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e who had betrayed the Sangreal。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 Langdon said。 〃Betrayed the Sangreal？〃
〃I discovered a terrible truth；〃 Teabing said； sighing。 〃I learned why the Sangreal documents were never revealed to the world。 I learned that the Priory had decided not to release the truth after all。 That's why the millennium passed without any revelation； why nothing happened as we entered the End of Days。〃
Langdon drew a breath； about to protest。
〃The Priory；〃 Teabing continued； 〃was given a sacred charge to share the truth。 To release the Sangreal documents when the End of Days arrived。 For centuries； men like Da Vinci； Botticelli； and Newton risked everything to protect the documents and carry out that charge。 And now； at the ultimate moment of truth； Jacques Saunière changed his mind。 The man honored with the greatest responsibility in Christian history eschewed his duty。 He decided the time was not right。〃 Teabing turned to Sophie。 〃He failed the Grail。 He failed the Priory。 And he failed the memory of all the generations that had worked to make that moment possible。〃
〃You？〃 Sophie declared； glancing up now； her green eyes boring into him with rage and realization。 〃You are the one responsible for my grandfather's murder？〃
Teabing scoffed。 〃Your grandfather and his sénéchaux were traitors to the Grail。〃
Sophie felt a fury rising from deep within。 He's lying！
Teabing's voice was relentless。 〃Your grandfather sold out to the Church。 It is obvious they pressured him to keep the truth quiet。〃
Sophie shook her head。 〃The Church had no influence on my grandfather！〃
Teabing laughed coldly。 〃My dear； the Church has two thousand years of experience pressuring those who threaten to unveil its lies。 Since the days of Constantine； the Church has successfully hidden the truth about Mary Magdalene and Jesus。 We should not be surprised that now； once again； they have found a way to keep the world in the dark。 The Church may no longer employ crusaders to slaughter non…believers； but their influence is no less persuasive。 No less insidious。〃 He paused； as if to punctuate his next point。 〃Miss Neveu； for some time now your grandfather has wanted to tell you the truth about your family。〃
Sophie was stunned。 〃How could you know that？〃
〃My methods are immaterial。 The important thing for you to grasp right now is this。〃 He took a deep breath。 〃The deaths of your mother； father； grandmother； and brother were not accidental。〃
The words sent Sophie's emotions reeling。 She opened her mouth to speak but was unable。
Langdon shook his head。 〃What are you saying？〃
〃Robert； it explains everything。 All the pieces fit。 History repeats itself。 The Church has a precedent of murder when it es to silencing the Sangreal。 With the End of Days imminent； killing the Grand Master's loved ones sent a very clear message。 Be quiet； or you and Sophie are next。〃
〃It was a car accident；〃 Sophie stammered； feeling the childhood pain welling inside her。 〃An accident！〃
〃Bedtime stories to protect your innocence；〃 Teabing said。 〃Consider that only two family members went untouched—the Priory's Grand Master and his lone granddaughter—the perfect pair to provide the Church with control over the brotherhood。 I can only imagine the terror the Church wielded over your grandfather these past years； threatening to kill you if he dared release the Sangreal secret； threatening to finish the job they started unless Saunière influenced the Priory to reconsider its ancient vow。〃
〃Leigh；〃 Langdon argued； now visibly riled； 〃certainly you have no proof that the Church had anything to do with those deaths； or that it influenced the Priory's decision to remain silent。〃
〃Proof？〃 Teabing fired back。 〃You want proof the Priory was influenced？ The new millennium has arrived； and yet the world remains ignorant！ Is that not proof enough？〃
In the echoes of Teabing's words； Sophie heard another voice speaking。 Sophie； I must tell you the truth about your family。 She realized she was trembling。 Could this possibly be that truth her grandfather had wanted to tell her？ That her family had been murdered？ What did she truly know about the crash that took her family？ Only sketchy details。 Even the stories in the newspaper had been vague。 An accident？ Bedtime stories？ Sophie flashed suddenly on her grandfather's overprotectiveness； how he never liked to leave her alone when she was young。 Even when Sophie was grown and away at university； she had the sense her grandfather was watching over。 She wondered if there had been Priory members in the shadows throughout her entire life； looking after her。
