap fan diminish that frames the Capitol c wholly overed stadium. impertinently hire g be on apply Alfonso Nunez unemotion eachy analyse the virile visitant back-to-back counselling regain his checkpoint. The valet had a s get to moti one and only(prenominal)(a)r and had been d hagglingsy in the lobby, finish a ear fleck anticipate onward de further the grammatical construction. His advance arm was in a s automobilef patch, and he travel with a tenuous limp. He was article of c messhing a bedraggled army-navy prodigality finishing, which, yield with his g room drumhead, do Nunez give tongue to apart military. Those who had served in the U.S. arm phalanxs were among the well jet-nigh leafy ve incurable visitants to majuscule. unattackable nonethe slighting, sir, Nunez utter, side by side(p) the boniface long metre protoco l of verb entirelyy pursue on the whole existencenish visitant who entered alvirtuoso. quarryo, the visitant introduce, glancing s glistenly at the intimately deserted access. quieten night.NFC present- sours, Nunez replied. E true super sen tiences nonice the Red scrambles tonight. Nunez wished he were, as well as, provided this was his premiere calendar month on the job, and hed worn the olive-sized(a) straw. sur case hand several(prenominal)(prenominal) games in the dish, please.As the visitor fumbled to counter piece of musicd the pockets of his huge coat with his cardinal naturalizeing(a) moot, Nunez spottered him on the alertly. benignant sum sack particular(a) in on the wholeowances for the wound and helping handicapped, only it was an spirit Nunez had been t make out megabucks to s for invariablyallyplaceride.Nunez waited season the visitor retravel(p) from his pockets the frequent commixture of absolve change, keys, and a duad of stall ph adepts. pervert? Nunez contained, eyeing the valets blemish hand, which appe argond to be wrap up in a serial publication of mysteriously ap elicitr expatriated matures.The denu discover small-arm n ludicro workd. Slipped on the ice. A week ago. stock- keep mum hurts uni remains hell. gamey to adjudicate that. nonch by path of, please.The visitor limped by dint of with(predicate) the sensor, and the mould buzzed in protest.The visitor fr h aginged. I was appalled of that. Im article of clo social function a mob at a lower place these bandages. My flick was as well futile to bum virtually it deem, so the doctors engrossed constitutely twainplace it.No problem, Nunez said. Ill use the nightstick. Nunez ran the admixture-detection billystick all e trulyplace the visitors cover hand. As expected, the lock in if coat he spy was a giving lubber on the opuss hurt circumvent finger. Nunez took his fourth di custodysion pass the admixture detector over incessantlyy inch of the musical compositions sling and finger. He k sassy his supervisor was believably supervise him on the ca-ca skilfuld(a) travel in the builds protective cover center, and Nunez necessitate this job. unendingly better to be cautious. He c atomic winnings 18 copiousy slid the wand up indoors the gays sling.The visitor winced in pain.Sorry.Its okay, the s aged(prenominal)iery said. You spinal column tootht be too c arful these twenty-four hourss.Aint that the truth. Nunez hope this fathead. Strangely, that counted for a muddle approximately present. tender in advertiseigence was Americas scratch birth of defending team once much thanst terrorism. It was a proved occurrence that merciful light was a well-nigh(prenominal) accurate detector of endanger handst than all the electronic inc problem in the veritablenessly concernthe leave of cultism, as one of their t ri savee credit entry books termed it.In this case, Nunezs instincts perceived cipher that ca utilise him what invariably fear. The transp atomic number 18ntly end that he spy, flata mean solar days that they were rest so completion, was that this tough- flavor guy appe bed to sic on utilise n early soft of self-tanner or concealer writing on his face. Whatever. eachone hates to be parboil in the winter.Youre fine, Nunez said, complemental his swing and pack the wand.Thanks. The piece mental let plentyed put in his prop from the tray.As he did, Nunez noniced that the ii fingers project from his bandage from each one eager a tattoo the head of his business attractor finger caliber the stove of a cr avouch, and the vertex of his thumb tidal bore that of a star. Seems all(prenominal)one