LAME SATURDAY POST

-- OR --

EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DA VINCI CODE
I LEARNED FROM THE CLIFFHANGER CHAPTER ENDINGS

WARNING! SPOILERS!

Prologue: "Wincing in pain, he summoned all his faculties and strength. The desperate task before him, he knew, would require every remaining second of his life."

Chapter 1: "The agent looked grim. 'You don't understand, Mr. Langdon. What you see in this photograph...' He paused. "Monsieur Saunière did that to himself."

Chapter 2: "Finally, he felt the blood begin to flow."

Chapter 3: "'Mr. Langdon.' Fache's ebony eyes locked on. 'What you see in the photo is only the beginning of what Saunère did.'"

Chapter 4: "As he stood up, Langdon was beginning to suspect it was going to be a very long night."

Chapter 5: "Tightening the rope-tie round his waist, he raised the hood over his head and allowed his red eyes to admire his reflection in the mirror. The wheels are in motion."

Chapter 6: "Smiling, he closed his eyes and settled in to enjoy the rest of the conversation now being taped inside the Grand Gallery."

Chapter 7: "A follower of God, Sister Sandrine had learned to find peace in the calming voices of her own soul. Tonight, however, those voices were as silent as the empty church around her."

Chapter 8: "Fache was keeping his prey on a very tight leash tonight. Wisely so. Robert Langdon had proven himself one cool customer."

Chapter 9: "'Mr. Langdon,' the message began in a fearful whisper. 'Do not react to this messge. Just listen calmly. You are in danger right now. Follow my directions very closely.'"

Chapter 10: "He felt a renewed confidence that the Teacher and Silas would not fail. Money and faith were powerful motivators."

Chapter 11: "'Good," Fache said, lighting a cigarette and stalking into the hall. 'I've got a phone call to make. Be damned sure the rest room is the only place Langdon goes.'"

Chapter 12: Bewildered, Langdon looked at the image. The close-up photo revealed the glowing message on the parquet floor. The final line hit Langdon like a kick in the gut."

Chapter 13: "'Quite well,' she said, her eyes welling now with emotion. 'Jacques Saunière was my grandfather.'"

Chapter 14: "'It's about Sophie Neveu, sir. Something is not quite right.'"

Chapter 15: "It was not until this instant that he truly realized what he was about to do, and what awaited him inside. The keystone. It will lead us to our final goal. He raised his ghost-white fist and banged three times on the door. Moments later, the bolts of the enormous wooden portal began to move."

Chapter 16: "Robert Langdon was about to escape the Louvre, whether he wanted to or not."

Chapter 17: "Langdon had jumped."

Chapter 19: "For a fleeting instant, she wondered if this mysterious stranger could be the enemy they had warned her about, and if tonight she would have to carry out the orders she had been holding all these years. She decided to stay there in the darkness and watch his every move."

Chapter 20: "Without another word, Langdon pulled a pen from his jacket pocket and rearranged the letters in each line. O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! was a perfect anagram of Leonardo da Vinci! The Mona Lisa!"

Chapter 21: "Without hesitation, Langdon broke into a sprint back toward the stairs."

Chapter 22: "If all went as planned tonight in Paris, Aringarosa would soon be in possession of something that would make him the most powerful man in Christendom."

Chapter 23: "A few miles away, on the riverbank beyond Les Invalides, the bewildered driver of a twin-bed Trailor truck stood at gunpoint and watched as the captain of the Judicial Police let out a guttural roar of rage and heaved a bar of soap out into the turgid waters of the Seine."

Chapter 24: "It was a silent call of distress"

Chapter 25: "Fache's blood was boiling as he typed the numbers 4... 5... 4."

Chapter 26: "On the glass, six words glowed in purple, scrawled directly across the Mona Lisa's face."

Chapter 27: "Hedging his bets, he ordered half of his men back to the Louvre perimeter. The other half he sent to guard the only location in Paris where Robert Langdon could find safe harbor."

Chapter 28: "Face down on the parquet floor with his arms and legs spread wide, Langdon found little humor in the irony of his position. The Vitruvian Man, he thought. Face down."

Chapter 29: "HITHERTO SHALT THOU COME, BUT NO FURTHER."

Chapter 30: "'So dark the con of man.' She flashed a triumphant smile. 'I missed the first two anagrams, Robert. I wasn't about to miss the third.'"

Chapter 31: "All four are dead. The precious truth is lost forever."

Chapter 32: "As she drove away, she heard the sound of squealing tires behind them. Sirens blared to life. Cursing, Sophie slammed down the accelerator."

Chapter 33: "Langdon hurred along behind her. What had begun as a one-mile dash to the U.S. Embassy had now become a full-fledged evacuation from Paris. Langdon was liking this idea less and less."

