Gently now； the retrieval arm set down the crate and retracted。
Once the arm was clear； the conveyor belt whirred to life。。。。
Upstairs； Sophie and Langdon exhaled in relief to see the conveyor belt move。 Standing beside the belt； they felt like weary travelers at baggage claim awaiting a mysterious piece of luggage whose contents were unknown。
The conveyor belt entered the room on their right through a narrow slit beneath a retractable door。 The metal door slid up； and a huge plastic box appeared； emerging from the depths on the inclined conveyor belt。 The box was black； heavy molded plastic； and far larger than she imagined。 It looked like an air…freight pet transport crate without any airholes。
The box coasted to a stop directly in front of them。
Langdon and Sophie stood there； silent； staring at the mysterious container。
Like everything else about this bank； this crate was industrial—metal clasps； a bar code sticker on top； and molded heavy…duty handle。 Sophie thought it looked like a giant toolbox。
Wasting no time； Sophie unhooked the two buckles facing her。 Then she glanced over at Langdon。 Together； they raised the heavy lid and let it fall back。
Stepping forward； they peered down into the crate。
At first glance； Sophie thought the crate was empty。 Then she saw something。 Sitting at the bottom of the crate。 A lone item。
The polished wooden box was about the size of a shoebox and had ornate hinges。 The wood was a lustrous deep purple with a strong grain。 Rosewood； Sophie realized。 Her grandfather's favorite。 The lid bore a beautiful inlaid design of a rose。 She and Langdon exchanged puzzled looks。 Sophie leaned in and grabbed the box； lifting it out。
My God； it's heavy！
She carried it gingerly to a large receiving table and set it down。 Langdon stood beside her； both of them staring at the small treasure chest her grandfather apparently had sent them to retrieve。
Langdon stared in wonderment at the lid's hand…carved inlay—a five…petal rose。 He had seen this type of rose many times。 〃The five…petal rose；〃 he whispered； 〃is a Priory symbol for the Holy Grail。〃
Sophie turned and looked at him。 Langdon could see what she was thinking； and he was thinking it too。 The dimensions of the box； the apparent weight of its contents； and a Priory symbol for the Grail all seemed to imply one unfathomable conclusion。 The Cup of Christ is in this wooden box。 Langdon again told himself it was impossible。
〃It's a perfect size；〃 Sophie whispered； 〃to hold。。。 a chalice。〃
It can't be a chalice。
Sophie pulled the box toward her across the table； preparing to open it。 As she moved it； though； something unexpected happened。 The box let out an odd gurgling sound。
Langdon did a double take。 There's liquid inside？
Sophie looked equally confused。 〃Did you just hear。。。？〃
Langdon nodded； lost。 〃Liquid。〃
Reaching forward； Sophie slowly unhooked the clasp and raised the lid。
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
〃The police are blocking the street；〃 André Vernet said； walking into the waiting room。 〃Getting you out will be difficult。〃 As he closed the door behind him； Vernet saw the heavy…duty plastic case on the conveyor belt and halted in his tracks。 My God！ They accessed Saunière's account？
Sophie and Langdon were at the table； huddling over what looked to be a large wooden jewelry box。 Sophie immediately closed the lid and looked up。 〃We had the account number after all；〃 she said。
Vernet was speechless。 This changed everything。 He respectfully diverted his eyes from the box and tried to figure out his next move。 I have to get them out of the bank！ But with the police already having set up a roadblock； Vernet could imagine only one way to do that。 〃Mademoiselle Neveu； if I can get you safely out of the bank； will you be taking the item with you or returning it to the vault before you leave？〃
Sophie glanced at Langdon and then back to Vernet。 〃We need to take it。〃
Vernet nodded。 〃Very well。 Then whatever the item is； I suggest you wrap it in your jacket as we move through the hallways。 I would prefer nobody else see it。〃
As Langdon shed his jacket； Vernet hurried over to the conveyor belt； closed the now empty crate； and typed a series of simple mands。 The conveyor belt began moving again； carrying the plastic container back down to the vault。 Pulling the gold key from the podium； he handed it to Sophie。
〃This way please。 Hurry。〃
When they reached the rear loading dock； Vernet could see the flash of police lights filtering through the underground garage。 He frowned。 They were probably blocking the ramp。 Am I really going to try to pull this off？ He was sweating now。
Vernet motioned to one of the bank's small armored trucks。 Transport s？r was another service offered by the Depository Bank of Zurich。
〃Get in the cargo hold；〃 he said； heaving open the massive rear door and motioning to the glistening steel partment。 〃I'll be right back。〃
As Sophie and Langdon climbed in； Vernet hurried across the loading dock to the dock overseer's office； let himself in； collected the keys for the truck； and found a driver's uniform jacket and cap。 Shedding his own suit coat and tie； he began to put on the driver's jacket。 Reconsidering； he donned a shoulder holster beneath the uniform。 On his way out； he grabbed a driver's pistol from the rack； put in a clip； and stuffed it in the holster； buttoning his uniform over it。 Returning to the truck； Vernet pulled the driver's cap down low and peered in at Sophie and Langdon； who were standing inside the empty steel box。
〃You'll want this on；〃 Vernet said； reaching inside and flicking a wall switch to illuminate the lone courtesy bulb on the hold's ceiling。 〃And you'd better sit down。 Not a sound on our way out the gate。〃
Sophie and Langdon sat down on the metal floor。 Langdon cradled the treasure wadded in his tweed jacket。 Swinging the heavy doors closed； Vernet locked them inside。 Then he got in behind the wheel and revved the engine。
As the armored truck lumbered toward the top of the ramp； Vernet could feel the sweat already collecting beneath his driver's cap。 He could see there were far more police lights in front than he had imagined。 As the truck powered up the ramp； the interior gate swung inward to let him pass。 Vernet advanced and waited while the gate behind him closed before pulling forward and tripping the next sensor。 The second gate opened； and the exit beckoned。
Except for the police car blocking the top of the ramp。
Vernet dabbed his brow and pulled forward。
A lanky officer stepped out and waved him to a stop a few meters from the roadblock。 Four patrol cars were parked out front。
Vernet stopped。 Pulling his driver's cap down farther； he effected as rough a facade as his cultured upbringing would allow。 Not budging from behind the wheel； he opened the door and gazed down at the agent； whose face was stern and sallow。
〃Qu'est…ce qui se passe？〃 Vernet asked； his tone rough。
〃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