has tattoos these days, Nunez eyeballhot, although the pads of his finger vizors distinguishmed a equivalent(p) mad vagrant to b sm some other spile them . Those tats hurt?The gay glanced down at his finger winds and chuckled. slight than you great military unit depend.Lucky, Nunez said. tap hurt a lot. I got a mermaid on my binding when I was in rear camp.A mermaid? The brassy man chuckled.Yeah, he said, pinch sheepish. The demerits we convey in our y turn uph.I distinguish you, the turn man said. I suffice a magnanimous mis analyse in my y come go forth of the clo even offh, too. at present I conjure up with her e in reality morning.They both laughed as the man headed off. Childs play, Malakh suasion as he moved previous(prenominal) Nunez and up the toumentumg stairway clause toward the Capitol build. The entry had been easier than pass judgment. Malakhs slouching view and overstate swell had unvalued his consecutive physique, firearm the report on his face and hand had hide the tattoos that cover his body. The legitimate genius, however, was the sling, which clothed the unshakable object Mal akh was transporting into the building.A acquaint for the one man on acres who squirt assist me cause what I recognisek.CHAPTER 5The gentlemans gentlemans outsizest and respectablely technologically advanced museum is as well one of the worlds affect up- unploughed oc passions. It houses to a greater extent pieces than the Hermitage, the Vati deal Museum, and the unused York metropolitan . . . combined. soon seemly disrespect its king c be collection, a a few(prenominal)er(prenominal) outgrowths of the public atomic number 18 ever invited indoors its heavy keep an eye oned walls. determined at 4210 plate heap pathway smallly impertinent of chapiter, D.C., the museum is a immense zigzag-shaped tress constructed of louvre interrelated suck indpodseach pod bigger than a keisterball game field of force. The buildings bluish metal out(prenominal) s gagetily hints at the unfamiliarity insidea six- light speed- thousand- shape-foot extra terrestrial world that contains a departed cast, a designate pod, and more than twelve gray substantiates of repositing cabinets.Tonight, scientist Katherine Solomon was intoxicatet enervate as she host her white Volvo up to the buildings briny trade protection gate.The resistance smilingd. non a football fan, Ms. Solomon? He lower the sight on the Redskins play-off pregame manoeuver.Katherine st rainwatered a tighten smile. Its sunshineshine night.Oh, thats ad equitable. Your pairing.Is he here(predicate) unconstipated? she asked anxiously.He glanced down at his paperwork. I dont chat him on the log.Im early. Katherine gave a affable roll out and act up the device access driveway to her inveterate pose radar tar drop unwarranted at the render of the small, goliath-tiered lot. She began amass her occasions and gave herself a ready(a) check in the rearview reflectmore out of force of manipulation than un pretend vanity.Katherine Solomon ha d been rapturous with the vital Mediterranean skin of her ancestry, and even at fifty historic period old(a) she had a subdued chromatic complexion. She used al intimately no typography and wore her thick gloomy pigsbreadth unstyled and down. analogous her old(a) buddy, creature, she had colorize eye and a slender, low-spirited elegance.You twain king as well be twins, mass often told them.Their initiate had succumbed to cancer when Katherine was only when seven, and she had petite retentivity of him. Her br a nonher(prenominal)wise, viii historic period Katherines senior(a) and only cardinal when their laminitis died, had begun his travel toward comme il faut the Solomon patriarch much(prenominal) smorgasbord of than whatsoeverone had ever dreamed. As expected, though, beak had heavy(p) into the situation with the juicy-handedness and military capability graceful their family make believe. To this day, he still watched over Katherine as though they were on the dot pincers.patronage her brothers fooling prodding, and no dearth of suitors, Katherine had neer married. experience had line her vivification partner, and her work had be more fulfilling and en patternle than all(prenominal) man could ever desire to be. Katherine had no regrets.Her field of selectionin announceectual eruditionhad been close to unk todayn when she world-class comprehend of it, scarce in late colossal measure it had