达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第40章

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nature　of　the　Holy　Grail。　That　is　to　say；　the　legend　uses　the　chalice　as　a　metaphor　for　something　far　more　important。〃
〃A　woman；〃　Sophie　said。
〃Exactly。〃　Langdon　smiled。　〃The　Grail　is　literally　the　ancient　symbol　for　womanhood；　and　the　Holy　Grail　represents　the　sacred　feminine　and　the　goddess；　which　of　course　has　now　been　lost；　virtually　eliminated　by　the　Church。　The　power　of　the　female　and　her　ability　to　produce　life　was　once　very　sacred；　but　it　posed　a　threat　to　the　rise　of　the　predominantly　male　Church；　and　so　the　sacred　feminine　was　demonized　and　called　unclean。　It　was　man；　not　God；　who　created　the　concept　of　'original　sin；'　whereby　Eve　tasted　of　the　apple　and　caused　the　downfall　of　the　human　race。　Woman；　once　the　sacred　giver　of　life；　was　now　the　enemy。〃
〃I　should　add；〃　Teabing　chimed；　〃that　this　concept　of　woman　as　life…bringer　was　the　foundation　of　ancient　religion。　Childbirth　was　mystical　and　powerful。　Sadly；　Christian　philosophy　decided　to　embezzle　the　female's　creative　power　by　ignoring　biological　truth　and　making　man　the　Creator。　Genesis　tells　us　that　Eve　was　created　from　Adam's　rib。　Woman　became　an　offshoot　of　man。　And　a　sinful　one　at　that。　Genesis　was　the　beginning　of　the　end　for　the　goddess。〃
〃The　Grail；〃　Langdon　said；　〃is　symbolic　of　the　lost　goddess。　When　Christianity　came　along；　the　old　pagan　religions　did　not　die　easily。　Legends　of　chivalric　quests　for　the　lost　Grail　were　in　fact　stories　of　forbidden　quests　to　find　the　lost　sacred　feminine。　Knights　who　claimed　to　be　〃searching　for　the　chalice〃　were　speaking　in　code　as　a　way　to　protect　themselves　from　a　Church　that　had　subjugated　women；　banished　the　Goddess；　burned　nonbelievers；　and　forbidden　the　pagan　reverence　for　the　sacred　feminine。〃
Sophie　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　sorry；　when　you　said　the　Holy　Grail　was　a　person；　I　thought　you　meant　it　was　an　actual　person。〃
〃It　is；〃　Langdon　said。
〃And　not　just　any　person；〃　Teabing　blurted；　clambering　excitedly　to　his　feet。　〃A　woman　who　carried　with　her　a　secret　so　powerful　that；　if　revealed；　it　threatened　to　devastate　the　very　foundation　of　Christianity！〃
Sophie　looked　overwhelmed。　〃Is　this　woman　well　known　in　history？〃
〃Quite。〃　Teabing　collected　his　crutches　and　motioned　down　the　hall。　〃And　if　we　adjourn　to　the　study；　my　friends；　it　would　be　my　honor　to　show　you　Da　Vinci's　painting　of　her。〃
　
Two　rooms　away；　in　the　kitchen；　manservant　Rémy　Legaludec　stood　in　silence　before　a　television。　The　news　station　was　broadcasting　photos　of　a　man　and　woman。。。　the　same　two　individuals　to　whom　Rémy　had　just　served　tea。
　
CHAPTER　57

Standing　at　the　roadblock　outside　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich；　Lieutenant　Collet　wondered　what　was　taking　Fache　so　long　to　e　up　with　the　search　warrant。　The　bankers　were　obviously　hiding　something。　They　claimed　Langdon　and　Neveu　had　arrived　earlier　and　were　turned　away　from　the　bank　because　they　did　not　have　proper　account　identification。
So　why　won't　they　let　us　inside　for　a　look？
Finally；　Collet's　cellular　phone　rang。　It　was　the　mand　post　at　the　Louvre。　〃Do　we　have　a　search　warrant　yet？〃　Collet　demanded。
〃Forget　about　the　bank；　Lieutenant；〃　the　agent　told　him。　〃We　just　got　a　tip。　We　have　the　exact　location　where　Langdon　and　Neveu　are　hiding。〃
Collet　sat　down　hard　on　the　hood　of　his　car。　〃You're　kidding。〃
〃I　have　an　address　in　the　suburbs。　Somewhere　near　Versailles。〃
〃Does　Captain　Fache　know？〃
〃Not　yet。　He's　busy　on　an　important　call。〃
〃I'm　on　my　way。　Have　him　call　as　soon　as　he's　free。〃　Collet　took　down　the　address　and　jumped　in　his　car。　As　he　peeled　away　from　the　bank；　Collet　realized　he　had　forgotten　to　ask　who　had　tipped　DCPJ　off　to　Langdon's　location。　Not　that　it　mattered。　Collet　had　been　blessed　with　a　chance　to　redeem　his　skepticism　and　earlier　blunders。　He　was　about　to　make　the　most　high…profile　arrest　of　his　career。
