Campaign Speech analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Campaign Speech analysis - Essay Example Mitt Romney’s speech seemed more attacking than it was acclaiming or defensive, with indirect barbs thrown at incumbent president Barrack Obama (Julian et al, 2012). This was especially notable when he claimed, â€Å"America’s problems can only be solved by an American† (Romney, 2012), re-igniting the â€Å"birther issue†. He also feigned support for Obama, claiming that he wishes â€Å"Obama had succeeded† with his mission and plan of making America a better place, but that he had failed. The speech, in general, relied more on opinion than the fact, as is common with acceptance speeches, which in normal circumstances are sparse on detail. Mitt Romney also took an aggressive stance toward the incumbent via depicting him as a president who made, â€Å"big promises that failed to deliver on what the American people needed the most† (Romney, 2012). Romney was referring to job creation and political healing. He also compared Obama to President Ca rter to complete his caricature of President Obama as, â€Å"Someone who refuses to make tough decisions and lacks any viable plan to strengthen the country. Mitt Romney set out to accomplish three main goals in his speech: introduce the real Romney to the nation; explain why he is better suited to leading than president Obama. In addition, outline his vision for the next four years as president (Julian et al, 2012). He made some progress on all fronts via a solid but unexceptional speech. He opened up about his religious life, as well as his family life, attempting to throw more light on himself as much more than a heartless capitalist, offering himself as a problem solver. All the hype before his speech had been about the need for a president who would take hard choices. Mitt Romney, in his speech, presented himself as the man to take up this challenge. The biggest weakness that could be attached to Mitt Romney’s speech was the fact that he offered a vague picture of his vision for America in the next four years, which

The Road#2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Road#2 - Essay Example These readers view the road taken by many as leading perhaps to failure or does not yield anything good. The idea that it leads into the woods shows that there is always uncertainty and risk in choosing the untypical way. It is a readiness to meet and overcome challenges along the way. There is a spirit of hope doing things differently from others or where they have not done well will bring a positive change. Because there are two roads to choose from and one has to confidently choose one and for that matter the one is not taken shows courage. It is a decision made no matter the outcome. The last stanza talks of telling with a sigh perhaps of the outcome of the journey. This is after a long time because it talks of ages and ages. Taking the road less travelled and making the difference that the persona talks about could mean success. The fact that they have persevered to the end is seen to have borne fruit. In the beginning, the future looks bleak riddled with untold expectations. Th e images of the woods and the undergrowth could symbolize the troubles that lay ahead. They paint a picture of insecurity because woods pose dangers like wild animals, bad weather, and rough terrain among others which symbolize problems that human beings encounter in normal lives. There is another group who read this poem from a pessimistic approach. For them, it is about a person who has facing difficulties of choice and throwing himself/herself on mercy of destiny. The presentation of two roads with only one to be chosen paints an image of confusion and hesitation. The idea that one has to make a choice about the best one to use offers enough challenge to such a person. Again, the woods paint a grim picture of what to expect. It has the potential of many dangers ahead that one may be unable to overcome. The road is seen to take a corner deep into the woods. The undergrowth is seen to offer challenges, for a person cannot see what lies

Impact of Festivals

Impact of Festivals Robyn Ormond Introduction: South Africans love festivals, it is a chance to ‘let loose’ and enjoy a time of fun, family and by the end, usually no funds. Festivals can be described in many ways, namely â€Å"events of limited duration developed primarily to enhance the awareness, appeal and profitability of a tourist destination† (Ritchie, 1984: 2). Festivals have become a vital component of tourism in small towns (Visser, 2005). The importance of annual festivals in two South African towns, being Sedgefield (the Sedgefield Slow-Festival) and Knysna ( Knysna Oyster Festival) as well as the economic importance of these festivals will be explored to show how festivals can prevent the decline of these iconic towns. Decline def The Importance of Festivals Festivals are more than just a way of making money, there is a deeper impact of festivals upon the communities who host them, these festivals can then rather be referred to as â€Å"a public, themed celebration† (Jackson et al, 2005). Festivals which occur in smaller town like the two that will be analysed normally have a strong sense of community and by holding a festival, ideals such as leadership and accountability of the locals are promoted, members of the community are encouraged to get involved and to take responsibility with regards to the planning and running of the festival (Visser, 2005). This act of holding a festival strengthens the community and allows for bonds of friendship to form between the town members as community goals are achieved through the management of the festival (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). The festival also allows for the natural beauty of the towns to be appreciated and act as a platform for conservation and environmental protection (especially in Sedgefield and Knysna, both of which occur along South Africa’s prestigious Garden Route) (Visser, 2005). Festivals not only create links within the community but strengthens ties with that of the world around them (people from much larger cities- Cape Town and Johannesburg are willing to travel to come and participate in the festivals held in Knysna and Sedgefield.) (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). The strong community bond a festival creates can help prevent the town from going into decline by becoming an attractive place to live and especially to retire to. The Economic Importance of Festivals: Not only are festivals important for growing a town’s identity but these celebrations are known to bring a healthy influx of money into the town. Festivals can boost a towns economy by either