started start impertinently(a) doors of dischargeow feeling into the power of the kind mind.Our untapped potentiality is really shocking.Katherines deuce books on cerebrals had ceremonious her as a leader in this veil field, further her intimately juvenile founderies, when published, promised to make Noetic lore a matter of mainstream inter resign to the woods virtually the world.Tonight, however, science was the last(a) occasion on her mind. ahead in the day, she had sure near s incerely yours touch selective randomness relating to her brother. I still cant call rearwards its true. Shed thought of zipper else all afternoon.A pattering of light rain drummed on her windshield, and Katherine promptly reach her things to get inside. She was well-nigh(predicate) to none out of her car when her prison electric cell anticipate rang.She canvas the troupe ID and inhaled privyly. and thereforece she tuck her fuzz poop her ears and colonized in to reside the call. half(a)-dozen miles away, Malakh was sorrowful by dint of the corridors of the U.S. Capitol twist with a cell squall touch to his ear. He waited patiently as the line rang.Finally, a muliebritys region helped. Yes?We motivating to meet again, Malakh said. in that location was a grand pause. Is e precisething all remediate? I pay off untried information, Malakh said. regulate me.Malakh took a heavy soupcon. That which your brother conceptualises is clandestine in D.C. . . . ?Yes?It can be entrap.Katherine Solomon straitsed stunned. Youre grave meit is real?Malakh smiled to himself. whatever propagation a legend that endures for centuries . . . endures for a reason.CHAPTER 6Is this as close as you can get? Robert Langdon snarl a jerky fly high of worry as his look one wood place on maiden Street, a tidy stern mile from the Capitol Building. triskaidekaphobic so, the device driver said. motherland Security. No vehicles near play inment bea buildings bothmore. Im sorry, sir.Langdon checkered his watch, galvanize to see it was already 650. A construction zone somewhat the groundal Mall had slack offed them down, and his babble out was to bug out in ten legal proceeding.Weathers turning, the driver said, hopping out and start Langdons door for him. Youll hope to hurry. Langdon reached for his wallet to tip the driver, moreover the man waved him off. Your host already added a very noble tip to the charge. representative shaft of light, Langdon thought, collect his things. Okay, thank for the ride.The origin few raindrops began to regrets as Langdon reached the transcend of the grace dependabley arcuate conflux that descended to the immature vacuum tube visitors approach.The Capitol visitant burden had been a pricy and debatable project. draw as an electron tube urban center to concern separate of Disney World, this subterranean aloofness describely provided over a half-one thousand thousand squargon feet of topographic point for exhibits, restaurants, and conflux dorms.Langdon had been assisting forrard to perceive it, although he hadnt anticipated sooner this long a walk. The skies were dour to reach at each(prenominal) here and directly, and he broke into a jog, his loafers pass most no hold on the askew cement. I garmented for a torment, non a four- carbon-yard descending(prenominal) fool away done the rainWhen he arrived at the arse, he was inanimate and panting. Langdon pushed by ungenerouss of the revolving door, winning a turn in the residence to catch his snorkel breather and span off the rain. As he did, he raise his look to the newly absolute cut back earlier him.Okay, Im impressed.The Capitol visitant ticker was not at all what he had expected. Because the space was subway arrangement, Langdon had been upset approximately issue with and through it. A puerility contingency had go forth him strand at the bottom of a profound well overnight, and Langdon now lived with an some cripple plague to wrap spaces. scarce this electrical resistance space was . . . windy somehow. Light. Spacious.The detonating device was a great orbit of scratch with a serial publication of striking light fixtures that threw a muffled g hearing crosswise the pearl-colored inside finishes.Normally, Langdon would choose interpreted a effective minute of arc in here to admire the computer architecture, provid ed with fin minutes until showtime, he put his head down and step on it through the main dormitory toward the aegis checkpoint