The Secret of Secrets: A Novel
by Dan Brown
Contents
Chapter 124
Overview
Langdon and Katherine, shaken by what they’ve learned about Sasha Vesna and Threshold’s targeting of epileptics, prepare to move again as the situation tightens around them. Langdon reaches Ambassador Nagel and reveals Finch is dead, but Nagel warns that neither the embassy nor their hotel is safe for a debrief. She urgently redirects them to meet at the Dripstone Wall, signaling a risky new rendezvous point. Meanwhile, ÚZSI’s Lieutenant Pavel is demoted and emotionally unravels, abandoning Dream Zone’s escapism and retreating into grief and prayer.
Summary
In Sasha Vesna’s kitchen, Robert Langdon reels from the realization that his earlier encounter there may have been with Sasha’s protective alter rather than Sasha herself. The familiar apartment now feels unsettling, and Langdon connects Sasha’s condition to mysteries like The Golěm’s access to Crucifix Bastion, Sasha’s memory gaps, and the key that brought Langdon back to the apartment.
Katherine Solomon, after searching the apartment, wonders whether Threshold selected epileptics as subjects because they are predisposed to out-of-body experiences, or because epilepsy offered Brigita a convenient cover for brain surgery. Langdon agrees either explanation is damning and adds that Dmitri likely died after something went wrong in the program. Seeing Sasha’s cats, Katherine insists on feeding them while Langdon makes a call.
Langdon phones the number Scott Kerble gave him and is quickly put through to Ambassador Nagel. Nagel expresses relief that Langdon and Katherine survived and explains Director Judd framed her arrest as “temporary protective custody,” allegedly due to concern about Finch. Langdon tells Nagel that Finch is dead and that they will need to discuss details in person, because the situation is too sensitive for a phone call.
Nagel says neither the embassy, their hotel, nor any obvious location feels safe yet, and she proposes a meeting place near the embassy: the Dripstone Wall. Despite the public, eerie setting, Nagel urges Langdon and Katherine to get there as fast as they can.
Elsewhere, at ÚZSI headquarters, Lieutenant Pavel clears out his locker after a harsh interrogation leads to demotion and a three-month probationary leave. With his memory of recent events hazy, Pavel fixates on the image of his uncle dead in an icy ravine, officially ruled an accident, and realizes further investigation has been halted by Ambassador Nagel after she exposed Janáček’s abuses. On the bus home, Pavel tries his Dream Zone dating app but feels no comfort; he shuts the phone off, prays for his uncle, and rides home in silence.
Who Appears
- Robert LangdonProcesses Sasha’s DID implications, feeds cats indirectly, calls Kerble, and coordinates a meeting with Nagel.
- Katherine SolomonSpeculates on why Threshold used epileptics; feeds Sasha’s cats while Langdon makes contact.
- Ambassador NagelReports Judd’s ‘protective custody,’ hears Finch is dead, and redirects Langdon to the Dripstone Wall.
- Lieutenant PavelDemoted and isolated after interrogation; leaves ÚZSI, shuts off Dream Zone, and prays for his uncle.
- Scott KerbleEmbassy contact who answers Langdon’s call and transfers him to Ambassador Nagel.
- Director JuddMentioned as detaining Nagel under claimed protective custody; still a looming threat.
- FinchConfirmed dead by Langdon; central to the danger Nagel fears discussing by phone.
- Sasha VesnaAbsent but central; her apartment and cats remain, and her DID reframes prior events.
- BrigitaCited as possibly using epilepsy as cover for illicit brain surgery in Threshold’s program.
- DmitriReferenced as likely dead after Threshold records implied a fatal outcome.
- Michael HarrisReferenced as someone Sasha loved while her protector alter hated him for the truth.
- JanáčekMentioned indirectly; his abusive detentions are exposed, enabling Nagel to halt ÚZSI investigations.
- Pavel’s uncleDead in an icy ravine, ruled an accident; his death haunts Pavel throughout the chapter.