Chapter 40

           Strugglingwiththegearshift,LangdonmanagedtomaneuverthehijackedtaxitothefarsideoftheBoisdeBoulognewhilestallingonlytwice.Unfortunately,theinherenthumorinthesituationwasovershadowedbythetaxidispatcherrepeatedlyhailingtheircabovertheradio.

           «Voiturecinq-six-trois.Oùêtes-vous?Répondez!»

           WhenLangdonreachedtheexitofthepark,heswallowedhismachismoandjammedonthebrakes.«You’dbetterdrive.»

           Sophielookedrelievedasshejumpedbehindthewheel.WithinsecondsshehadthecarhummingsmoothlywestwardalongAlléedeLongchamp,leavingtheGardenofEarthlyDelightsbehind.

           «WhichwayisRueHaxo?»Langdonasked,watchingSophieedgethespeedometeroverahundredkilometersanhour.

           Sophie’seyesremainedfocusedontheroad.«Thecabdriversaidit’sadjacenttotheRolandGarrostennisstadium.Iknowthatarea.»

           Langdonpulledtheheavykeyfromhispocketagain,feelingtheweightinhispalm.Hesenseditwasanobjectofenormousconsequence.Quitepossiblythekeytohisownfreedom.

           Earlier,whiletellingSophieabouttheKnightsTemplar,Langdonhadrealizedthatthiskey,inadditiontohavingthePriorysealembossedonit,possessedamoresubtletietothePrioryofSion.Theequal-armedcruciformwassymbolicofbalanceandharmonybutalsooftheKnightsTemplar.EveryonehadseenthepaintingsofKnightsTemplarwearingwhitetunicsemblazonedwithredequal-armedcrosses.Granted,thearmsoftheTemplarcrosswereslightlyflaredattheends,buttheywerestillofequallength.

           Asquarecross.Justliketheoneonthiskey.