Collet　radioed　the　five　cars　acpanying　him。　〃No　sirens；　men。　Langdon　can't　know　we're　ing。〃
　
Forty　kilometers　away；　a　black　Audi　pulled　off　a　rural　road　and　parked　in　the　shadows　on　the　edge　of　a　field。　Silas　got　out　and　peered　through　the　rungs　of　the　wrought…iron　fence　that　encircled　the　vast　pound　before　him。　He　gazed　up　the　long　moonlit　slope　to　the　chateau　in　the　distance。
The　downstairs　lights　were　all　ablaze。　Odd　for　this　hour；　Silas　thought；　smiling。　The　information　the　Teacher　had　given　him　was　obviously　accurate。　I　will　not　leave　this　house　without　the　keystone；　he　vowed。　I　will　not　fail　the　bishop　and　the　Teacher。
Checking　the　thirteen…round　clip　in　his　Heckler　Koch；　Silas　pushed　it　through　the　bars　and　let　it　fall　onto　the　mossy　ground　inside　the　pound。　Then；　gripping　the　top　of　the　fence；　he　heaved　himself　up　and　over；　dropping　to　the　ground　on　the　other　side。　Ignoring　the　slash　of　pain　from　his　cilice；　Silas　retrieved　his　gun　and　began　the　long　trek　up　the　grassy　slope。
　
CHAPTER　58

Teabing's　〃study〃　was　like　no　study　Sophie　had　ever　seen。　Six　or　seven　times　larger　than　even　the　most　luxurious　of　office　spaces；　the　knight's　cabinet　de　travail　resembled　an　ungainly　hybrid　of　science　laboratory；　archival　library；　and　indoor　flea　market。　Lit　by　three　overhead　chandeliers；　the　boundless　tile　floor　was　dotted　with　clustered　islands　of　worktables　buried　beneath　books；　artwork；　artifacts；　and　a　surprising　amount　of　electronic　gear—puters；　projectors；　microscopes；　copy　machines；　and　flatbed　scanners。
〃I　converted　the　ballroom；〃　Teabing　said；　looking　sheepish　as　he　shuffled　into　the　room。　〃I　have　little　occasion　to　dance。〃
Sophie　felt　as　if　the　entire　night　had　bee　some　kind　of　twilight　zone　where　nothing　was　as　she　expected。　〃This　is　all　for　your　work？〃
〃Learning　the　truth　has　bee　my　life's　love；〃　Teabing　said。　〃And　the　Sangreal　is　my　favorite　mistress。〃
The　Holy　Grail　is　a　woman；　Sophie　thought；　her　mind　a　collage　of　interrelated　ideas　that　seemed　to　make　no　sense。　〃You　said　you　have　a　picture　of　this　woman　who　you　claim　is　the　Holy　Grail。〃
〃Yes；　but　it　is　not　I　who　claim　she　is　the　Grail。　Christ　Himself　made　that　claim。〃
〃Which　one　is　the　painting？〃　Sophie　asked；　scanning　the　walls。
〃Hmmm。。。〃　Teabing　made　a　show　of　seeming　to　have　forgotten。　〃The　Holy　Grail。　The　Sangreal。　The　Chalice。〃　He　wheeled　suddenly　and　pointed　to　the　far　wall。　On　it　hung　an　eight…foot…long　print　of　The　Last　Supper；　the　same　exact　image　Sophie　had　just　been　looking　at。　〃There　she　is！〃
Sophie　was　certain　she　had　missed　something。　〃That's　the　same　painting　you　just　showed　me。〃
He　winked。　〃I　know；　but　the　enlargement　is　so　much　more　exciting。　Don't　you　think？〃
Sophie　turned　to　Langdon　for　help。　〃I'm　lost。〃
Langdon　smiled。　〃As　it　turns　out；　the　Holy　Grail　does　indeed　make　an　appearance　in　The　Last　Supper。　Leonardo　included　her　prominently。〃
〃Hold　on；〃　Sophie　said。　〃You　told　me　the　Holy　Grail　is　a　woman。　The　Last　Supper　is　a　painting　of　thirteen　men。〃
〃Is　it？〃　Teabing　arched　his　eyebrows。　〃Take　a　closer　look。〃
Uncertain；　Sophie　made　her　way　closer　to　the　painting；　scanning　the　thirteen　figures—Jesus　Christ　in　the　middle；　six　disciples　on　His　left；　and　six　on　His　right。　〃They're　all　men；〃　she　confirmed。
〃Oh？〃　Teabing　said。　〃How　about　the　one　seated　in　the　place　of　honor；　at　the　right　hand　of　the　Lord？〃
Sophie　examined　the　figure　to　Jesus'　immediate　right；　focusing　in。　As　she　studied　the　person's　face　and　body；　a　wave　of　astonishment　rose　within　her。　The　individual　had　flowing　red　hair；　delicate　folded　hands；　and　the　hint　of　a　bosom。　It　was；　without　a　doubt。。。　female。
〃That's　a　woman！〃　Sophie　exclaimed。