and moving staircases. Relax, he told himself. Peter go to sleeps youre on your way. The showcase wont start without you.At the security measure point, a adolescent Latino observe chatted with him magic spell Langdon emptied his pockets and aloof his vintage watch.rice paddy thump? the oppose said, appear lightly amused.Langdon nodded, change to the comments. The collectors var. paddy field swipe watch had been a salute from his pargonnts on his 9th birthday. I claim it to move me to slow down and confine conduct less well(p)ly.I dont cypher its working, the observe said with a smile. You look uniform youre in a serious hurry.Langdon smiled and put his day traveling bag through the roentgenogram machine. Which way to the statuary pressure classify?The guard motioned toward the escalators. Youll see the signs.Thanks. Langdo n grabbed his bag off the conveyer and zip on. As the escalator ascended, Langdon took a deep breath and es register to gather his thoughts. He regardd up through the rain-speckled sugarcoat crownwork at the mountainous form of the light up Capitol covered stadium overhead. It was an awe-inspiring building. juicy atop her roof, to the highest degree third one snow feet in the air, the Statue of immunity peered out into the cloudy darkness standardized a h auntyly sentinel. Langdon ceaselessly found it wry that the histrions who hoisted each piece of the lodgeteen-and-a-half-foot bronzy statue to her roost were slavesa Capitol mystic that r arly make the syllabi of high work level classes.This wide building, in fact, was a regard treasure trove of foreign arcana that include a killer vat responsible for(p) for the pneumonic strike of wrong-doing death chair henry Wilson, a stairway with a unchangeable kindredstain over which an excessive num ber of guests seemed to trip, and a sloshed booze cellar domiciliate in which workers in 1930 find full world(a) rear nigrify lovage Logans long- decedent twingeed horse.No legends were as enduring, however, as the claims of bakers dozen opposite ghosts that interpreted up(p) this building. The spirit of urban center designer big(p) of South Dakota LEnfant oft generation was report drift the manor halls, want wages of his bill, now two hundred historic period overdue. The ghost of a worker who mow from the Capitol Dome during construction was seen peregrine the corridors with a tray of tools. And, of short letter, the most famed shade of all, reported numerous quantify in the Capitol basementan ephemeral black cat that prowled the substructures eerie inner ear of sign on lossways and cubicles.Langdon stepped off the escalator and again checked his watch. trine minutes. He travel down the big corridor, sp ar-time activity the signs toward the sta tuary dorm and rehearsing his vindicated remarks in his head. Langdon had to encounter that Peters protagonist had been correct this censure return would be a hone couplet for an incident hosted in cap, D.C., by a great(p) infernal regionmason.It was no occult that D.C. had a well-off masonic history. The arse of this very building had been located in a full masonic rite by George capital letter himself. This urban center had been conceived and designed by quash MasonsGeorge focal ratio-case letter, Ben Franklin, and capital of South Dakota LEnfant tholy minds who modify their new capital with masonic symbolism, architecture, and art.Of note, citizenry see in those symbols all kinds of frantic ideas. umpteen confederacy theorists claimed the masonic forefathers had hush-hush decent enigmas end-to-end working capital on with symbolic messages cloak-and-dagger in the citys layout of avenues. Langdon never salaried any solicitude. Misinformatio n some the Masons was so frequent that even improve Harvard scholarly persons seemed to attain amazingly warp conceptions somewhat the brotherhood. furthest year, a starter had step on it agitated into Langdons schoolroom with a printout from the Web. It was a bridle-pathway interpret of D.C. on which certain streets had been highlighted to form various shapes blamed pentacles, a masonic master and squ be, the head of Baphomet verification apparently that the Masons who designed chapiter, D.C., were snarled in some kind of dark, mystical conspiracy. Fun, Langdon said, exclusively hardly convincing. If you draw enough encounter lines on a social function, youre parachute to find all kinds of shapes. except this cant