“How much do we owe you?” Langdon asked the captain.
“No pay,” the man said. “Your British man, he pay me before. Credit card. Triple money.”
Winston paid already. Langdon was still not quite used to working with Kirsch’s computerized assistant. It’s like having Siri on steroids.
Winston’s abilities, Langdon realized, should come as no surprise considering daily accounts of artificial intelligence performing all kinds of complex tasks, including writing novels—one such book nearly winning a Japanese literary prize.
Langdon thanked the captain and jumped out of the boat onto the bank. Before heading up the hill, he turned back to the bewildered driver, raised his index finger to his lips, and said, “Discreción, por favor.”
“Sí, sí,” the captain assured him, covering his eyes. “¡No he visto nada!”
With that, Langdon hurried up the slope, crossed a train track, and joined Ambra on the edge of a sleepy village road lined with quaint shops.
“According to the map,” Winston’s voice chimed on Edmond’s speakerphone, “you should be at the intersection of Puerto Bidea and the Río Asua waterway. You should see a small roundabout in the town center?”
“I see it,” Ambra replied.
“Good. Just off the roundabout, you will find a small road called Beike Bidea. Follow it away from the village center.”
Two minutes later, Langdon and Ambra had left the village and were hurrying along a deserted country road where stone farmhouses sat on acres of grassy pastureland. As they moved deeper into countryside, Langdon sensed that something was wrong. To their right, in the distance, above the crest of a small hill, the sky was aglow with a hazy dome of light pollution.
“If those are the terminal lights,” Langdon said, “we are very far away.”
“The terminal is three kilometers from your position,” Winston said.
Ambra and Langdon exchanged startled looks. Winston had told them the walk would take only eight minutes.
“According to Google’s satellite images,” Winston went on, “there should be a large field to your right. Does it look traversable?”
Langdon glanced over at the hayfield to their right, which sloped gently upward in the direction of the terminal lights.
“We can certainly climb it,” Langdon said, “but three kilometers will take—”
“Just climb the hill, Professor, and follow my directions precisely.” Winston’s tone was polite and as emotionless as ever, and yet Langdon realized he had just been admonished.
“Nice job,” Ambra whispered, looking amused as she started up the hill. “That’s the closest thing to irritation I’ve ever heard from Winston.”
“EC346, this is air traffic control,” blared the voice in Siegel’s headset. “You must either clear the ramp and take off or return to the hangar for repairs. What is your status?”
“Still working on it,” Siegel lied, glancing at his rearview camera. No planes—only the faint lights of the distant tower. “I just need another minute.”
“Roger that. Keep us apprised.”
The copilot tapped Siegel on the shoulder and pointed out through the windshield.
Siegel followed his partner’s gaze but saw only the high fence in front of the plane. Suddenly, on the other side of the mesh of the barrier, he saw a ghostly vision. What in the world?
In the darkened field beyond the fence, two spectral silhouettes were materializing out of the blackness, coming over the crest of a hill and moving directly toward the jet. As the figures drew closer, Siegel saw the distinctive diagonal black sash on a white dress that he had seen earlier on television.
Is that Ambra Vidal?
Ambra had flown on occasion with Kirsch, and Siegel always felt his heart flutter a bit when the striking Spanish beauty was aboard. He could not begin to fathom what in the world she was doing in a pasture outside Bilbao Airport.
The tall man accompanying Ambra was also wearing formal black-and-white attire, and Siegel recalled that he too had been part of the evening’s program.
The American professor Robert Langdon.
Winston’s voice returned suddenly. “Mr. Siegel, you should now see two individuals on the other side of the fence, and you will no doubt recognize both of them.” Siegel found the Brit’s manner spookily composed. “Please know that there are circumstances tonight that I cannot fully explain, but I am going to ask you to comply with my wishes on behalf of Mr. Kirsch. All you need to know right now is the following.” Winston paused for the briefest of moments. “The same people who murdered Edmond Kirsch are now trying to kill Ambra Vidal and Robert Langdon. To keep them safe, we require your assistance.”
“But … of course,” Siegel stammered, trying to process the information.
“Ms. Vidal and Professor Langdon need to board your aircraft right now.”
“Out here?!” Siegel demanded.
“I am aware of the technicality posed by a revised passenger manifest, but—”
“Are you aware of the technicality posed by a ten-foot-high security fence surrounding the airport?!”
“I am indeed,” Winston said very calmly. “And, Mr. Siegel, while I realize that you and I have worked together only a few months, I need you to trust me. What I am about to suggest to you is precisely what Edmond would want you to do in this situation.”
Siegel listened in disbelief as Winston outlined his plan.
“What you’re suggesting is impossible!” Siegel argued.