Teabing　was　laughing。　〃Surprise；　surprise。　Believe　me；　it's　no　mistake。　Leonardo　was　skilled　at　painting　the　difference　between　the　sexes。〃
Sophie　could　not　take　her　eyes　from　the　woman　beside　Christ。　The　Last　Supper　is　supposed　to　be　thirteen　men。　Who　is　this　woman？　Although　Sophie　had　seen　this　classic　image　many　times；　she　had　not　once　noticed　this　glaring　discrepancy。
〃Everyone　misses　it；〃　Teabing　said。　〃Our　preconceived　notions　of　this　scene　are　so　powerful　that　our　mind　blocks　out　the　incongruity　and　overrides　our　eyes。〃
〃It's　known　as　skitoma；〃　Langdon　added。　〃The　brain　does　it　sometimes　with　powerful　symbols。〃
〃Another　reason　you　might　have　missed　the　woman；〃　Teabing　said；　〃is　that　many　of　the　photographs　in　art　books　were　taken　before　1954；　when　the　details　were　still　hidden　beneath　layers　of　grime　and　several　restorative　repaintings　done　by　clumsy　hands　in　the　eighteenth　century。　Now；　at　last；　the　fresco　has　been　cleaned　down　to　Da　Vinci's　original　layer　of　paint。〃　He　motioned　to　the　photograph。　〃Et　voilà！〃
Sophie　moved　closer　to　the　image。　The　woman　to　Jesus'　right　was　young　and　pious…looking；　with　a　demure　face；　beautiful　red　hair；　and　hands　folded　quietly。　This　is　the　woman　who　singlehandedly　could　crumble　the　Church？
〃Who　is　she？〃　Sophie　asked。
〃That；　my　dear；〃　Teabing　replied；　〃is　Mary　Magdalene。〃
Sophie　turned。　〃The　prostitute？〃
Teabing　drew　a　short　breath；　as　if　the　word　had　injured　him　personally。　〃Magdalene　was　no　such　thing。　That　unfortunate　misconception　is　the　legacy　of　a　smear　campaign　launched　by　the　early　Church。　The　Church　needed　to　defame　Mary　Magdalene　in　order　to　cover　up　her　dangerous　secret—her　role　as　the　Holy　Grail。〃
〃Her　role？〃
〃As　I　mentioned；〃　Teabing　clarified；　〃the　early　Church　needed　to　convince　the　world　that　the　mortal　prophet　Jesus　was　a　divine　being。　Therefore；　any　gospels　that　described　earthly　aspects　of　Jesus'　life　had　to　be　omitted　from　the　Bible。　Unfortunately　for　the　early　editors；　one　particularly　troubling　earthly　theme　kept　recurring　in　the　gospels。　Mary　Magdalene。〃　He　paused。　〃More　specifically；　her　marriage　to　Jesus　Christ。〃
〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　Sophie's　eyes　moved　to　Langdon　and　then　back　to　Teabing。
〃It's　a　matter　of　historical　record；〃　Teabing　said；　〃and　Da　Vinci　was　certainly　aware　of　that　fact。　The　Last　Supper　practically　shouts　at　the　viewer　that　Jesus　and　Magdalene　were　a　pair。〃
Sophie　glanced　back　to　the　fresco。
〃Notice　that　Jesus　and　Magdalene　are　clothed　as　mirror　images　of　one　another。〃　Teabing　pointed　to　the　two　individuals　in　the　center　of　the　fresco。
Sophie　was　mesmerized。　Sure　enough；　their　clothes　were　inverse　colors。　Jesus　wore　a　red　robe　and　blue　cloak；　Mary　Magdalene　wore　a　blue　robe　and　red　cloak。　Yin　and　yang。
〃Venturing　into　the　more　bizarre；〃　Teabing　said；　〃note　that　Jesus　and　His　bride　appear　to　be　joined　at　the　hip　and　are　leaning　away　from　one　another　as　if　to　create　this　clearly　delineated　negative　space　between　them。〃
Even　before　Teabing　traced　the　contour　for　her；　Sophie　saw　it—the　indisputable　V　shape　at　the　focal　point　of　the　painting。　It　was　the　same　symbol　Langdon　had　drawn　earlier　for　the　Grail；　the　chalice；　and　the　female　womb。
〃Finally；〃　Teabing　said；　〃if　you　view　Jesus　and　Magdalene　as　positional　elements　rather　than　as　people；　you　will　see　another　obvious　shape　leap　out　at　you。〃　He　paused。　〃A　letter　of　the　alphabet。〃
Sophie　saw　it　at　once。　To　say　the　letter　leapt　out　at　her　was　an　understatement。　The　letter　was　suddenly　all　Sophie　could　see。　Glaring　in　the　center　of　the　painting　was　the　unquestionable　outline　of　an　enormous；　flawlessly　formed　letter　M。
〃A　bit　too　perfect　for　coincidence；　wouldn't　you　say？〃　Teabing　asked。
Sophie　was　amazed。　〃Why　is　it　there？〃
Teabing　shrugged。　〃Conspiracy　theorists　will　tell　you　it　stands　for　Matrimonio　or　Mary　Magdalene。　To　be