extending the current seasonal income (money made during peak tourism times in the town- usually correlating with holidays) or by creating an entirely new tourism season (Visser, 2005). The economic impact of a festival on a small town is simple; people come from outside the town and by participating in the festival, spend money which goes directly towards the local economy of the town (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). Tourism is the driving force behind a festival and the more a town can offer in terms of tourism, the more attractive the festival will be. Festivals are a way of a town advertising itself to the outside world in the hopes of attracting people willing to settle there or foreign investors to take an interest in the town (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). The money generated from a festival is used in a small town to help ensure sustainability of the town and to help the town regenerate (if it had previously gone through a period of decline) (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). A tourist spending money in the town during a festival has an impact on a variety of sectors due to the interlinked nature of the tourism industry (a tourist will need to purchase food and drink during the festival, have access to accommodation as well as pay to participate in the events of the festival, this will benefit a large number of businesses in the town) (Saayman A, Saayman, M, 2006). For the two festivals bei ng explored, a large portion of the proceeding is donated to charity, as the community of Sedgefield and Knysna are more people-orientated and less money-driven. The Sedgefield Slow Festival: The Sedgefield slow festival is a celebration of life in a small town only 7.85 km ² in size with a population of 8286 (Firth, 2011) along the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The town advertises itself as South Africa’s self-proclaimed â€Å"Slow Town† (as nothing will happen at a speed faster than a tortoise’s walk- the icon of Sedgefield). The local residents volunteer to be part of a committee who are dedicated to creating a festival which promotes â€Å"Wholesome goodness, Family, Friends, Fun, the Outdoors and Great food† (Dixon, 2014). The festival is young in comparison to other South African festivals with its birth in 2010. The objective of the festival is to show off the natural beauty of the area in a way that will get the entire town involved while creating local economic opportunities at the same time (Dixon, 2014). The town hosts several events during the festival including the infamous â€Å"Anything-That-Floats Race† (a water race where participants must build crafts constructed entirely out of recycled materials). Other events include a Beer-Pong competition held at one of the local bars as well as the Town Hall Arts Exhibition. In total there are about twenty five events held over the three days surrounding the Easter weekend (18-20 April in 2014) (Dixon, 2014). In 2013 the proceeds from a variety of events, market sales (in the local farmers’ and craft market) and donations, the Slow-festival was able to support four different charities (Sedgefield Hospice, Sedge Mobile Meals, KAWS and Masithandane) with R12000 over the three day festival (Dixon, 2014). The Knysna Oyster Festival: Only 25km away from Sedgefield is the town of Knysna. Every year around the first week of July the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is held over a ten day period (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). This festival is much older than the Sedgefield Slow-Festival with its debut in 1983. The purpose of the festival was originally to bring people to the area during the off-peak winter period; subsequently the festival has experienced a large amount of success and has grown significantly since its origin (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). The festival places a great emphasis on supporting charities, and due to the large nature of the festival, a sizeable amount of money can be donated. In 2013 the festival was able to generate R1 million which would benefit the community and have a significant impact on the local charities (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). Before an event can be registered as an official event of the Oyster Festival it must first state which charity or non-governmental organisation it will be supporting with a portion of its proceeds (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). Out of the many events held over the ten days, the three most iconic are the Momentum Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour (which is one of the largest road and mountain bike races in South Africa), the Momentum Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon and of course the oysters which are eaten over the duration of the festival (which can reach up to 20000 oysters consumed) (Knysna Oyster Festival, 2014). Conclusion: Festivals in small towns (especially in South Africa) are events in which the entire community can be involved in the planning, managing and running of the festival. These festivals are able to boost the local economy and generate a flow of capital in times which would otherwise be regarded as off-peak quiet periods characterised by little tourism and lower income for the community members. These festivals such as the Sedgefield Slow-Festival and the Knysna Oyster Festival create an identity for the town whilst forming community bonds between the residents. The large charity component of both the Sedgefield Slow-Festival and the Knysna Oyster Festival allows for all in the community to benefit from the proceeds. Overall festivals are a time to celebrate life, family, food and of course to have some fun. Reference List: Dixon, A. (2014). Sedgefield’s Slow Festival. Available from: http://www.slowfestival.co.za/ Firth,A. (2011). Sedgefield Main Place 180007 from Census 2011. Available from: http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/180007 Knysna Oyster Festival. (2014). Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival. Available from: http://www.oysterfestival.co.za Jackson, J., Houghton, M., Russel, R., Triandos,P. (2005). Innovations in Measuring Economic Impacts of Regional Festivals: A Do-It-Yourself Kit. Journal of Travel Research, 43:360-367. DOI: 10.1177/0047287505274649 Ritchie, J.R.(1984) Assessing the impact of hallmark events: conceptual and research issues. Journal of Travel Research, 23(1), 2-11. Saayman, A., Saayman, M. (2006). Does the location of arts festivals matter for the economic impact? Papers in Regional Science, 85 Visser, G. (2005). Lets Be Festive: Exploratory Notes on Festival Tourism in South Africa. Urban Forum, 16:2-3.

