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Langdon glanced down at his attire. He was wearing his usual charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis, and collegiate cordovan loafers . . . his standard attire for the classroom, lecture circuit, author photos, and social events.
The woman laughed. "Those turtlenecks you wear are so dated. You'd look much sharper in a tie!"
No chance, Langdon thought. Little nooses.
Neckties had been required six days a week when Langdon attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and despite the headmaster's romantic claims that the origin of the cravat went back to the silk fascalia worn by Roman orators to warm their vocal cords, Langdon knew that, etymologically, cravat actually derived from a ruthless band of "Croat" mercenaries who donned knotted neckerchiefs before they stormed into battle. To this day, this ancient battle garb was donned by modern office warriors hoping to intimidate their enemies in daily boardroom battles.
"Thanks for the advice," Langdon said with a chuckle. "I'll consider a tie in the future."
Mercifully, a professional-looking man in a dark suit got out of a sleek Lincoln Town Car parked near the terminal and held up his finger. "Mr. Langdon? I'm Charles with Beltway Limousine." He opened the passenger door. "Good evening, sir. Welcome to Washington."
Langdon tipped Pam for her hospitality and then climbed into the plush interior of the Town Car. The driver showed him the temperature controls, the bottled water, and the basket of hot muffins. Seconds later, Langdon was speeding away on a private access road. So this is how the other half lives.
As the driver gunned the car up Windsock Drive, he consulted his passenger manifest and placed a quick call. "This is Beltway Limousine," the driver said with professional efficiency. "I was asked to confirm once my passenger had landed." He paused. "Yes, sir. Your guest, Mr. Langdon, has arrived, and I will deliver him to the Capitol Building by seven P.M. You're welcome, sir." He hung up.
Langdon had to smile. No stone left unturned. Peter Solomon's attention to detail was one of his most potent assets, allowing him to manage his substantial power with apparent ease. A few billion dollars in the bank doesn't hurt either.
Langdon settled into the plush leather seat and closed his eyes as the noise of the airport faded behind him. The U.S. Capitol was a half hour away, and he appreciated the time alone to gather his thoughts. Everything had happened so quickly today that Langdon only now had begun to think in earnest about the incredible evening that lay ahead.
Arriving under a veil of secrecy, Langdon thought, amused by the prospect.
Ten miles from the Capitol Building, a lone figure was eagerly preparing for Robert Langdon's arrival.
Excerpted from The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown Copyright (c) 2009 by Dan Brown. Excerpted by permission of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
The Lost Symbol
In the publishing phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon went up against the Priory of Sion and unraveled one of the greatest mysteries of all time. In Angels & Demons, he followed a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that led to the lair of the secretive Illuminati. Now, in this hugely anticipated follow-up, he’s back in a high-stakes quest that pits him against an exhilarating new challenge…and tests him in a way he’s never been tested before….
The latest novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol is a frantically paced thriller that weaves together five years’ worth of research and crams them into an edge-of-your-seat adventure that all takes place within a 12-hour timeframe. Showcasing Brown’s prodigious talent for keeping us guessing, it begins with a bang and never lets up as Langdon is drawn into a world of intrigue, racing desperately against time in an effort to crack the mystery of the lost symbol.
Packed with secret codes, shadow conspiracies and unexpected twists, this is vintage Dan Brown—a mind-bending tale where danger lurks around every corner and only one thing is certain: Nothing is ever as it seems.
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Doubleday & Co, Inc./Div. Random House ( September 15, 2009 )
Item #: 04-5125
ISBN: 9780385504225
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 1.26 inches
Product Weight: 18.0 ounces
Excellent
July 20, 2010
I have read The Da Vinci Code and Angels and
Demons, both excellent reads. Just tonight I finished The Lost Symbol. It is every bit as good as the two prior books. I am hoping to find the other books Dan Brown wrote. With five of my relatives being Masons, and two of them 32nd Degree Masons and one being a 33rd degree Mason and the other two 3rd degree Masons, I enjoyed the Historical direction of the book. A very good read.
Reviewer: Dolores M
Pretty good book
July 16, 2010
True, I could see this as more of a movie than a descriptive book, however it was a good read and I enjoyed it. There was a lot of excitement and intrigue and I love the bits of history and descriptions of symbols in Dan Brown's books. Looking forward to more from this author. It is worth checking out.
Reviewer: Rv
A bit disappointing
July 10, 2010
I was a little disappointed in this latest book by Dan Brown. I have read and loved everything else he has written so naturally I was excited for The Lost Symbol. I found the story line a bit redundant and way too easy to figure out the plot before I was halfway through the book. While I did enjoy the symbolism, the third time is definitely not a charm. May be time to put the character on the shelf for a while and try something different.
Reviewer: Stephanie
Disappointing
July 07, 2010
This book was not as good as Dan Brown's previous books. I was so extremely disappointed that I had to force myself to finish reading this. If you never read his previous books, read them instead of this.
Reviewer: Linda
Totally Worth IT!
May 17, 2010
I love Dan Brown and he didnt let me down. I love to read but i dont have much free time, yet i read this book in just a few days. Couldnt put it down. You will love it if you buy it!
Reviewer: Tarra
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