Page 92 of The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon #6)

The entrance to the Folimanka Shelter’s “renovation project” was precisely where Ambassador Nagel had said it would be—discreetly situated in an industrial section of the city, bordered by commuter train tracks, a busy street, and the southwestern corner of Folimanka Park.

Katherine felt rising nerves as Langdon drove alongside the high barricade—a solid, eight-foot wall on which signage warned:

VSTUP ZAKáZáN / ZUTRITT VERBOTEN / ENTRY FORBIDDEN

At the end of the wall, Langdon turned left and drove slowly along the second leg of the triangle, where a large informational placard had been erected with diagrams and text outlining what was happening within the walls:

Projekt Obnovy Parku Folimanka / Folimanka Park Recovery Project

A fortified access gate along the wall was closed, with only a small section of the gate panel affording a view of what lay beyond.

Two soldiers in black fatigues were patrolling a freshly paved access road that descended into a wide, arched tunnel that disappeared beneath Folimanka Park.

The mouth of the tunnel was blocked by retractable steel bollards.

“That’s some robust security for a restoration project,” Langdon said, craning his neck as they drove by.

A secret government project…hiding in plain sight.

Katherine stole a final glance at the entry tunnel as they passed it. Other than the nondescript guards outside the entrance, she saw no trucks, no personnel, nothing. It seemed the ambassador might have been correct that Threshold was currently inactive.

Langdon turned left and drove along the third and final leg of the enclosure, which ran parallel with the western edge of Folimanka Park.

Here we go, Katherine thought, still marveling at the remarkable entry plan that Langdon had outlined earlier. His plan was rooted in a single, startling idea.

Threshold has a secret entrance.

Using an irrefutable chain of logic, Langdon had convinced the ambassador that the “construction entrance” on the western tip of Folimanka Park, which would serve as the main entrance when the project was complete, was not the only way in.

Threshold had a second access point…ingeniously disguised.

More importantly, Langdon had determined exactly where it was located…as well as how to get in.

The Golěm stood alone in a chamber unlike any he had ever seen or imagined. Having followed the detailed directions he had forced Gessner to provide last night, his journey had finally delivered him to this surreal place.

Threshold.

Gessner had confessed all the details…and yet seeing it in person now left him disoriented, almost nauseous.

They built this room with Sasha’s blood.

Sasha had not been the project’s first victim…nor would she have been its last.

And for that reason, Threshold will end today.

The Golěm’s long road to this moment of retribution had taken a severe toll, and he could feel deep emotion welling up within him. He could also feel a faint but unmistakable tingling within his body—an advance warning.

A hazy fog began to settle in the room.

The Ether was gathering.

“Ne seychas,” he whispered. Not now.

Instinctively, The Golěm slid his hand into his cloak pocket to retrieve his metal wand.