immoral :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Someone that I find to be immoral is my mother. There are many reasons for why I feel this way but just a few of them are, she likes to date men that are younger than me, she has never held a full time job in her life, she puts herself before her children, she is lazy, and she is very sexually active.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As far as my family is concerned she needs to grow up and start taking responsibility for her life and the actions that she takes. My mother bitches because she has no money and can’t pay rent, yet she won’t go out and get a full time job to pay her bills. Since she won’t work and has no money she live off the system, basically the way it works is the taxes we pay as employed people go to her and she does nothing. The amount of money that she gets from being on welfare has allowed my siblings and I to go without for much of our lives. Now since our fathers are in the picture more and have custody of us we are no being raised the way we have deserved to be our whole lives. The problem is that as a mother I thought that u were supposed to provide for your children and if anyone goes without clothing or food it is the parent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When it comes to relationships my mother doesn’t have the best judgment. The men that my mother has had are normally younger than me and I am only 20, and most of the time they are unemployed just like her. My mom has no standards if it has a pulse she goes after it. For example I brought my best friend over to my moms house and the next day she told me how cute she was and that if he was single she would go after him. My mom hasn’t dated someone over the age of 25 since I can remember. She also has a new boyfriend every couple of weeks. A huge problem with her sleeping with so many men is that she isn’t setting a very good example for my 12 and 14 year old sisters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In my eyes my mother is the most immoral person that I know.

Brother Man

Brother Man By: Roger Mais 4/1/13 Summary: The novel follows several characters including brother man and Minette, Girlie and Papacita, Jesmina, Cordelia and Tad. Brother man is the village’s healing man but some of the villagers do not believe in what he does. Girlie and Papacita are in an abusive relationship and they both suffer greatly from it. Papacita however is out till late hours of the night making deal with men for setting them up with girls.Jesmina has been taking care of Cordelia because she has been sick but once brother man comes and places his hand on her and prays, she begins to recover back to full health. However her young son tad becomes ill with an unbreakable fever. Minette secretly loves Brother Man but cannot get him to notice her, so she also flirts with Papacita. One night when Brother Man was walking through the village he thought he was so focused that he did not fully notice a woman who had said peace and blessing to him. But when he went back to th ank her, she could not be found.Brother Man asked a girl and boy if they had seen the old woman but they had not. They told Brother Man about the legend of old Mag and how her spirit is said to go around giving curses and blessings on people. Brother Man reassured them that she has said blessing words. Brother Man then ran into a young boy carrying a crab. The boy showed brother man how he has handcuffed the crab to itself in order to safely carry it home. Brother Man then offered to buy the crab and the boy took him up on his offer. Then brother man released its handcuffs and set it free.Brother Man then explains to the young boy that all creatures have feelings and that it was not right to torture the crab by handcuffing it. Visceral Response: When first introduced to Papacita and Girlie, I did not understand their relationship. I pitied Girlie for having to put up with the physical along with the mental abuse but then again she dishes out some abuse as well. It is truly a sad occ urrence when little Tad becomes sick and they are unable to break the fever. I have hope that he will get better but I fear that he will die.As for Brother Man I have mixed feelings about him. I understand that he is supposed to be the protagonist of the story and that we as readers are supposed to like him but I am not too sure if I do. I sometimes get the feeling from him that he is better than everyone else because he knows more, yet he preaches that all living beings should be equal. He is almost like a too perfect character. It actually makes me mad when he buys the crab off of the boy and lectures him about not handcuffing crabs. The boy was going to eat that to survive, it is the way of life; survival of the fittest.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 38-41

