The Lost Symbol Chapter 30-32

Part 30 SB level. Senate storm cellar. Robert Langdon's claustrophobia held him all the more firmly with each rushing venture of their plunge. As they moved further into the structure's unique establishment, the air turned out to be overwhelming, and the ventilation appeared to be nonexistent. The dividers down here were a lopsided mix of stone and yellow block. Chief Sato composed on her BlackBerry as they strolled. Langdon detected a doubt in her watched way, however the inclination was rapidly getting complementary. Sato still hadn't disclosed to him how she knew Langdon was here today around evening time. An issue of national security? He made some hard memories seeing any connection between old mystery and national security. On the other hand, he made some hard memories seeing a lot of anything about this circumstance. Subside Solomon endowed me with a charm . . . a misled insane person fooled me into carrying it to the Capitol and needs me to utilize it to open an enchanted entrance . . . conceivably in a room called SBB13. Not actually a reasonable picture. As they went ahead, Langdon attempted to shake from his psyche the frightful picture of Peter's inked hand, changed into the Hand of the Mysteries. The grisly picture was joined by Peter's voice: The Ancient Mysteries, Robert, have brought forth numerous fantasies . . . be that as it may, that doesn't mean they themselves are fiction. Regardless of a lifelong examining supernatural images and history, Langdon had consistently battled mentally with the possibility of the Ancient Mysteries and their intense guarantee of apotheosis. Truly, the chronicled record contained unquestionable proof that mystery shrewdness had been gone down through the ages, obviously having come out of the Mystery Schools in early Egypt. This information moved underground, reemerging in Renaissance Europe, where, as indicated by most records, it was endowed to a first class gathering of researchers inside the dividers of Europe's head logical think tankâ€the Royal Society of Londonâ€enigmatically nicknamed the Invisible College. This covered â€Å"college† immediately turned into a cerebrum trust of the world's most edified minds†those of Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, Robert Boyle, and even Benjamin Franklin. Today, the rundown of current â€Å"fellows† was no less impressiveâ€Einstein, Hawking, Bohr, and Celsius. These incredible personalities had all made quantum jumps in human comprehension, progresses that, as indicated by a few, were the consequence of their introduction to antiquated intelligence covered up inside the Invisible College. Langdon questioned this was valid, albeit absolutely there had been a surprising measure of â€Å"mystical work† occurring inside those dividers. The disclosure of Isaac Newton's mystery papers in 1936 had staggered the world by uncovering Newton's all-devouring energy for the investigation of old speculative chemistry and enchanted intelligence. Newton's private papers remembered a manually written letter to Robert Boyle for which he admonished Boyle to keep â€Å"high silence† with respect to the magical information they had learned. â€Å"It can't be communicated,† Newton composed, â€Å"without tremendous harm to the world.† The importance of this weird notice was all the while being discussed today. â€Å"Professor,† Sato said abruptly, looking up from her BlackBerry, â€Å"despite your request that you have no clue why you're here today around evening time, maybe you could reveal insight into the importance of Peter Solomon's ring.† â€Å"I can try,† Langdon stated, pulling together. She created the example sack and gave it to Langdon. â€Å"Tell me about the images on his ring.† Langdon inspected the natural ring as they traveled through the abandoned path. Its face bore the picture of a twofold headed phoenix holding a flag broadcasting ORDO AB CHAO, and its chest was decorated with the number 33. â€Å"The twofold headed phoenix with the number thirty-three is the symbol of the most elevated Masonic degree.† Technically, this esteemed degree existed exclusively inside the Scottish Rite. In any case, the rituals and degrees of Masonry were a mind boggling progressive system that Langdon wanted to detail for Sato this evening. â€Å"Essentially, the thirty-third degree is a first class respect held for a little gathering of profoundly cultivated Masons. The various degrees can be achieved by effective finishing of the past degree, however climb to the thirty-third degree is controlled. It's by greeting only.† â€Å"So you knew that Peter Solomon was an individual from this tip top inward circle?† â€Å"Of course. Enrollment is not really a secret.† â€Å"And he is their most elevated positioning official?† â€Å"Currently, yes. Diminish heads the Supreme Council Thirty-third Degree, which is the overseeing body of the Scottish Rite in America.