Chapter 9

           ThecorpseonthefloorbeforeLangdonwashideous.ThelateLeonardoVetralayonhisback,strippednaked,hisskinbluish-gray.Hisneckboneswerejuttingoutwheretheyhadbeenbroken,andhisheadwastwistedcompletelybackward,pointingthewrongway.Hisfacewasoutofview,pressedagainstthefloor.Themanlayinafrozenpuddleofhisownurine,thehairaroundhisshriveledgenitalsspideredwithfrost.

           Fightingawaveofnausea,Langdonlethiseyesfalltothevictim’schest.AlthoughLangdonhadstaredatthesymmetricalwoundadozentimesonthefax,theburnwasinfinitelymorecommandinginreallife.Theraised,broiledfleshwasperfectlydelineated…thesymbolflawlesslyformed.

           Langdonwonderediftheintensechillnowrakingthroughhisbodywastheair-conditioningorhisutteramazementwiththesignificanceofwhathewasnowstaringat.

           Hisheartpoundedashecircledthebody,readingthewordupsidedown,reaffirmingthegeniusofthesymmetry.Thesymbolseemedevenlessconceivablenowthathewasstaringatit.

           "Mr.Langdon?"

           Langdondidnothear.Hewasinanotherworld…hisworld,hiselement,aworldwherehistory,myth,andfactcollided,floodinghissenses.Thegearsturned.

           "Mr.Langdon?"Kohler’seyesprobedexpectantly.

           Langdondidnotlookup.Hisdispositionnowintensified,hisfocustotal."Howmuchdoyoualreadyknow?"

           "OnlywhatIhadtimetoreadonyourwebsite.ThewordIlluminatimeans‘theenlightenedones.’Itisthenameofsomesortofancientbrotherhood."

           Langdonnodded."Hadyouheardthenamebefore?"

           "NotuntilIsawitbrandedonMr.Vetra.