CHAPTER 38 Sophie scrutinized Langdon in the back of the taxi. He's joking. â€Å"The Holy Grail?† Langdon nodded, his expression serious. â€Å"Holy Grail is the literal meaning of Sangreal. The phrase derives from the French Sangraal, which evolved to Sangreal, and was eventually split into two words, San Greal.† Holy Grail.Sophie was surprised she had not spotted the linguistic ties immediately. Even so, Langdon's claim still made no sense to her. â€Å"I thought the Holy Grail was a cup.You just told me the Sangreal is a collection of documents that reveals some dark secret.† â€Å"Yes, but the Sangreal documents are only half of the Holy Grail treasure. They are buried with the Grail itself†¦ and reveal its true meaning. The documents gave the Knights Templar so much power because the pages revealed the true nature of the Grail.† The true nature of the Grail? Sophie felt even more lost now. The Holy Grail, she had thought, was the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper and with which Joseph of Arimathea later caught His blood at the crucifixion. â€Å"The Holy Grail is the Cup of Christ,† she said. â€Å"How much simpler could it be?† â€Å"Sophie,† Langdon whispered, leaning toward her now,† according to the Priory of Sion, the Holy Grail is not a cup at all. They claim the Grail legend – that of a chalice – is actually an ingeniously conceived allegory. That is, that the Grail story uses the chalice as a metaphor for something else, something far more powerful.† He paused. â€Å"Something that fits perfectly with everything your grandfather has been trying to tell us tonight, including all his symbologic references to the sacred feminine.† Still unsure, Sophie sensed in Langdon's patient smile that he empathized with her confusion, and yet his eyes remained earnest. â€Å"But if the Holy Grail is not a cup,† she asked,† what is it?† Langdon had known this question was coming, and yet he still felt uncertain exactly how to tell her. If he did not present the answer in the proper historical background, Sophie would be left with a vacant air of bewilderment – the exact expression Langdon had seen on his own editor's face a few months ago after Langdon handed him a draft of the manuscript he was working on. â€Å"This manuscript claims what?† his editor had choked, setting down his wineglass and staring across his half-eaten power lunch. â€Å"You can't be serious.† â€Å"Serious enough to have spent a year researching it.† Prominent New York editor Jonas Faukman tugged nervously at his goatee. Faukman no doubt had heard some wild book ideas in his illustrious career, but this one seemed to have left the man flabbergasted. â€Å"Robert,† Faukman finally said,† don't get me wrong. I love your work, and we've had a great run together. But if I agree to publish an idea like this, I'll have people picketing outside my office for months. Besides, it will kill your reputation. You're a Harvard historian, for God's sake, not a pop schlockmeister looking for a quick buck. Where could you possibly find enough credible evidence to support a theory like this?† With a quiet smile Langdon pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of his tweed coat and handed it to Faukman. The page listed a bibliography of over fifty titles – books by well-known historians, some contemporary, some centuries old – many of them academic bestsellers. All the book titles suggested the same premise Langdon had just proposed. As Faukman read down the list, he looked like a man who had just discovered the earth was actually flat. â€Å"I know some of these authors. They're†¦ real historians!† Langdon grinned. â€Å"As you can see, Jonas, this is not only my theory. It's been around for a long time. I'm simply building on it. No book has yet explored the legend of the Holy Grail from a symbologic angle. The iconographic evidence I'm finding to support the theory is, well, staggeringly persuasive.† Faukman was still staring at the list. â€Å"My God, one of these books was written by Sir Leigh Teabing – a British Royal Historian.† â€Å"Teabing has spent much of his life studying the Holy Grail. I've met with him. He was actually a big part of my inspiration. He's a believer, Jonas, along with all of the others on that list.† â€Å"You're telling me all of these historians actually believe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Faukman swallowed, apparently unable to say the words. Langdon grinned again. â€Å"The Holy Grail is arguably the most sought-after treasure in human history. The Grail has spawned legends, wars, and lifelong quests. Does it make sense that it is merely a cup? If so, then certainly other relics should generate similar or greater interest – the Crown of Thorns, the True Cross of the Crucifixion, the Titulus – and yet, they do not. Throughout history, the Holy Grail has been the most special.† Langdon grinned. â€Å"Now you know why.† Faukman was still shaking his head. â€Å"But with all these books written about it, why isn't this theory more widely known?† â€Å"These books can't possibly compete with centuries of established history, especially when that history is endorsed by the ultimate bestseller of all time.† Faukman's eyes went wide. â€Å"Don't tell me Harry Potter is actually about the Holy Grail.† â€Å"I was referring to the Bible.† Faukman cringed. â€Å"I knew that.† â€Å"Laissez-le!