The Lost Symbol

Peter has that effect on people. Langdon considered it a long moment, seeing no way out. «All right. Tell him I can do it.»

«Outstanding!» the assistant exclaimed, sounding deeply relieved. He gave Langdon the jet’s tail number and various other information.

When Langdon finally hung up, he wondered if Peter Solomon had ever been told no.

Returning to his coffee preparation, Langdon scooped some additional beans into the grinder. A little extra caffeine this morning, he thought. It’s going to be a long day.

CHAPTER 4

The U.S. capitol building stands regally at the eastern end of the national mall, on a raised plateau that city designer pierre l’enfant described as «a pedestal waiting for a monument.» the capitol’s massive footprint measures more than 750 feet in length and 350 feet deep. housing more than sixteen acres of floor space, it contains an astonishing 541 rooms. the neoclassical architecture is meticulously designed to echo the grandeur of ancient rome, whose ideals were the inspiration for america’s founders in establishing the laws and culture of the new republic.

The new security checkpoint for tourists entering the Capitol Building is located deep within the recently completed subterranean visitor center, beneath a magnificent glass skylight that frames the Capitol Dome. Newly hired security guard Alfonso Nuсez carefully studied the male visitor now approaching his checkpoint. The man had a shaved head and had been lingering in the lobby, completing a phone call before entering the building. His right arm was in a sling, and he moved with a slight limp. He was wearing a tattered army-navy surplus coat, which, combined with his shaved head, made Nuсez guess military. Those who had served in the U.S. armed forces were among the most common visitors to Washington.

«Good evening, sir,» Nuсez said, following the security protocol of verbally engaging any male visitor who entered alone.

«Hello,» the visitor said, glancing around at the nearly deserted entry. «Quiet night.»

«NFC play-offs,» Nuсez replied. «Everyone’s watching the Redskins tonight.» Nuсez wished he were, too, but this was his first month on the job, and he’d drawn the short straw. «Metal objects in the dish, please.»

As the visitor fumbled to empty the pockets of his long coat with his one working hand, Nuсez watched him carefully. Human instinct made special allowances for the injured and handicapped, but it was an instinct Nuсez had been trained to override.

Nuсez waited while the visitor removed from his pockets the usual assortment of loose change, keys, and a couple of cell phones. «Sprain?» nuсez asked, eyeing the man’s injured hand, which appeared to be wrapped in a series of thick ace bandages.

The bald man nodded. «Slipped on the ice. A week ago. Still hurts like hell.»

«Sorry to hear that. Walk through, please.»

The visitor limped through the detector, and the machine buzzed in protest.

The visitor frowned. «I was afraid of that. I’m wearing a ring under these bandages. My finger was too swollen to get it off, so the doctors wrapped right over it.»

«No problem,» Nuсez said. «I’ll use the wand.»

Nuсez ran the metal-detection wand over the visitor’s wrapped hand. As expected, the only metal he detected was a large lump on the man’s injured ring finger. Nuсez took his time rubbing the metal detector over every inch of the man’s sling and finger. He knew his supervisor was probably monitoring him on the closed circuit in the building’s security center, and Nuсez needed this job. Always better to be cautious. He carefully slid the wand up inside the man’s sling.

The visitor winced in pain.

«Sorry.»

«It’s okay,» the man said. «You can’t be too careful these days.»

«Ain’t that the truth.» Nuсez liked this guy. Strangely, that counted for a lot around here. Human instinct was America’s first line of defense against terrorism. It was a proven fact that human intuition was a more accurate detector of danger than all the electronic gear in the world — the gift of fear, as one of their security reference books termed it.

In this case, Nuсez’s instincts sensed nothing that caused him any fear. The only oddity that he noticed, now that they were standing so close, was that this tough-looking guy appeared to have used some kind of self-tanner or concealer makeup on his face. Whatever. Everyone hates to be pale in the winter.

«You’re fine,» Nuсez said, completing his sweep and stowing the wand.

«Thanks.» The man started collecting his belongings from the tray.