† Langdon constantly cherished visiting their headquartersâ€the House of the Templeâ€a old style perfect work of art whose emblematic ornamentation matched that of Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel. â€Å"Professor, did you notice the etching on the ring's band? It bears the words 'Everything is uncovered at the thirty-third degree.' â€Å" Langdon gestured. â€Å"It's a typical topic in Masonic lore.† â€Å"Meaning, I expect, that on the off chance that a Mason is admitted to this most elevated thirty-third degree, at that point something exceptional is uncovered to him?† â€Å"Yes, that is the legend, however most likely not the truth. There's constantly been conspiratorial guess that a chosen few inside this most elevated echelon of Masonry are made aware of some extraordinary otherworldly mystery. Reality, I think, is most likely far less dramatic.† Subside Solomon frequently made perky inferences to the presence of a valuable Masonic mystery, yet Langdon constantly accepted it was only a wicked endeavor to urge him into joining the fellowship. Tragically, this evening's occasions had been definitely not fun loving, and there had been nothing insidious about the reality with which Peter had asked Langdon to secure the fixed bundle in his daybag. Langdon looked miserably at the plastic sack containing Peter's gold ring. â€Å"Director,† he asked, â€Å"would you mind in the event that I clutched this?† She investigated. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"It's truly important to Peter, and I'd prefer to return it to him tonight.† She looked wary. â€Å"Let's expectation you get that chance.† â€Å"Thanks.† Langdon stashed the ring. â€Å"Another question,† Sato said as they hurried further into the maze. â€Å"My staff said that while cross-checking the ideas of the 'thirty-third degree' and 'entryway' with Masonry, they turned up truly several references to a 'pyramid'?† â€Å"That's to be expected, either,† Langdon said. â€Å"The pyramid manufacturers of Egypt are the harbingers of the cutting edge stonemasons, and the pyramid, alongside Egyptian subjects, is basic in Masonic symbolism.† â€Å"Symbolizing what?† â€Å"The pyramid basically speaks to illumination. It's a compositional image significant of old man's capacity to break liberated from his natural plane and climb upward toward paradise, close to the brilliant sun, and at last, around the incomparable wellspring of illumination.† She held up a second. â€Å"Nothing else?† Nothing else?! Langdon had quite recently portrayed one of history's most exquisite images. The structure through which man raised himself into the domain of the divine beings. â€Å"According to my staff,† she stated, â€Å"it seems like there is a significantly more applicable association today around evening time. They let me know there exists a famous legend about a particular pyramid here in Washingtonâ€a pyramid that relates explicitly to the Masons and the Ancient Mysteries?† Langdon now acknowledged what she was alluding to, and he attempted to disperse the idea before they burned through any additional time. â€Å"I know about the legend, Director, however it's unadulterated dream. The Masonic Pyramid is one of D.C's. most suffering legends, presumably originating from the pyramid on the Great Seal of the United States.† â€Å"Why didn't you notice it earlier?† Langdon shrugged. â€Å"Because it has no premise truth be told. Like I stated, it's a legend. One of many related with the Masons.† â€Å"And yet this specific fantasy relates legitimately to the Ancient Mysteries?† â€Å"Sure, as do a lot of others. The Ancient Mysteries are the establishment for innumerable legends that have made due in historyâ€stories about incredible shrewdness secured by mystery watchmen like the Templars, the Rosicrucians, the Illuminati, the Alumbradosâ€the list continues endlessly. They are totally founded on the Ancient Mysteries . . . also, the Masonic Pyramid is only one example.† â€Å"I see,† Sato said. â€Å"And what does this legend really say?† Langdon considered it for a couple of steps and afterward answered, â€Å"Well, I'm no pro in fear inspired notion, yet I am taught in folklore, and most records go something like this: The Ancient Mysteriesâ€the lost insight of the agesâ€have since quite a while ago been viewed as humankind's most consecrated fortune, and like every single extraordinary fortune, they have been painstakingly ensured. The edified sages who comprehended the genuine intensity of this shrewdness figured out how to fear its great potential. They realized that if this mystery information were to fall into unenlightened hands, the outcomes could be destroying; as we said prior, useful assets can be utilized either for good or for malicious. Along these lines, so as to secure the Ancient Mysteries, and humanity all the while, the early experts framed mystery clubs. Inside these fellowships, they shared their knowledge just with the appropriately started, passing the intelligence from sage to sage. Man y accept we can think back and see the chronicled leftovers of the individuals who aced the Mysteries . . . in the narratives of alchemists, entertainers, and healers.† â€Å"And the Masonic Pyramid?† Sato inquired. â€Å"How does that fit in?† â€Å"Well,† Langdon stated, striding quicker presently to keep pace