CHAPTER 67

Rémy drives Teabing’s black Range Rover across the moonlit fields behind Château Villette without headlights, carrying Langdon, Sophie, Teabing, the keystone, and the bound Silas. Teabing directs Rémy into the woods to avoid being seen from the château, then has Langdon switch on the fog lights once they are hidden among the trees.

Langdon wants to reopen the wooden box and study the inscription beneath the Rose inlay, but Teabing stops him, arguing that the dark, bumpy escape could damage the keystone. When Silas struggles in the rear cargo area, Teabing threatens him and insists that keeping Silas alive is useful because Silas may reveal who is behind the attacks.

Teabing reasons that Silas could not have found them alone and may have had help from someone in the Judicial Police or the Zurich Depository. Because Langdon is wanted for murder and Sophie is also in danger, Teabing says Silas is now leverage and proof that a larger enemy is pursuing them.

As Rémy continues along the forest trail toward highway five, Teabing telephones Richard and orders his private plane, Elizabeth, prepared at Le Bourget. Teabing proposes flying to England, explaining that he has influence there, that he regularly travels there for medical treatments, and that many Grail traditions point to Great Britain.

Silas, crammed in the back, suffers from his bonds and nearly chokes until Teabing removes the tape from Silas’s mouth. Silas refuses to answer questions about Opus Dei or the keystone, believing he serves God and fearing that he has failed the Teacher and the bishop because his captors now possess the keystone.

While the group continues through the woods, Langdon feels briefly reassured by Sophie and Teabing’s determination. Then an idea suddenly strikes Langdon, and he asks Sophie for her cell phone so he can call the United States, hoping the call will answer a question that has troubled him all night.