† Sophie's shouts cut the air inside the taxi. â€Å"Put it down!† Langdon jumped as Sophie leaned forward over the seat and yelled at the taxi driver. Langdon could see the driver was clutching his radio mouthpiece and speaking into it. Sophie turned now and plunged her hand into the pocket of Langdon's tweed jacket. Before Langdon knew what had happened, she had yanked out the pistol, swung it around, and was pressing it to the back of the driver's head. The driver instantly dropped his radio, raising his one free hand overhead. â€Å"Sophie!† Langdon choked. â€Å"What the hell – â€Å" â€Å"Arretez!† Sophie commanded the driver. Trembling, the driver obeyed, stopping the car and putting it in park. It was then that Langdon heard the metallic voice of the taxi company's dispatcher coming from the dashboard. â€Å"†¦ qui s'appette Agent Sophie Neveu†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the radio crackled. â€Å"Et un Americain, Robert Langdon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Langdon's muscles turned rigid. They found us already?†Descendez,†Sophie demanded. The trembling driver kept his arms over his head as he got out of his taxi and took several steps backward. Sophie had rolled down her window and now aimed the gun outside at the bewildered cabbie. â€Å"Robert,† she said quietly, â€Å"take the wheel. You're driving.† Langdon was not about to argue with a woman wielding a gun. He climbed out of the car and jumped back in behind the wheel. The driver was yelling curses, his arms still raised over his head. â€Å"Robert,† Sophie said from the back seat,† I trust you've seen enough of our magic forest?† He nodded. Plenty. â€Å"Good. Drive us out of here.† Langdon looked down at the car's controls and hesitated. Shit.He groped for the stick shift and clutch. â€Å"Sophie? Maybe you – â€Å" â€Å"Go!† she yelled. Outside, several hookers were walking over to see what was going on. One woman was placing a call on her cell phone. Langdon depressed the clutch and jostled the stick into what he hoped was first gear. He touched the accelerator, testing the gas. Langdon popped the clutch. The tires howled as the taxi leapt forward, fishtailing wildly and sending the gathering crowd diving for cover. The woman with the cell phone leapt into the woods, only narrowly avoiding being run down. â€Å"Doucement!† Sophie said, as the car lurched down the road. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"I tried to warn you,† he shouted over the sound of gnashing gears. â€Å"I drive an automatic!† CHAPTER 39 Although the spartan room in the brownstone on Rue La Bruyere had witnessed a lot of suffering, Silas doubted anything could match the anguish now gripping his pale body. I was deceived.Everything is lost. Silas had been tricked. The brothers had lied, choosing death instead of revealing their true secret. Silas did not have the strength to call the Teacher. Not only had Silas killed the only four people who knew where the keystone was hidden, he had killed a nun inside Saint-Sulpice. She was working against God! She scorned the work of Opus Dei! A crime of impulse, the woman's death complicated matters greatly. Bishop Aringarosa had placed the phone call that got Silas into Saint-Sulpice; what would the abbe think when he discovered the nun was dead? Although Silas had placed her back in her bed, the wound on her head was obvious. Silas had attempted to replace the broken tiles in the floor, but that damage too was obvious. They would know someone had been there. Silas had planned to hide within Opus Dei when his task here was complete. Bishop Aringarosawill protect me.Silas could imagine no more blissful existence than a life of meditation and prayer deep within the walls of Opus Dei's headquarters in New York City. He would never again set foot outside. Everything he needed was within that sanctuary. Nobody will miss me.Unfortunately, Silas knew, a prominent man like Bishop Aringarosa could not disappear so easily. I have endangered the bishop.Silas gazed blankly at the floor and pondered taking his own life. After all, it had been Aringarosa who gave Silas life in the first place†¦ in that small rectory in Spain, educating him, giving him purpose. â€Å"My friend,† Aringarosa had told him,† you were born an albino. Do not let others shame you for this. Do you not understand how special this makes you? Were you not aware that Noah himself was an albino?† â€Å"Noah of the Ark?† Silas had never heard this. Aringarosa was smiling. â€Å"Indeed, Noah of the Ark. An albino. Like you, he had skin white like an angel. Consider this. Noah saved all of life on the planet. You are destined for great things, Silas. The Lord has freed you for a reason. You have your calling. The Lord needs your help to do His work.