Chapter 78

           Sophiefeltawildexcitementasshecradledthecryptexandbegandialingintheletters.Anancientwordofwisdomfreesthisscroll.LangdonandTeabingseemedtohavestoppedbreathingastheylookedon.

           S…O…F…

           «Carefully,»Teabingurged.«Eversocarefully.»

           …I…A.

           Sophiealignedthefinaldial.«Okay,»shewhispered,glancingupattheothers.«I’mgoingtopullitapart.»

           «Rememberthevinegar,»Langdonwhisperedwithfearfulexhilaration.«Becareful.»

           Sophieknewthatifthiscryptexwerelikethoseshehadopenedinheryouth,allshewouldneedtodoisgripthecylinderatbothends,justbeyondthedials,andpull,applyingslow,steadypressureinoppositedirections.Ifthedialswereproperlyalignedwiththepassword,thenoneoftheendswouldslideoff,muchlikealenscap,andshecouldreachinsideandremovetherolledpapyrusdocument,whichwouldbewrappedaroundthevialofvinegar.However,ifthepasswordtheyhadenteredwereincorrect,Sophie’soutwardforceontheendswouldbetransferredtoahingedleverinside,whichwouldpivotdownwardintothecavityandapplypressuretotheglassvial,eventuallyshatteringitifshepulledtoohard.

           Pullgently,shetoldherself.

           TeabingandLangdonbothleanedinasSophiewrappedherpalmsaroundtheendsofthecylinder.Intheexcitementofdecipheringthecodeword,Sophiehadalmostforgottenwhattheyexpectedtofindinside.ThisisthePriorykeystone.