Page 109 of The Secret of Secrets

As Langdon came down the steps, he could hear multiple conversations outside the bookcase door, and he hoped the crowd included museum security.

“Mr. Langdon?!” a deep voice called through the door. The accent was American. “I am Marine Embassy Guard Morgan Dudley.”

Langdon and Katherine exchanged a startled look. That was fast.

“You are safe to exit, sir,” the man announced. “I can confirm that the ÚZSI lieutenant who threatened you has relinquished his weapon, and the Blue Alert has been canceled.”

Langdon had no idea what a Blue Alert was, but the embassy’s presence certainly sounded like an improvement over ÚZSI.

“Open the door, sir.” The voice was polite but firmer now.

Katherine immediately began untying the sleeve of her full-length coat from the door handle.

“Wait!” Langdon whispered, feeling apprehensive. “He could be an ÚZSI officer imitating an American.”

Whether the man outside was psychic or had overheard the comment, Langdon did not know, but a moment later a laminated carnet came skittering in beneath the door. In the dim light, Langdon couldn’t read the small text, but fittingly, his fears were allayed by the card’s embossed symbol—a bald eagle with a shield of stars and stripes.

Outside the bookcase, Dana Daněk waited anxiously for the hidden door to open. Less than ten minutes had passed since Ambassador Nagel had rushed into Dana’s office with an urgent order—to go with a Marine escort to the Klementinum and save an American’s life.

Mission accomplished, she thought. Albeit barely.

Lieutenant Pavel had been escorted out of the library and into a holding room, and his superiors had been alerted. ÚZSI was incensed to learn of the U.S. embassy’s intervention in an official Blue Alert—no matter its origins—although they had no choice but to issue an immediate “Alert Retraction.”

When the bookcase finally swung open, Robert Langdon stepped forward, squinting from within the darkened alcove. Dana Daněk was relieved to see him safe, and yet she was shocked to see him emerge with a woman. Dana recognized the elegant face in an instant.

Katherine Solomon.

Chapter 70

Still shivering from her time in the frigid stairwell, Katherine savored the relative warmth of the Klementinum hallways as the embassy’s striking PR liaison, Ms. Daněk, hustled them toward the museum exit.

U.S. Marines had scoured the alcove, taking photos of the ash pile on the landing and collecting charred scraps of manuscript pages from the floor. Their keen interest in the burned remains of her book, as inconceivable as it was, seemed to support Langdon’s claim that her manuscript was indeed at the center of whatever had been happening here today.

But why?

It was starting to seem more evident that Langdon might have made the right call; the manuscript made them a target, and removing it had saved their lives.

The thought of writing her book all over again filled Katherine with a dread she could not begin to process at that moment. Langdon had suggested that PRH might somehow be able to retrieve a digital copy from the hacked server, or maybe the hackers would demand a reasonable ransom. She hoped he was correct. Or maybe the universe would offer up some unforeseen miracle.

We’re alive, she thought. Let’s start there.

She couldn’t fathom that Brigita Gessner was dead, and clearly Langdon still had a lot to share about his own morning; he had just informed Dana Daněk that he was deeply concerned about the safety of two individuals. Michael Harris? Sasha Vesna? Katherine recognized neither name.

In addition, quite strangely, when Langdon asked Ms. Daněk to borrow a phone to check on Jonas Faukman, she had refused, saying the ambassador insisted on no outside contact until Katherine and Langdon had been brought to safety and fully briefed…for their own protection.

Our own protection?!

Langdon was walking beside Katherine now, and she reached out and took his hand. The group, led by the armed American Marines, exited the museum through a series of courtyards and archways into the bustle of Marian Square. Directly ahead, the flags of the New City Hall flapped in the bitter wind, and Katherine heard sirens growing louder in the distance. Their Marine escorts, apparently hearing the sirens as well, now urged them to move faster. Langdon gripped Katherine’s hand more tightly and they quickly followed the Marines into the square to their waiting vehicle.

That’s our ride? Katherine thought, startled. Not exactly discreet.

One of the Marines was holding open the door of a black stretch limousine that bore the U.S. embassy logo on the side and two small banners on the hood—one Czech and one American—both red, white, and blue. The limo was already drawing considerable attention in the square.

“Forgive the formality,” Ms. Daněk said. “Diplomatic vehicles provide a level of protection from local authorities. The ambassador thought it prudent. Please get in.”

From the sounds of approaching sirens, Katherine realized that diplomatic immunity might be a good thing. As Katherine took a step toward the car, however, Langdon discreetly restrained her with a strong grip on her hand.

The sirens wailed closer.