Chapter 34: "Trying to ease his nerves, the bishop meditated on the purple amethyst in his ring. Feeling the textures of the mitre-crozier appliqué and the facets of the diamonds, he reminded himself that this ring was a symbol of power far less than that which he would soon attain."

Chapter 35: "Sophie looked back at the key and wondered what they would possibly find at 24 Rue Haxo. A church? Some kind of Priory headquarters?"

Chapter 36: "A female cryptologist and a schoolteacher? They wouldn't last till dawn."

Chapter 37: "'Sure you have." Langdon smiled. "You're just used to hearing it called by the name Holy Grail.'"

Chapter 38: "'I tried to warn you,' he shouted over the sound of gnashing gears. 'I drive an automatic!'"

Chapter 39: "Kneeling on the wooden floor, Silas prayed for forgiveness. Then, stripping off his robe, he reached again for the Discipline."

Chapter 40: "Sophie and Langdon were holding the key to a Swiss bank deposit box."

Chapter 41: "Aringarosa sensed the query was more spiritual than geographical, and yet he had not intention of discussing morality at this hour. 'Paris,' he said, and walked out the door."

Chapter 42: "Collet took the hint. 'Twenty-four Rue Haxo. Right away, Captain.' He hung up and radioed his men."

Chapter 43: "Langdon produced the printout of the crime scene photo and spread it out on the coffee table. Sophie needed only to read the first line to know Langdon was correct."

Chapter 44: "The object inside was unlike anything Langdon had ever seen. One thing was immediately clear to both of them, however. This was definitely not the Cup of Christ."

Chapter 45: "Vernet did not breathe again until the truck was a good fifty meters down the street. And now he had another problem. His cargo. Where do I take them?"

Chapter 46: "'The secret lives. Jacques Saunière transferred information before he died. I will call you soon. Our work tonight is not yet done.'"

Chapter 47: "Langdon slowly raised his eyes. 'Under the sign of the Rose,' he whispered. 'This cryptex... I think I know what it is.'"

Chapter 48: "Vernet stepped into view, a strained look in his eye. In his hand, he held a pistol. "I'm sorry about this," he said. "I really have no choice."

Chapter 49: "Vernet turned his eyes back to the ground where the truck had been parked. Even in the faint moonlight he could see there was nothing there. The wooden box was gone."

Chapter 50: "The bishop broke a light sweat. Or worse... that I took the money and ran!"

Chapter 51: "Langdon gave an awkward smile. 'We're on a Grail quest, Sophie. Who better to help us than a knight?'"

Chapter 52: "The gate clicked open. 'Your heart is true, my friend. You may pass.'"

Chapter 53: "Thirty seconds later, forty kilometers away, hidden in the undercarriage of the armored truck, a tiny transponder blinked to life."

Chapter 54: "Teabing already had Sophie locked in his twinkling gaze. 'You are a Grail virgin, my dear. And trust me, you will never forget your first time.'"

Chapter 55: "'Not what it is,' Teabing whispered. 'But rather who it is. The Holy Grail is not a thing. It is, in fact... a person."

Chapter 56: "Two rooms away, in the kitchen, manservant Rémy Legaludec stood in silence before a television. The news station was broadcasting photos of a man and woman... the same two individuals to whom Rémy had just served tea."

Chapter 57: "Ignoring the slash of pain from his cilice, Silas retrieved his gun and began the long trek up the grassy slope."

Chapter 58: "Instantly, Sophie recognized the translation. Sang Real literally meant Royal Blood."

Chapter 59: "After a long wait, another man came on, his tone gruff and concerned. 'Bishop, I am glad I finally reached you. You and I have much to discuss.'"

Chapter 60: "'So you tell me, sir. So you tell me.'"

Chapter 61: "'You'd better explain yourself, Robert.' he said coldly. 'You have not been honest with me.'"

Chapter 62: "Silas pulled the pistol from his pocket, turned off the safety, and inched down the hallway."

Chapter 63: "Everything in Paris has gone terribly wrong. Closing his eyes, Aringarosa said a prayer that Bezu Fache would have the means to fix it."

Chapter 64: "As he fell, he thought for a moment he saw a pale ghost hovering over him, clutching a gun. Then everything went black."

Chapter 65: "Teabing frowned. 'My friends, it seems we have a decision to make. And we'd better make it fast.'"

Chapter 66: "When Collet read the label above the empty peg, he knew he was in trouble."

Chapter 67: "Langdon dialed zero, knowing that the next sixty seconds might answer a question that had been puzzling him all night."

Chapter 68: "'Richard,' Teabing said, smiling warmly, 'two thousand pounds sterling and that loaded gun say you can take my guests.' He motioned to the Range Rover. 'And the unfortunate fellow in the back."

Chapter 69: "Both of them looked startled. 'So then,' she said, motioning to the rosewood box. 'Let's move on.'"

Chapter 70: "'Lieutenant Collet,' Fache barked, heading for the door. 'I have no choice but to leave you in charge of the PTS investigation here. Try to do something right for a change.'"