† Over time, Silas learned to see himself in a new light. I am pure.White.Beautiful.Like an angel. At the moment, though, in his room at the residence hall, it was his father's disappointed voice that whispered to him from the past. Tu es un desastre. Un spectre. Kneeling on the wooden floor, Silas prayed for forgiveness. Then, stripping off his robe, he reached again for the Discipline. CHAPTER 40 Struggling with the gear shift, Langdon managed to maneuver the hijacked taxi to the far side of the Bois de Boulogne while stalling only twice. Unfortunately, the inherent humor in the situation was overshadowed by the taxi dispatcher repeatedly hailing their cab over the radio. â€Å"Voiture cinq-six-trois. Ou etes-vous? Repondez!† When Langdon reached the exit of the park, he swallowed his machismo and jammed on the brakes. â€Å"You'd better drive.† Sophie looked relieved as she jumped behind the wheel. Within seconds she had the car humming smoothly westward along Allee de Longchamp, leaving the Garden of Earthly Delights behind. â€Å"Which way is Rue Haxo?† Langdon asked, watching Sophie edge the speedometer over a hundred kilometers an hour. Sophie's eyes remained focused on the road. â€Å"The cab driver said it's adjacent to the Roland Garros tennis stadium. I know that area.† Langdon pulled the heavy key from his pocket again, feeling the weight in his palm. He sensed it was an object of enormous consequence. Quite possibly the key to his own freedom. Earlier, while telling Sophie about the Knights Templar, Langdon had realized that this key, in addition to having the Priory seal embossed on it, possessed a more subtle tie to the Priory of Sion. The equal-armed cruciform was symbolic of balance and harmony but also of the Knights Templar. Everyone had seen the paintings of Knights Templar wearing white tunics emblazoned with red equal-armed crosses. Granted, the arms of the Templar cross were slightly flared at the ends, but they were still of equal length. A square cross. Just like the one on this key. Langdon felt his imagination starting to run wild as he fantasized about what they might find. The Holy Grail.He almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of it. The Grail was believed to be somewhere in England, buried in a hidden chamber beneath one of the many Templar churches, where it had been hidden since at least 1500. The era of Grand Master Da Vinci. The Priory, in order to keep their powerful documents safe, had been forced to move them many times in the early centuries. Historians now suspected as many as six different Grail relocations since its arrival in Europe from Jerusalem. The last Grail† sighting† had been in 1447 when numerous eyewitnesses described a fire that had broken out and almost engulfed the documents before they were carried to safety in four huge chests that each required six men to carry. After that, nobody claimed to see the Grail ever again. All that remained were occasional whisperings that it was hidden in Great Britain, the land of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Wherever it was, two important facts remained: Leonardo knew where the Grail resided during his lifetime.That hiding place had probably not changed to this day. For this reason, Grail enthusiasts still pored over Da Vinci's art and diaries in hopes of unearthing a hidden clue as to the Grail's current location. Some claimed the mountainous backdrop in Madonnaof the Rocks matched the topography of a series of cave-ridden hills in Scotland. Others insisted that the suspicious placement of disciples in The Last Supper was some kind of code. Still others claimed that X rays of the Mona Lisa revealed she originally had been painted wearing a lapis lazuli pendant of Isis – a detail Da Vinci purportedly later decided to paint over. Langdon had never seen any evidence of the pendant, nor could he imagine how it could possibly reveal the Holy Grail, and yet Grail aficionados still discussed it ad nauseum on Internet bulletin boards and worldwide-web chat rooms. Everyone loves a conspiracy. And the conspiracies kept coming. Most recently, of course, had been the earthshaking discovery that Da Vinci's famed Adoration of the Magi was hiding a dark secret beneath its layers of paint. Italian art diagnostician Maurizio Seracini had unveiled the unsettling truth, which the New York Times Magazine carried prominently in a story titled† The Leonardo Cover-Up.† Seracini had revealed beyond any doubt that while the Adoration's gray-green sketched underdrawing was indeed Da Vinci's work, the painting itself was not. The truth was that some anonymous painter had filled in Da Vinci's sketch like a paint-by-numbers years after Da Vinci's death. Far more troubling, however, was what lay beneath the impostor's paint. Photographs taken with infrared reflectography and X ray suggested that this rogue painter, while filling in Da Vinci's sketched study, had made suspicious departures from the underdrawing†¦ as if to subvert Da Vinci's true intention. Whatever the true nature of the underdrawing, it had yet to be made public. Even so, embarrassed officials at Florence's Uffizi Gallery immediately banished the painting to a warehouse across the street. Visitors at the gallery's Leonardo Room now found a misleading and unapologetic plaque where the Adoration once hung. THIS WORK IS UNDERGOING DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN PREPARATION FOR RESTORATION. In the bizarre underworld of modern Grail seekers, Leonardo Da Vinci remained the quest's great enigma. His artwork seemed bursting to tell a secret, and yet whatever it was remained hidden, perhaps beneath a layer of paint, perhaps enciphered in plain view, or perhaps nowhere at all. Maybe Da Vinci's plethora of tantalizing clues was nothing but an empty promise left behind to frustrate the curious and bring a smirk to the face of his knowing Mona Lisa. â€Å"Is it possible,† Sophie asked, drawing Langdon back,† that the key you're holding unlocks the hiding place of the Holy Grail?