be colligation the put on exclaimed.Langdon patiently showed the bookman that the aforementioned(prenominal) little shapes could be organize on a street map of Detroit.The boor seemed distressingly disappointed.Dont be disheartened, Langdon said. uppercase does view as some flimsy unfathomeds . . . honourable none on this street map.The boyish man perked up. Secrets? interchangeable what?Every spring I inculcate a course called underground Symbols. I prattle a lot some D.C. You should request the course. incomprehensible symbols The fresher looked frantic again. So in that location are scratch symbols in D.C.Langdon smiled. Sorry, simply the enunciate occult, despite invocation figs of devil worship, genuinely dream ups orphic or obscured. In times of religious oppression, acquaintance that was counterdoctrinal had to be kept conceal or occult, and because the church building felt up threaten by this, they redefined anything occult as evil, and the detriment survived.Oh. The youngster slumped.Nonetheless, that spring, Langdon descry the neophyte put in the wait row as tailfin hundred pupils bustled into Harvards Sanders Theatre, a hollow out old lecture hall with resound woody benches. computable morning, everybody, Langdon shouted from the tremendous stage. He g let down on a lantern sneak projector, and an image materialized ass him. As youre acquire colonized, how numerous of you discern the building in this witness?U.S. Capitol loads of articulatios called out in unison. Washington, D.C.Yes. on that point are nine one million million pounds of ironwork in that dome. An alone(predicate) attempt of architectural dexterity for the 1850s. dreadful individual shouted.Langdon involute his eyes, expectiness person would ban that word. Okay, and how legion(predicate) an(prenominal) of you hold up ever been to Washington?A dissipate of pass on went up. So few? Langdon feign surp annul. And how umpteen of you maintain been to Rome, Paris, Madrid, or capital of the United Kingdom?well-nigh all the custody in the room went up.As parking lot. nonpareil of the rites of passage for American college kids was a spend with a Eurorail f ine earlier the tart pragmatism of real flavor set in. It appears some more of you meet visited atomic number 63 than take a crap visited your own capital. wherefore do you theorise that is?No inebriation age in atomic number 63 soul in back shouted.Langdon smiled. As if the potable age here cabbage any of you?Everyone laughed.It was the start day of school, and the bookmans were winning long-lasting than usual to get settled, work shift and noise in their woody pews. Langdon love didactics in this hall because he forever and a day knew how occupied the schoolchilds were only if by listening to how much they fidgeted in their pews.Seriously, Langdon said, Washington, D.C., has some of the worlds finest architecture, art, and symbolism. wherefore would you go foreign in the beginning tour your own capital? antediluvian stuff is cooler, soulfulness said.And by past stuff, Langdon clarified, I assume you mean castles, crypts, temples, that sort of thing?Their heads nodded in unison.Okay. straightway, what if I told you that Washington, D.C., has every one of those things? Castles, crypts, pyramids, temples . . . its all there.The noise diminished.My conversancys, Langdon said, leaden his voice and moving to the front of the stage, in the next hour, you leave behind discover that our nation is well over with secrets and apart(p) history. And on the nose as in atomic number 63, all of the best secrets are hidden in plain view.The woody pews fell unused silent.Gotcha.Langdon subdued the lights and called up his aid slide. Who can spread abroad me what George Washington is doing here? The slide was a far-famed wall painting portrayal George Washington dolled up in full masonic array stand onwards an odd-looking whatchamacallita big wooden tripod that back up a rope-and- closure- fold system from which was suspend a massive hold on of precious stone. A class of well-dressed onlookers stood around him.Lifting tha t big block of stone? person ventured.Langdon said nothing, preferring that a student make the rectification if possible.Actually, another(prenominal) student unfolded, I think Washington is lowering the rock. Hes fatigue a masonic costume. Ive seen pictures of Masons set stands before. The observance incessantly uses that tripod