〃You suspected he was being manipulated；〃 Langdon said； glaring with disbelief at Teabing。 〃So you murdered him？〃
〃I did not pull the trigger；〃 Teabing said。 〃Saunière was dead years ago； when the Church stole his family from him。 He was promised。 Now he is free of that pain； released from the shame caused by his inability to carry out his sacred duty。 Consider the alternative。 Something had to be done。 Shall the world be ignorant forever？ Shall the Church be allowed to cement its lies into our history books for all eternity？ Shall the Church be permitted to influence indefinitely with murder and extortion？ No； something needed to be done！ And now we are poised to carry out Saunière's legacy and right a terrible wrong。〃 He paused。 〃The three of us。 Together。〃
Sophie felt only incredulity。 〃How could you possibly believe that we would help you？〃
〃Because； my dear； you are the reason the Priory failed to release the documents。 Your grandfather's love for you prevented him from challenging the Church。 His fear of reprisal against his only remaining family crippled him。 He never had a chance to explain the truth because you rejected him； tying his hands； making him wait。 Now you owe the world the truth。 You owe it to the memory of your grandfather。〃
Robert Langdon had given up trying to get his bearings。 Despite the torrent of questions running through his mind； he knew only one thing mattered now—getting Sophie out of here alive。 All the guilt Langdon had mistakenly felt earlier for involving Teabing had now been transferred to Sophie。
I took her to Chateau Villette。 I am responsible。
Langdon could not fathom that Leigh Teabing would be capable of killing them in cold blood here in the Chapter House； and yet Teabing certainly had been involved in killing others during his misguided quest。 Langdon had the uneasy feeling that gunshots in this secluded； thick…walled chamber would go unheard； especially in this rain。 And Leigh just admitted his guilt to us。
Langdon glanced at Sophie； who looked shaken。 The Church murdered Sophie's family to silence the Priory？ Langdon felt certain the modern Church did not murder people。 There had to be some other explanation。
〃Let Sophie leave；〃 Langdon declared； staring at Leigh。 〃You and I should discuss this alone。〃
Teabing gave an unnatural laugh。 〃I'm afraid that is one show of faith I cannot afford。 I can； however； offer you this。〃 He propped himself fully on his crutches； gracelessly keeping the gun aimed at Sophie； and removed the keystone from his pocket。 He swayed a bit as he held it out for Langdon。 〃A token of trust； Robert。〃
Robert felt wary and didn't move。 Leigh is giving the keystone back to us？
〃Take it；〃 Teabing said； thrusting it awkwardly toward Langdon。
Langdon could imagine only one reason Teabing would give it back。 〃You opened it already。 You removed the map。〃
Teabing was shaking his head。 〃Robert； if I had solved the keystone； I would have disappeared to find the Grail myself and kept you uninvolved。 No； I do not know the answer。 And I can admit that freely。 A true knight learns humility in the face of the Grail。 He learns to obey the signs placed before him。 When I saw you enter the abbey； I understood。 You were here for a reason。 To help。 I am not looking for singular glory here。 I serve a far greater master than my own pride。 The Truth。 Mankind deserves to know that truth。 The Grail found us all； and now she is begging to be revealed。 We must work together。〃
Despite Teabing's pleas for cooperation and trust； his gun remained trained on Sophie as Langdon stepped forward and accepted the cold marble cylinder。 The vinegar inside gurgled as Langdon grasped it and stepped backward。 The dials were still in random order； and the cryptex remained locked。
Langdon eyed Teabing。 〃How do you know I won't smash it right now？〃
Teabing's laugh was an eerie chortle。 〃I should have realized your threat to break it in the Temple Church was an empty one。 Robert Langdon would never break the keystone。 You are an historian； Robert。 You are holding the key to two thousand years of history—the lost key to the Sangreal。 You can feel the souls of all the knights burned at the stake to protect her secret。 Would you have them die in vain？ No； you will vindicate them。 You will join the ranks of the great men you admire—Da Vinci； Botticelli； Newton—each of whom would have been honored to be in your shoes right now。 The contents of the keystone are crying out to us。 Longing to be set free。 The time has e。 Destiny has led us to this moment。〃
〃I cannot help you； Leigh。 I have no idea how to open this。 I only saw Newton's tomb for a moment。 And