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Louvre Museum, Paris 10:46 P M

Renowned curator Jacques Sauniere staggered through the vaulted archway of thehe could see, a Caravaggio Grabbing the gilded frame, the seventy-six-year-old man heaved the masterpiece toward himself until it tore from the wall and Sauniere collapsed backward in a heap beneath the canvas

As he had anticipated, a thundering iron gate fell nearby, barricading the entrance to the suite The parquet floor shook Far off, an alarasping for breath, taking stock I am still aliveHe crawled out from under the canvas and scanned the cavernous space for soly close "Do not move"

On his hands and knees, the curator froze, turning his head slowly

Only fifteen feet away, outside the sealed gate, the h the iron bars He was broad and tall, with ghost-pale skin and thinning white hair His irises were pink with dark red pupils The albino drew a pistol froh the bars, directly at the curator "You should not have run" His accent was not easy to place "Now tell me where it is"

"I told you already," the curator staallery "I have no idea what you are talking about!"

"You are lying" The lint in his ghostly eyes "You and your brethren possess so that is not yours"

The curator felt a surge of adrenaline How could he possibly know this?

"Tonight the rightful guardians will be restored Tell me where it is hidden, and you will live" The un at the curator’s head "Is it a secret you will die for?"

Sauniere could not breathe

The un

Sauniere held up his hands in defense "Wait," he said slowly "I will tell you what you need to know" The curator spoke his next words carefully The lie he told was one he had rehearsedhe would never have to use it

When the curator had finished speaking, his assailant sly "Yes This is exactly what the others told me"

Sauniere recoiled The others?