Chapter 1

           HighatopthestepsofthePyramidofGizaayoungwomanlaughedandcalleddowntohim."Robert,hurryup!IknewIshouldhavemarriedayoungerman!"Hersmilewasmagic.

           Hestruggledtokeepup,buthislegsfeltlikestone."Wait,"hebegged."Please…"

           Asheclimbed,hisvisionbegantoblur.Therewasathunderinginhisears.Imustreachher!Butwhenhelookedupagain,thewomanhaddisappeared.Inherplacestoodanoldmanwithrottingteeth.Themanstareddown,curlinghislipsintoalonelygrimace.Thenheletoutascreamofanguishthatresoundedacrossthedesert.

           RobertLangdonawokewithastartfromhisnightmare.Thephonebesidehisbedwasringing.Dazed,hepickedupthereceiver.

           "Hello?"

           "I’mlookingforRobertLangdon,"aman’svoicesaid.

           Langdonsatupinhisemptybedandtriedtoclearhismind."This…isRobertLangdon."Hesquintedathisdigitalclock.Itwas5:18A.M.

           "Imustseeyouimmediately."

           "Whoisthis?"

           "MynameisMaximilianKohler.I’madiscreteparticlephysicist."

           "Awhat?"Langdoncouldbarelyfocus."Areyousureyou’vegottherightLangdon?"

           "You’reaprofessorofreligiousiconologyatHarvardUniversity.You’vewrittenthreebooksonsymbologyand—"

           "Doyouknowwhattimeitis?"

           "Iapologize.Ihavesomethingyouneedtosee.Ican’tdiscussitonthephone."

           AknowinggroanescapedLangdon’slips.Thishadhappenedbefore.OneoftheperilsofwritingbooksaboutreligioussymbologywasthecallsfromreligiouszealotswhowantedhimtoconfirmtheirlatestsignfromGod.