† Langdon's laugh sounded forced, even to him. â€Å"I really can't imagine. Besides, the Grail is believed to be hidden in the United Kingdom somewhere, not France.† He gave her the quick history. â€Å"But the Grail seems the only rational conclusion,† she insisted. â€Å"We have an extremely secure key, stamped with the Priory of Sion seal, delivered to us by a member of the Priory of Sion – a brotherhood which, you just told me, are guardians of the Holy Grail.† Langdon knew her contention was logical, and yet intuitively he could not possibly accept it. Rumors existed that the Priory had vowed someday to bring the Grail back to France to a final resting place, but certainly no historical evidence existed to suggest that this indeed had happened. Even if the Priory had managed to bring the Grail back to France, the address 24 Rue Haxo near a tennis stadium hardly sounded like a noble final resting place. â€Å"Sophie, I really don't see how this key could have anything to do with the Grail.† â€Å"Because the Grail is supposed to be in England?† â€Å"Not only that. The location of the Holy Grail is one of the best kept secrets in history. Priory members wait decades proving themselves trustworthy before being elevated to the highest echelons of the fraternity and learning where the Grail is. That secret is protected by an intricate system of compartmentalized knowledge, and although the Priory brotherhood is very large, only four members at any given time know where the Grail is hidden – the Grand Master and his three senechaux.The probability of your grandfather being one of those four top people is very slim.† My grandfather was one of them, Sophie thought, pressing down on the accelerator. She had an image stamped in her memory that confirmed her grandfather's status within the brotherhood beyond any doubt. â€Å"And even if your grandfather were in the upper echelon, he would never be allowed to reveal anything to anyone outside the brotherhood. It is inconceivable that he would bring you into the inner circle.† I've already been there, Sophie thought, picturing the ritual in the basement. She wondered if this were the moment to tell Langdon what she had witnessed that night in the Normandy chateau. For ten years now, simple shame had kept her from telling a soul. Just thinking about it, she shuddered. Sirens howled somewhere in the distance, and she felt a thickening shroud of fatigue settling over her. â€Å"There!† Langdon said, feeling excited to see the huge complex of the Roland Garros tennis stadium looming ahead. Sophie snaked her way toward the stadium. After several passes, they located the intersection of Rue Haxo and turned onto it, driving in the direction of the lower numbers. The road became more industrial, lined with businesses. We need number twenty-four, Langdon told himself, realizing he was secretly scanning the horizon for the spires of a church. Don't be ridiculous.A forgotten Templar church in this neighborhood? â€Å"There it is,† Sophie exclaimed, pointing. Langdon's eyes followed to the structure ahead. What in the world?The building was modern. A squat citadel with a giant, neon equal-armed cross emblazoned a top its facade. Beneath the cross were the words: DEPOSITORY BANK OF ZURICH Langdon was thankful not to have shared his Templar church hopes with Sophie. A career hazard of symbologists was a tendency to extract hidden meaning from situations that had none. In this case, Langdon had entirely forgotten that the peaceful, equal-armed cross had been adopted as the perfect symbol for the flag of neutral Switzerland. At least the mystery was solved. Sophie and Langdon were holding the key to a Swiss bank deposit box. CHAPTER 41 Outside Castel Gandolfo, an updraft of mountain air gushed over the top of the cliff and across the high bluff, sending a chill through Bishop Aringarosa as he stepped from the Fiat. I should haveworn more than this cassock, he thought, fighting the reflex to shiver. The last thing he needed to appear tonight was weak or fearful. The castle was dark save the windows at the very top of the building, which glowed ominously. The library, Aringarosa thought. They are awake and waiting.He ducked his head against the wind and continued on without so much as a glance toward the observatory domes. The priest who greeted him at the door looked sleepy. He was the same priest who had greeted Aringarosa five months ago, albeit tonight he did so with much less hospitality. â€Å"We were worried about you, Bishop,† the priest said, checking his watch and looking more perturbed than worried. â€Å"My apologies. Airlines are so unreliable these days.