Chapter 71: "He looked down at the bound monk at his feet. The man lay perfectly still now, as if in a trance of acceptance, or perhaps, in silent prayer for deliverance."

Chapter 72: "Despite Teabing's and Langdon's confidence that the truth lay just within the marble cylinder, Sophie had solved enough of her grandfather's treasure hunts to know that Jacques Saunière did not give up his secrets easily."

Chapter 73: "Tell them I want Teabing's plane to be permitted to land. Then I want it surrounded on the tarmac. Nobody deplanes until I get there."

Chapter 74: "Sophie could not breathe. She suddenly realized she was quietly sobbing. She turned and staggered silently up the stairs, out of the house, and drove trembling back to Paris."

Chapter 75: "It had all begun as a holy cause. A brilliantly crafted scheme. Now, like a house of cards, it was collapsing in on itself... and the end was nowhere in sight."

Chapter 76: "Teabing grinned broadly. 'My dear, this is where the Atbash Cipher comes into play.'"

Chapter 77: "Teabing winked. 'In ancient Greek, wisdom is spelled S-O-F-I-A.'"

Chapter 78: "At that moment, fifteen miles ahead of them, six Kent police cars streaked down rain-soaked streets toward Biggin Hill Executive Airport."

Chapter 79: "He immediately called Interpol and requested every shred of information they could find on the Depository Bank of Zurich and its president, André Vernet."

Chapter 80: "'Sales meeting,' Teabing said, wondering how much it would cost him to persuade his pilot to perform one highly irregular maneuver."

Chapter 81: "Teabing grinned and closed the bar. 'So then, about this knight's tomb...'"

Chapter 82: "He smiled. 'Works every time.'"

Chapter 83: "Langdon felt shaky as he inched deeper into the circular room. This had to be the place."

Chapter 84: "'As I expressed when we first spoke, Bishop, you would do well to remember that youare not the only man on the verge of losing everything.'"

Chapter 85: "'If you call the police..." The tuxedoed man pressed the gun to his skin. "I will find you." The next thing the boy knew, he was sprinting across the outside courtyard with no plans of stopping until his legs gave out."

Chapter 86: "Sophie's voice was unwavering. 'Who are you working for?' The question brought a smirk to the departing Rémy's face. 'You would be surprised, Mademoiselle Neveu.'"

Chapter 87: "'Do you have any idea what target is being bugged?' 'Well, Lieutenant,' the agent said, walking to the computer and launching a piece of software. 'It's the strangest thing...'"

Chapter 88: "Sophie hung up and dashed with Langdon onto the train."

Chapter 89: "'That said, I give you my word as commanding officer of the Police Judiciare that your box, along with your bank's reputation, are in the safest of hands.'"

Chapter 90: "The notes were in French and appeared to be ideas outlining how best to insert a listening device into the knight."

Chapter 91: "With that, the connection went dead."

Chapter 92: "'Tea?' Gettum asked, standing and walking toward the pot she had made earlier. 'Leigh always loves my tea.'"

Chapter 93: "'Leave him precisely where he is,' the officer commanded. 'Don't say a word to anyone. I'm sending officers over right away.'"

Chapter 94: "Aringarosa recognized the address instantly. The Opus Dei Centre in London. He spun to the driver. "Take me there at once!"

Chapter 95: "Jacques Saunière, the master of double-entendres, had proven once again that he was a frighteningly clever man."

Chapter 96: "Silas spun and fired. Their eyes met. Silas was already screaming in horror as Bishop Aringarosa fell."

Chapter 97: "The Teacher recalled a small announcement sign he had seen on his way into the abbey. Immediately he knew the perfect place to lure them. The only question now... what to use as bait."

Chapter 98: "For a moment Langdon thought he must be dreaming. It was Leigh Teabing."

Chapter 99: "He turned and aimed the gun at Langdon. 'And you, Robert? Are you with me, or against me?'"

Chapter 100: "Aringarosa closed his eyes. 'Silas, you must pray.'"

Chapter 101: "As Teabing passed, Langdon looked him in the eye. 'Only the worthy find the Grail, Leigh. You taught me that.'"

Chapter 102: "Silas's pain at last began to fade, and he knew the bishop was right."

Chapter 103: "Aringarosa smiled. "A little faith can do wonders, Captain. A little faith."

Chapter 104: "And now, somehow, in this foreign place, in the company of three people she barely knw, she felt at last that she was home."

Chapter 105: "Their bodies came together, softly at first, and then completely. When she pulled away, her eyes were full of promise. 'Right,' Langdon managed. 'It's a date.'"

Epilogue: "For a moment, he thought he heard a woman's voice... the wisdom of the ages... whispering up from the chasms of the earth."

+posted by Lawrence @ 7/24/2004 10:47:00 PM