丹·布朗新作《本源》原版英文小說連載-第18、19章

06-07

來自專欄外刊搬運工

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CHAPTER 18

http://ConspiracyNet.com

EDMOND KIRSCH UPDATE

A FUTURE WITHOUT RELIGION?

In a live stream currently reaching an unprecedented seven million online viewers, futurist Edmond Kirsch appears poised to announce a scientific discovery that he hints will answer two of humanity』s most enduring questions.

After an enticing prerecorded introduction by Harvard professor Robert Langdon, Edmond Kirsch has launched into a hard-hitting critique of religious belief in which he has just made the bold prediction, 「The age of religion is drawing to a close.」

So far tonight, the well-known atheist appears to be a bit more restrained and respectful than usual. For a collection of Kirsch』s past antireligious rants, click here.

CHAPTER 19

Just outside the fabric wall of the domed theater, Admiral ávila moved into position, hidden from view by a maze of scaffolding. By staying low, he had kept his shadow hidden and was now ensconced only inches from the outer skin of the wall near the front of the auditorium.

Silently, he reached into his pocket and removed the rosary beads.

Timing will be critical.

Inching his hands along the string of beads, he found the heavy metal crucifix, amused that the guards manning the metal detectors downstairs had let this object slip past them without a second glance.

Using a razor blade hidden in the stem of the crucifix, Admiral ávila cut a six-inch vertical slit in the fabric wall. Gently, he parted the opening and peered through into another world—a wooded field where hundreds of guests were reclining on blankets and staring up at the stars.

They cannot imagine what is coming.

ávila was pleased to see that the two Guardia Real agents had taken up positions on the opposite side of the field, near the right front corner of the auditorium. They stood at rigid attention, nestled discreetly in the shadows of some trees. In the dim light, they would be unable to see ávila until it was too late.

Near the guards, the only other person standing was museum director Ambra Vidal, who seemed to be shifting uncomfortably as she watched Kirsch』s presentation.

Contented with his position, ávila closed the slit and refocused his attention on his crucifix. Like most crosses, it had two short arms that made up the transverse bar. On this cross, however, the arms were magnetically attached to the vertical stem and could be removed.

ávila grabbed one of the cruciform』s arms and forcefully bent it. The piece came off in his hand, and a small object fell out. ávila did the same on the other side, leaving the crucifix armless—now just a rectangle of metal on a heavy chain.

He slid the beaded chain back into his pocket for safekeeping. I』ll need this shortly. He now focused on the two small objects that had been hidden inside the arms of the cross.

Two short-range bullets.

ávila reached behind him, fishing under his belt, pulling from the small of his back the object he had smuggled in beneath his suit jacket.

Several years had passed since an American kid named Cody Wilson had designed 「The Liberator」—the first 3-D-printed polymer gun—and the technology had improved exponentially. The new ceramic and polymer firearms still did not have much power, but what they lacked in range, they more than made up for by being invisible to metal detectors.

All I need to do is get close.

If all went as planned, his current location would be perfect.

The Regent had somehow gained inside information about the precise layout and sequence of events this evening…and he had made it very clear how ávila』s mission should be carried out. The results would be brutal, but having now witnessed Edmond Kirsch』s Godless preamble, ávila felt confident that his sins here tonight would be forgiven.

Our enemies are waging war, the Regent had told him. We must either kill or be killed.

—

Standing against the far wall in the right front corner of the auditorium, Ambra Vidal hoped she did not look as uncomfortable as she felt.

Edmond told me this was a scientific program.

The American futurist had never been shy about his distaste for religion, but Ambra had never imagined tonight』s presentation would display such hostility.

Edmond refused to let me preview it.

There would certainly be fallout with the museum board members, but Ambra』s concerns right now were far more personal.

A couple of weeks ago, Ambra had confided in a very influential man about her involvement in tonight』s event. The man had strongly urged her not to participate. He had warned of the dangers of blindly hosting a presentation without any knowledge of its content—especially when it was produced by the well-known iconoclast Edmond Kirsch.

He practically ordered me to cancel, she remembered. But his self-righteous tone made me too incensed to listen.

Now, as Ambra stood alone beneath the star-filled sky, she wondered if that man was sitting somewhere watching this live stream, his head in his hands.

Of course he is watching, she thought. The real question is: Will he lash out?

—

Inside Almudena Cathedral, Bishop Valdespino was sitting rigidly at his desk, eyes glued to his laptop. He had no doubt that everyone in the nearby Royal Palace was also watching this program, especially Prince Julián—the next in line for the throne of Spain.

The prince must be ready to explode.

Tonight, one of Spain』s most respected museums was collaborating with a prominent American atheist to broadcast what religious pundits were already calling a 「blasphemous, anti-Christian publicity stunt.」 Further fanning the flames of controversy, the museum director hosting tonight』s event was one of Spain』s newest and most visible celebrities—the spectacularly beautiful Ambra Vidal—a woman who for the past two months had dominated Spanish headlines and enjoyed the overnight adoration of an entire country. Incredibly, Ms. Vidal had chosen to put everything at risk by hosting tonight』s full-scale attack on God.

Prince Julián will have no choice but to comment.

His impending role as Spain』s sovereign Catholic figurehead would be only a small part of the challenge he would face in dealing with tonight』s event. Of substantially greater concern was that just last month, Prince Julián had made a joyous declaration that launched Ambra Vidal into the national spotlight.

He had announced their engagement to be married.

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活動詳情：

轉發我們公眾號的任意文章，就可以獲得當日任意外文報紙（注意是報紙！）一份，可從《外刊清單》中指定。在公眾號內輸入「清單」或者「外刊清單」，即可查詢所有的外刊及外報清單。（一天一人僅限領取一份，但是小哥哥真的很好說話，所以。。。）
連續轉發7日，可獲得外刊一份。除了經濟學人，都可以是最新的，因為經濟學人是我要經常翻譯的，給了就沒有新鮮度啦。不過經濟學人前一周的刊物我是可以給你的，也是非常新鮮的！
漲粉貢獻特別大，比如拉上一個班關注和宣傳公眾號的，小哥哥/小姐姐會送一期經濟學人原版聽力大禮包（最新的是2018年5月26號那期哦！）！多貢獻多送！哪怕你想要某一年某一期的經濟學人的原版音頻，也會盡量找出來給你們！所有的音頻都是MP3格式的，蘋果也能播。
小哥哥/小姐姐真的很好說話，就不要欺騙他/她啦，比如轉發朋友圈僅對自己可見啥的。。。
所有的外刊/外報都是PDF格式的，某些報紙有MOBI格式，可以用KINDLE觀看。小姐姐在地鐵上試過，肥腸裝逼。。。
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