Page 3 of The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon #6)
“A radiant crown,” she said without missing a beat.
Someone did her reading. Langdon brought the mic back to his lips. “Yes, the radiant crown is a particularly significant symbol. It appears throughout history adorning the heads of Horus, Helios, Ptolemy, Caesar…and even the towering Colossus of Rhodes.”
Langdon gave the crowd a conspiratorial grin. “Few people realize this, but the most photographed object in all of New York City happens to be…a radiant crown.”
Puzzled looks, even from Katherine.
“Any guesses?” he asked. “None of you has ever photographed the radiant crown that hovers three hundred feet above New York Harbor?” Langdon waited as the murmur of revelation grew in the crowd.
“The Statue of Liberty!” someone called out.
“Exactly,” Langdon said. “The Statue of Liberty wears a radiant crown—an ancient halo—that universal icon we have used through history to identify special individuals who we believe possess divine enlightenment…or an advanced state of… consciousness .”
As Langdon handed the mic back to Katherine, she was beaming. Thank you, she mouthed to him as he returned to his seat amid applause.
Katherine walked back onto the stage. “As Professor Langdon has just stated so eloquently, humans have been contemplating consciousness for a long time. But even now, with advanced science, we have trouble defining it. In fact, many scientists are afraid even to discuss consciousness.” Katherine glanced around and whispered, “They call it the c-word.”
Scattered laughter rippled through the room again.
Katherine nodded to a spectacled woman in the front. “Ma’am, how would you define consciousness?”
The woman thought a moment. “I suppose…an awareness of my own existence?”
“Perfect,” Katherine said. “And where does that awareness come from?”
“My brain, I guess,” she said. “My thoughts, ideas, imaginations…the brain activity that makes me who I am.”
“Very well said, thank you.” Katherine lifted her gaze back to the audience. “So can we all start by agreeing on the basics? Consciousness is created by your brain—the three-pound bundle of eighty-six billion neurons inside your skull—and therefore consciousness is located inside our heads.”
Nods all around.
“Wonderful,” Katherine said. “We’ve all just agreed on the currently accepted model of human consciousness.
” After a beat, she sighed heavily. “The problem is…the currently accepted model is dead wrong. Your consciousness is not created by your brain. And in fact, your consciousness is not even located inside your head.”
A stunned silence followed.
The spectacled woman in the front row said, “But…if my consciousness is not located inside my head…where is it?”
“I’m so glad you asked,” Katherine said, smiling to the assembled crowd. “Settle in, folks. We’re in for quite a ride tonight.”
Rock star, Langdon thought as he walked toward the hotel lobby, still hearing the echoes of Katherine’s standing ovation.
Her presentation had been a dazzling tour de force that left the crowd stunned and clamoring for more.
When someone asked about her current work, Katherine revealed she had just put the finishing touches on a book that she hoped would help redefine the current paradigm of consciousness.
Langdon had helped Katherine secure a publishing deal, although he had yet to read her manuscript.
She had revealed enough of its contents to leave Langdon enthralled and eager to read, but he sensed she had kept all the most shocking revelations to herself.
Katherine Solomon is never short on surprises.
Now, as he neared the hotel lobby, Langdon suddenly recalled that Katherine was slated for an 8 a.m. meeting this morning with Dr. Brigita Gessner—the eminent Czech neuroscientist who had personally invited Katherine to speak at the lecture series.
Gessner’s invitation had been generous, and yet after meeting the woman last night following the event and finding her insufferable, Langdon now secretly hoped Katherine would oversleep and opt for breakfast with him instead.
Pushing it from his thoughts, he entered the lobby, enjoying the fragrance of the extravagant bouquets of roses that always graced the main entrance. The scene that greeted him in the lobby, however, was far less welcoming.
Two black-clad police officers were stalking intently through the open space, working a pair of German shepherds. Both dogs wore bulletproof vests marked Policie and were sniffing around as if searching for…something.
That doesn’t look good. Langdon went over to the front desk. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh, heavens yes, Mr. Langdon!” The immaculately dressed manager nearly curtsied as he rushed out to greet Langdon.
“All is perfection, Professor. A minor issue last night, but a false alarm,” he assured, shaking his head dismissively.
“Just taking precautions. As you know, security is a top priority here at the Four Seasons Prague.”
Langdon eyed the policemen. Minor issue? These guys hardly looked minor.
“Are you off to the swimming club, sir?” the manager asked. “Shall I call you a car?”
“No thanks,” Langdon replied, heading for the door. “I’ll jog over. I like the fresh air.”
“But it’s snowing!”
The native New Englander glanced outside at the faint skittering of snowflakes in the air and gave the manager a smile. “If I’m not back in an hour, send one of those dogs to dig me out.”