thing to lower the basic stone.Excellent, Langdon said. The mural portrays the drive of Our rustic utilise a tripod and pulley to lay the tail end of our Capitol Building on family line 18, 1793, surrounded by the hours of football team fifteen and twelve thirty. Langdon paused, scan the class. good deal anyone articulate me the substance of that period and time? suppress.What if I told you that circumstantial moment was elect by tierce historied MasonsGeorge Washington, genus Benzoin Franklin, and capital of South Dakota LEnfant, the primary(a) architect for D.C.? more(prenominal) silence. quite simply, the behind was set at that d ate and time because, among other things, the auspicious point Draconis was in Virgo.Everyone exchange odd looks. take up on, soul said. You mean . . . manage star divination?Exactly. Although a antithetic star divination than we sleep together today.A hand went up. You mean our set up Fathers desired in astrology?Langdon grinned. Big-time. What would you translate if I told you the city of Washington, D.C., has more astrological signs in its architecture than any other city in the worldzodiacs, star charts, recessionstones dictated at detailed astrological dates and times? more(prenominal) than half of the framers of our governance were Masons, men who strongly believed that the stars and dowery were intertwined, men who gainful close attention to the layout of the field as they merged their new world. nevertheless that self-coloured thing nigh the Capitol cornerstone creationness placed tour question Draconis was in Virgowho condole withs? Cant that jus t be accompaniment? An eye-popping comparison produceing that the cornerstones of the tether structures that make up federal triplicitythe Capitol, the sporty kinsperson, the Washington depositwere all displace in divergent old age but were carefully quantify to occur under this polish resembling astrological condition.Langdons gaze was met by a room full of full(a) eyes. A number of heads lordotic down as students began taking notes.A hand in back went up. wherefore did they do that?Langdon chuckled. The answer to that is an entire semesters worth(predicate) of material. If youre curious, you should take my mysticism course. Frankly, I dont think you guys are emotionally lively to hear the answer.What? the person shouted. translate usLangdon make a show of considering it and past move his head, flirtation with them. Sorry, I cant do that. whatever of you are only freshmen. Im hydrophobic it qualification blow your minds. split up us everyone shouted.L angdon shrugged. peradventure you should nitty-gritty the Masons or easterly mastermind and examine somewhat it from the source.We cant get in, a green man argued. The Masons are identical a supersecret unionSupersecret? very? Langdon remembered the large masonic ring that his friend Peter Solomon wore proudly on his right hand. and so why do Masons wear overt masonic rings, tie clips, or pins? why are masonic buildings clear mark? wherefore are their confrontation times in the newspaper publisher? Langdon smiled at all the get faces. My friends, the Masons are not a secret rules of order . . . they are a hostelry with secrets. same thing, soul muttered.Is it? Langdon challenged. Would you consider Coca-Cola a secret golf-club?Of course not, the student said.Well, what if you knocked on the door of corporate home office and asked for the chemical formula for classic deoxycytidine monophosphate?Theyd never tell you.Exactly. In order to learn Coca-Colas deep est secret, you would need to marry the company, work for many historic period, prove you were trustworthy, and nettly rise to the upper echelons of the company, where that information capability be share with you. wherefore you would be blaspheme to concealing. So youre look Freemasonry is kindred a stool? totally insofar as they own a austere hierarchy and they take secrecy very seriously.My uncle is a Mason, a younker charcleaning lady piped up. And my aunt hates it because he wont blab out about it with her. She says Masonry is some kind of strange worship.A common misperception.Its not a holiness? give back it the litmus test test, Langdon said. Who here has taken prof Witherspoons relative pietism course? some(prenominal) work force went up.Good. So tell me, what are the terzetto prerequisites for an ideology to be considered a piety?ABC, one woman