The Lost Symbol

More startling, however, was the knowledge that this capstone’s ultimate peak, the zenith of this obelisk, was crowned by a tiny, polished tip of aluminum — a metal as precious as gold in its day. The shining apex of the Washington Monument was only about a foot tall, the same size as the Masonic Pyramid. Incredibly, this small metal pyramid bore a famous engraving — Laus Deo — and langdon suddenly understood. This is the true message of the base of the stone pyramid.

The seven symbols are a transliteration!

The simplest of ciphers.

The symbols are letters.

The stonemason’s square — L

The element gold — AU

The Greek Sigma — S

The Greek Delta — D

Alchemical mercury — E

The Ouroboros — O

«Laus Deo,» Langdon whispered. The well-known Latin phrase — meaning «praise God»—was inscribed on the tip of the Washington Monument in script letters only one inch tall. On full display. . and yet invisible to all.

Laus Deo.

«Praise God,» Peter said behind him, flipping on the soft lighting in the chamber. «The Masonic Pyramid’s final code.»

Langdon turned. His friend was grinning broadly, and Langdon recalled that Peter had actually spoken

the words «praise God» earlier inside the Masonic library. And I still missed it.

Langdon felt a chill to realize how apt it was that the legendary Masonic Pyramid had guided him here. . to America’s great obelisk — the symbol of ancient mystical wisdom — rising toward the heavens at the heart of a nation.

In a state of wonder, Langdon began moving counterclockwise around the perimeter of the tiny square room, arriving now at another viewing window.

North.

Through this northward-facing window, Langdon gazed down at the familiar silhouette of the White House directly in front of him. He raised his eyes to the horizon, where the straight line of Sixteenth Street ran due north toward the House of the Temple.

I am due south of Heredom.

He continued around the perimeter to the next window. Looking west, Langdon’s eyes traced the long rectangle of the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial, its classical Greek architecture inspired by the Parthenon in Athens, Temple to Athena — goddess of heroic undertakings.

Annuit coeptis, Langdon thought.

God favors our undertaking.

Continuing to the final window, Langdon gazed southward across the dark waters of the Tidal Basin, where the Jefferson Memorial shone brightly in the night. The gently sloping cupola, Langdon knew, was modeled after the Pantheon, the original home to the great Roman gods of mythology.

having looked in all four directions, langdon now thought about the aerial photos he had seen of the national mall — her four arms outstretched from the washington monument toward the cardinal points of the compass. I am standing at the crossroads of America.

Langdon continued back around to where Peter was standing. His mentor was beaming. «Well, Robert, this is it. The Lost Word. This is where it’s buried. The Masonic Pyramid led us here.»

Langdon did a double take. He had all but forgotten about the Lost Word.

«Robert, I know of nobody more trustworthy than you. And after a night like tonight, I believe you deserve to know what this is all about. As promised in legend, the Lost Word is indeed buried at the bottom of a winding staircase.» He motioned to the mouth of the monument’s long stairwell.

Langdon had finally started to get his feet back under him, but now he was puzzled.

Peter quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object. «Do you remember this?»

Langdon took the cube-shaped box that Peter had entrusted to him long ago. «Yes. . but I’m afraid I didn’t do a very good job of protecting it.»

Solomon chuckled. «Perhaps the time had come for it to see the light of day.»

Langdon eyed the stone cube, wondering why Peter had just handed it to him.

«What does this look like to you?» Peter asked.

Langdon eyed the 1514 and recalled his first impression when Katherine had unwrapped the package. «A cornerstone.»

«Exactly,» Peter replied. «Now, there are a few things you might not know about cornerstones. First, the concept of laying a cornerstone comes from the Old Testament.»

Langdon nodded. «The Book of Psalms.»

«Correct. And a true cornerstone is always buried beneath the ground — symbolizing the building’s initial step upward out of the earth toward the heavenly light.»

Langdon glanced out at the Capitol, recalling that its cornerstone was buried so deep in the foundation that, to this day, excavations had been unable to find it.