Chapter 11

           «Uneplaisanterienumérique?»BezuFachewaslivid,glaringatSophieNeveuindisbelief.Anumericjoke?»YourprofessionalassessmentofSaunière’scodeisthatitissomekindofmathematicalprank?»

           Fachewasinutterincomprehensionofthiswoman’sgall.NotonlyhadshejustbargedinonFachewithoutpermission,butshewasnowtryingtoconvincehimthatSaunière,inhisfinalmomentsoflife,hadbeeninspiredtoleaveamathematicalgag?

           «Thiscode,»SophieexplainedinrapidFrench,»issimplistictothepointofabsurdity.JacquesSaunièremusthaveknownwewouldseethroughitimmediately.»ShepulledascrapofpaperfromhersweaterpocketandhandedittoFache.«Hereisthedecryption.»Fachelookedatthecard.

           1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21

           «Thisisit?»hesnapped.«Allyoudidwasputthenumbersinincreasingorder!»Sophieactuallyhadthenervetogiveasatisfiedsmile.«Exactly.»Fache’stoneloweredtoagutturalrumble.«AgentNeveu,Ihavenoideawherethehellyou’regoingwiththis,butIsuggestyougettherefast.»HeshotananxiousglanceatLangdon,whostoodnearbywiththephonepressedtohisear,apparentlystilllisteningtohisphonemessagefromtheU.S.Embassy.FromLangdon’sashenexpression,Fachesensedthenewswasbad.

           «Captain,»Sophiesaid,hertonedangerouslydefiant,»thesequenceofnumbersyouhaveinyourhandhappenstobeoneofthemostfamousmathematicalprogressionsinhistory.»

           Fachewasnotawarethereevenexistedamathematicalprogressionthatqualifiedasfamous,andhecertainlydidn’tappreciateSophie’soff-handedtone.