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〃Je suis Jérome Collet；〃 the agent said。 〃Lieutenant Police Judiciaire。〃 He motioned to the truck's cargo hold。 〃Qu'est…ce qu'ily a là dedans？〃
〃Hell if I know；〃 Vernet replied in crude French。 〃I'm only a driver。〃
Collet looked unimpressed。 〃We're looking for two criminals。〃
Vernet laughed。 〃Then you came to the right spot。 Some of these bastards I drive for have so much money they must be criminals。〃
The agent held up a passport picture of Robert Langdon。 〃Was this man in your bank tonight？〃
Vernet shrugged。 〃No clue。 I'm a dock rat。 They don't let us anywhere near the clients。 You need to go in and ask the front desk。〃
〃Your bank is demanding a search warrant before we can enter。〃
Vernet put on a disgusted look。 〃Administrators。 Don't get me started。〃
〃Open your truck； please。〃 Collet motioned toward the cargo hold。
Vernet stared at the agent and forced an obnoxious laugh。 〃Open the truck？ You think I have keys？ You think they trust us？ You should see the crap wages I get paid。〃
The agent's head tilted to one side； his skepticism evident。 〃You're telling me you don't have keys to your own truck？〃
Vernet shook his head。 〃Not the cargo area。 Ignition only。 These trucks get sealed by overseers on the loading dock。 Then the truck sits in dock while someone drives the cargo keys to the drop…off。 Once we get the call that the cargo keys are with the recipient； then I get the okay to drive。 Not a second before。 I never know what the hell I'm lugging。〃
〃When was this truck sealed？〃
〃Must have been hours ago。 I'm driving all the way up to St。 Thurial tonight。 Cargo keys are already up there。〃
The agent made no response； his eyes probing as if trying to read Vernet's mind。
A drop of sweat was preparing to slide down Vernet's nose。 〃You mind？〃 he said； wiping his nose with his sleeve and motioning to the police car blocking his way。 〃I'm on a tight schedule。〃
〃Do all the drivers wear Rolexes？〃 the agent asked； pointing to Vernet's wrist。
Vernet glanced down and saw the glistening band of his absurdly expensive watch peeking out from beneath the sleeve of his jacket。 Merde。 〃This piece of shit？ Bought it for twenty euro from a Taiwanese street vendor in St。 Germain des Prés。 I'll sell it to you for forty。〃
The agent paused and finally stepped aside。 〃No thanks。 Have a safe trip。〃
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
Silas lay prone on the canvas mat in his room； allowing the lash wounds on his back to clot in the air。 Tonight's second session with the Discipline had left him dizzy and weak。 He had yet to remove the cilice belt； and he could feel the blood trickling down his inner thigh。 Still； he could not justify removing the strap。
I have failed the Church。
Far worse； I have failed the bishop。
Tonight was supposed to be Bishop Aringarosa's salvation。 Five months ago； the bishop had returned from a meeting at the Vatican Observatory； where he had learned something that left him deeply changed。 Depressed for weeks； Aringarosa had finally shared the news with Silas。
〃But this is impossible！〃 Silas had cried out。 〃I cannot accept it！〃
〃It is true；〃 Aringarosa said。 〃Unthinkable； but true。 In only six months。〃
The bishop's words terrified Silas。 He prayed for deliverance； and even in those dark days； his trust in God and The Way never wavered。 It was only a month later that the clouds parted miraculously and the light of possibility shone through。
Divine intervention； Aringarosa had called it。
The bishop had seemed hopeful for the first time。 〃Silas；〃 he whispered； 〃God has bestowed upon us an opportunity to protect The Way。 Our battle； like all battles； will take sacrifice。 Will you be a soldier of God？〃
Silas fell to his knees before Bishop Aringarosa—the man who had given him a new life—and he said； 〃I am a lamb of God。 Shepherd me as your heart mands。〃
When Aringarosa described the opportunity that had presented itself； Silas knew it could only be the hand of God at work。 Miraculous fate！ Aringarosa put Silas in contact with the man who had proposed the plan—a man who called himself the Teacher。 Although the Teacher and Silas never met face…to…face； each time they spoke by phone； Silas was awed； both by the profundity of the Teacher's faith and by the scope of his power。 The Teacher seemed to be a man who knew all； a man with eyes and ears in all places。 How the Teacher gathered his information； Silas did not know； but Aringarosa had placed enormous trust in the Teacher； and he had told Silas to do the same。 〃Do as the Teacher mands you；〃 the bishop told Silas。 〃And we will be victorious。〃
Victorious。 Silas now gazed at the bare floor and feared victory had eluded them。 The Teacher had been tricked。 The keystone was a devious dead end。 And with the deception； all hope had vanished。
Silas wished he could call Bishop Aringarosa and warn him； but the Teacher had removed all their lines of direct munication tonight。 For our safety。
Finally； overing enormous trepidation； Silas crawled to his feet and found his robe； which lay on the floor。 He dug his cell phone from the pocket。 Hanging his head in shame； he dialed。
〃Teacher；〃 he whispered； 〃all is lost。〃 Silas truthfully told the man how he had been tricked。
〃You lose your faith too quickly；〃 the Teacher replied。 〃I have just received news。 Most unexpected and wele。 The secret lives。 Jacques Saunière transferred information before he died。 I will call you soon。 Our work tonight is not yet done。〃
CHAPTER 47
Riding inside the dimly lit cargo hold of the armored truck was like being transported inside a cell for solitary confinement。 Langdon fought the all too familiar anxiety that haunted him in confined spaces。 Vernet said he would take us a safe distance out of the city。 Where？ How far？
Langdon's legs had gotten stiff from sitting cross…legged on the metal floor； and he shifted his position； wincing to feel the blood pouring back into his lower body。 In his arms； he still clutched the bizarre treasure they had extricated from the bank。
〃I think we're on the highway now；〃 Sophie whispered。
Langdon sensed the sa