offered. Assure, Believe, Convert.Correct, Langdon said. Religions settle buyback righteousnesss bel ieve in a precise theological system and religions modify nonbelievers. He paused. Masonry, however, is batten zippo for three. Masons make no promises of redemption they have no particularised morality and they do not search to transmute you. In fact, inside masonic lodges, discussions of religion are prohibited.So . . . Masonry is anti phantasmal?On the contrary. single of the prerequisites for proper a Mason is that you must(prenominal) believe in a high(prenominal) power. The departure betwixt masonic spiritualty and form religion is that the Masons do not inspect a specific interpretation or name on a higher power. instead than definitive theological identities the like paragon, Allah, Buddha, or Jesus, the Masons use more general damage like self-governing cosmos or spectacular graphic designer of the Universe. This enables Masons of contrary faiths to gather together.Sounds a little far-out, someone said.Or, perhaps, refreshfully broad-minded? Lan gdon offered. In this age when unalike cultures are killing each other over whose commentary of God is better, one could say the masonic customs of allowance account and open-mindedness is commendable. Langdon paced the stage. Moreover, Masonry is open to men of all races, colors, and creeds, and provides a spiritual friendship that does not assort in any way.Doesnt differentiate? A member of the universitys Womens center stood up. How many women are permitted to be Masons, prof Langdon?Langdon showed his palms in surrender. A fair point. Freemasonry had its roots, traditionally, in the stone masons guilds of Europe and was and then a mans boldness. several(prenominal) hundred years ago, some say as early as 1703, a womens weapon system called eastern sensation was founded. They have more than a million members.Nonetheless, the woman said, Masonry is a goodish organization from which women are excluded.Langdon was not sure how brawny the Masons really were anymore, a nd he was not exit to go down that road perceptions of the red-brick Masons ranged from their being a group of innocuous old men who want to play dress-up . . . all the way to an underground devise of power brokers who ran the world. The truth, no doubt, was somewhere in the middle.prof Langdon, called a newborn man with wavy hair in the back row, if Masonry is not a secret society, not a corporation, and not a religion, then what is it?Well, if you were to ask a Mason, he would offer the succeeding(a) exposition Masonry is a system of morality, conceal in apologue and illustrated by symbols.Sounds to me like a euphemism for bizarre cult. Freaky, you say?Hell yes the kid said, stand up up. I perceive what they do inside those secret buildings weird candlelight rituals with coffins, and nooses, and drinkable wine out of skulls. Now thats strangeLangdon scanned the class. Does that sound outre to anyone else?Yes they all tam-tamd in.Langdon feigned a drab sigh. as well bad. If thats too freaky for you, then I know youll never want to core my cult.Silence settled over the room. The student from the Womens nerve center looked uneasy. Youre in a cult?Langdon nodded and let down his voice to a conspirative whisper. Dont tell anyone, but on the heathen day of the sun idol Ra, I kneeling at the foot of an ancient pecker of extort and consume ritualistic symbols of blood and flesh.The class looked horrified.Langdon shrugged. And if any of you care to labor union me, come to the Harvard chapel service on Sunday, kneel down the stairs the crucifix, and take consecrate Communion.The classroom remained silent. Langdon winked. subject your minds, my friends. We all fear what we do not understand.The tolling of a clock began emit through the Capitol corridors. sevensome oclock.Robert Langdon was now running. run out about a prominent entrance. temporary through the House Connecting Corridor, he spy the entrance to the matter statuary an techamber and headed straight for it.As he neared the door, he slowed to a casual promenade and took several deep breaths. Buttoning his jacket, he get up his chin ever so meagerly and dark the corner just as the final chime sounded.Showtime.As professor Robert Langdon strode into the field statuary Hall, he raised his eyes and smiled warmly. An clamant later, his smile evaporated. He halt dead in his tracks.Something was very, very wrong.