The Lost Symbol

«Robert?» Peter smiled and waved him in. «I’d like a word.»

Langdon managed a grin. «Yes, I hear you lost one.»

CHAPTER 126

The library in the house of the temple was d.c.’s oldest public reading room. its elegant stacks burgeoned with over a quarter of a million volumes, including a rare copy of the Ahiman Rezon, The Secrets of a Prepared Brother. In addition, the library displayed precious Masonic jewels, ritual artifacts, and even a rare volume that had been hand-printed by Benjamin Franklin.

Langdon’s favorite library treasure, however, was one few ever noticed.

The illusion.

Solomon had shown him long ago that from the proper vantage point, the library’s reading desk and golden table lamp created an unmistakable optical illusion. . that of a pyramid and shining golden capstone. Solomon said he always considered the illusion a silent reminder that the mysteries of Freemasonry were perfectly visible to anyone and everyone if they were seen from the proper perspective.

Tonight, however, the mysteries of Freemasonry had materialized front and center. Langdon now sat opposite the Worshipful Master Peter Solomon and the Masonic Pyramid.

Peter was smiling. «The ‘word’ you refer to, Robert, is not a legend. It is a reality.»

Langdon stared across the table and finally spoke. «But. . I don’t understand. How is that possible?»

«What is so difficult to accept?»

All of it! Langdon wanted to say, searching his old friend’s eyes for any hint of common sense. «You’re saying you believe the Lost Word is real. . and that it has actual power?»

«Enormous power,» Peter said. «It has the power to transform human kind by unlocking the Ancient Mysteries.»

«A word?» Langdon challenged. «Peter, I can’t possibly believe a word — »

«You will believe,» Peter stated calmly.

Langdon stared in silence.

«As you know,» Solomon continued, standing now and pacing around the table, «it has long been prophesied that there will come a day when the lost word will be rediscovered. . a day when it will be unearthed. . and mankind will once again have access to its forgotten power.»

Langdon flashed on Peter’s lecture about the Apocalypse. Although many people erroneously interpreted apocalypse as a cataclysmic end of the world, the word literally signified an «unveiling,» predicted by the ancients to be that of great wisdom. The coming age of enlightenment. Even so, Langdon could not imagine such a vast change being ushered in by. . a word.

Peter motioned to the stone pyramid, which sat on the table beside its golden capstone. «The Masonic Pyramid,» he said. «The legendary symbolon. Tonight it stands unified. . and complete.» Reverently, he lifted the golden capstone and set it atop the pyramid. The heavy gold piece clicked softly into place.

«Tonight, my friend, you have done what has never been done before. You have assembled the Masonic Pyramid, deciphered all of its codes, and in the end, unveiled. . this.»

Solomon produced a sheet of paper and laid it on the table. Langdon recognized the grid of symbols that had been reorganized using the Order Eight Franklin Square. He had studied it briefly in the Temple Room.

Peter said, «I am curious to know if you can read this array of symbols. After all, you are the specialist.»

Langdon eyed the grid.

Heredom, circumpunct, pyramid, staircase. .

langdon sighed. «well, peter, as you can probably see, this is an allegorical pictogram. clearly its language is metaphorical and symbolic rather than literal.»

Solomon chuckled. «Ask a symbologist a simple question. . Okay, tell me what you see.»

Peter really wants to hear this? Langdon pulled the page toward him. «Well, I looked at it earlier, and, in simple terms, I see that this grid is a picture. . depicting heaven and earth.»

Peter arched his eyebrows, looking surprised. «Oh?»

«Sure. At the top of the image, we have the word Heredom — the ‘Holy House’—which I interpret as the House of God. . or heaven.»

«Okay.»

«The downward-facing arrow after Heredom signifies that the rest of the pictogram clearly lies in the realm beneath heaven. . that being. . earth.» Langdon’s eyes glided now to the bottom of the grid. «The lowest two rows, those beneath the pyramid, represent the earth itself — terra firma — the lowest of all the realms. Fittingly, these lower realms contain the twelve ancient astrological signs, which represent the primordial religion of those first human souls who looked to the heavens and saw the hand of God in the movement of the stars and planets.»

Solomon slid his chair closer and studied the grid. «Okay, what else?»