† The priest mumbled something inaudible and then said,† They are waiting upstairs. I will escort you up.† The library was a vast square room with dark wood from floor to ceiling. On all sides, towering bookcases burgeoned with volumes. The floor was amber marble with black basalt trim, a handsome reminder that this building had once been a palace. â€Å"Welcome, Bishop,† a man's voice said from across the room. Aringarosa tried to see who had spoken, but the lights were ridiculously low – much lower than they had been on his first visit, when everything was ablaze. The night of stark awakening. Tonight, these men sat in the shadows, as if they were somehow ashamed of what was about to transpire. Aringarosa entered slowly, regally even. He could see the shapes of three men at a long table on the far side of the room. The silhouette of the man in the middle was immediately recognizable – the obese Secretariat Vaticana, overlord of all legal matters within Vatican City. The other two were high-ranking Italian cardinals. Aringarosa crossed the library toward them. â€Å"My humble apologies for the hour. We're on different time zones. You must be tired.† â€Å"Not at all,† the secretariat said, his hands folded on his enormous belly. â€Å"We are grateful you have come so far. The least we can do is be awake to meet you. Can we offer you some coffee or refreshments?† â€Å"I'd prefer we don't pretend this is a social visit. I have another plane to catch. Shall we get to business?† â€Å"Of course,† the secretariat said. â€Å"You have acted more quickly than we imagined.† â€Å"Have I?† â€Å"You still have a month.† â€Å"You made your concerns known five months ago,† Aringarosa said. â€Å"Why should I wait?† â€Å"Indeed. We are very pleased with your expediency.† Aringarosa's eyes traveled the length of the long table to a large black briefcase. â€Å"Is that what I requested?† â€Å"It is.† The secretariat sounded uneasy. â€Å"Although, I must admit, we are concerned with the request. It seems quite†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Dangerous,† one of the cardinals finished. â€Å"Are you certain we cannot wire it to you somewhere? The sum is exorbitant.† Freedom is expensive. â€Å"I have no concerns for my own safety. God is with me.† The men actually looked doubtful.† The funds are exactly as I requested?† The secretariat nodded. â€Å"Large-denomination bearer bonds drawn on the Vatican Bank. Negotiable as cash anywhere in the world.† Aringarosa walked to the end of the table and opened the briefcase. Inside were two thick stacks of bonds, each embossed with the Vatican seal and the title PORTATORE, making the bonds redeemable to whoever was holding them. The secretariat looked tense. â€Å"I must say, Bishop, all of us would feel less apprehensive if these funds were in cash.† I could not lift that much cash, Aringarosa thought, closing the case. â€Å"Bonds are negotiable as cash. You said so yourself.† The cardinals exchanged uneasy looks, and finally one said,† Yes, but these bonds are traceable directly to the Vatican Bank.† Aringarosa smiled inwardly. That was precisely the reason the Teacher suggested Aringarosa get the money in Vatican Bank bonds. It served as insurance. We are all in this together now. â€Å"This is a perfectly legal transaction,† Aringarosa defended. â€Å"Opus Dei is a personal prelature of Vatican City, and His Holiness can disperse monies however he sees fit. No law has been broken here.† â€Å"True, and yet†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The secretariat leaned forward and his chair creaked under the burden. â€Å"We have no knowledge of what you intend to do with these funds, and if it is in any way illegal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Considering what you are asking of me,† Aringarosa countered,† what I do with this money is not your concern.† There was a long silence. They know I'm right, Aringarosa thought. â€Å"Now, I imagine you have something for me to sign?† They all jumped, eagerly pushing the paper toward him, as if they wished he would simply leave. Aringarosa eyed the sheet before him. It bore the papal seal. â€Å"This is identical to the copy you sent me?† â€Å"Exactly.† Aringarosa was surprised how little emotion he felt as he signed the document. The three men present, however, seemed to sigh in relief.† Thank you, Bishop,† the secretariat said. â€Å"Your service to the Church will never be forgotten.† Aringarosa picked up the briefcase, sensing promise and authority in its weight. The four menlooked at one another for a moment as if there were something more to say, but apparently therewas not. Aringarosa turned and headed for the door. â€Å"Bishop?† one of the cardinals called out as Aringarosa reached the threshold. Aringarosa paused, turning. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"Where will you go from here?† Aringarosa sensed the query was more spiritual than geographical, and yet he had no intention of discussing morality at this hour. â€Å"Paris,† he said, and walked out the door.