Page 138 of The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon #6)
Alone, Langdon ran his hand along the iron banister as he descended the marble staircase outside the ambassador’s office. He felt unsteady about what lay ahead—not only in the next few minutes, but also in the coming months.
Nagel will guard the guards? he wondered, reflecting on the conversation they had just had in her office.
She intended to monitor Threshold personally, establishing herself as a kind of inspector general, or perhaps even director, for the next iteration of the project.
Rebuilding Threshold, she had insisted, was critical to national security and also the right thing to do… but it had to be done in the right way.
“The high ground can be defended only if we are actually on it,” Nagel had said.
“I will be an on-site, personal advocate for Sasha Vesna—her living conditions, her safety, and her mental well-being. I will do the same for those who will participate in the program in the future.” Nagel paused and let out a barely audible sigh.
“Having oversight will give me something crucial as well—the opportunity to redeem myself and the terrible mistakes I’ve made. ”
Langdon sensed a deep well of emotion fueling her words.
“The more I consider it,” she continued, “the more I truly believe this will be the best outcome for Sasha, for the CIA, and also for us. But before I call Director Judd and inform him exactly what he will be doing for us… with us…there’s one remaining hurdle to jump.”
“Sasha…” Katherine said. “You have to convince her.”
Nagel nodded. “Her full consent to this plan is crucial… Without it, none of this happens. I promise you this agency will never again force her—or anyone for that matter—into participating in something against her will or without her knowledge.”
Langdon appreciated the sentiment. “It’s hard to know if she’ll agree.”
“The answer, I imagine, resides in how she is asked.”
Spoken like a true diplomat, Langdon thought. “Do you think you can persuade her?”
“I’ve never properly spoken to the woman, so no, I don’t believe I can,” Nagel replied, studying him intently. “But I suspect you might.”
Langdon cocked his head. “I’m sorry? You want me to talk to Sasha?” Nagel had said earlier she would need Langdon’s help, but this was not what he had envisioned.
“Of the three people in this room, Professor, you are the only one who has spent any time with Ms. Vesna. Sadly, you might be the only person left in her world to whom she would actually be willing to talk.”
That thought hung in the silence for a moment.
“Actually,” Langdon countered, “at the moment I’m not even sure whom I met today.
It felt like I was with Sasha, at least some of the time, but in many ways, it makes more sense that I was with her alter—pretending to be her and orchestrating everything that was happening. I would have no way to know.”
“Regardless,” the ambassador said, “whoever you were dealing with today, you were helpful and kind, and that person seemed to take notice. After all, he protected you not once but twice.”
True, Langdon realized, recalling how he was urged to flee Threshold and also being tricked to leave Sasha’s apartment prior to Harris’s murder.
“Sasha has shown she trusts you,” Nagel continued. “I am curious, hypothetically speaking, what you think would convince her to put her trust in us, in me, in this plan, and in a new life in America?”
Langdon was starting to suspect it might not be a very hard sell at all.
“I would simply remind her that this proposal, in many ways, is her dream come true. And depending on how much she actually recalls or understands about what has happened to her, I would impress on her that the way forward will require forgiveness —not just on her part—but for everyone involved. Bilateral absolution. Her alter will understand that as well. Sasha will need to forgive the agency that horribly betrayed her, and the agency will need to forgive the subject who took revenge on the people and secret facility that harmed her. If both Sasha and the agency can leave the past in the past and agree to a mutual pardon for the greater good, then there exists a shared future that benefits everyone.”
Nagel and Katherine exchanged an impressed nod, and the ambassador said, “Which is precisely why I asked you, Professor.”
Langdon cracked the door to the embassy’s oak-paneled conference room and peered inside.
At the far end of a very long table, Sasha Vesna was seated alone.
Her blond hair was tangled and wet, her face drawn.
A towel was draped over her shoulders, and a half-eaten meal sat before her.
Her hands were in her lap, no doubt bound.
Langdon studied her a long moment before entering and closing the door behind him. He slowly approached with a soft smile. “Hi, Sasha.”
She looked more wary than happy to see him.
“I’m relieved you’re safe,” Langdon offered, choosing a seat about ten feet away from her.
“Thank you,” she said, studying him with an uncertain look.
Langdon suddenly sensed this meeting would not be the warm and fuzzy reunion the ambassador had predicted.
“Sasha,” Langdon began, “I’m here because I have important information for you, and I want to be sure that I deliver it”—he paused, searching for the words—“in a way that makes the most sense to you.”
“Okay,” she said, giving him nothing.
Langdon took a moment, gathering his thoughts, and then spoke as calmly as his unsettled state would allow.
“Sasha, I understand that you came here tonight asking for help. I’m pleased to report that the ambassador very much wants to help you.
She is aware that you feel you’re in danger, and she wants to protect you and make you feel safe.
She has a plan to do exactly that. I’ve heard her plan—it’s not a perfect solution, but it’s the best one available…
and the ambassador believes it is your best chance to enjoy a safe and relatively normal life. I have to agree.”
Sasha’s expression seemed to brighten slightly.
“Before I explain the idea to you,” Langdon said, “I’m sorry, but I need to ask you an unusual question.
It may sound quite strange…but it’s absolutely critical that you reply with full honesty.
None of this can happen without that.” Langdon paused, fixing her pale eyes with his firm gaze.
“Forgive me for asking, but I need to know—with whom am I speaking right now? Is this you, Sasha?”
The young woman studied Langdon for a long moment and then shook her head. “No,” she replied in a deep, hollow voice. “For Sasha’s own safety, I have not released her yet.”