paint drying is more fun than the code

[kippurbird]

So after molesting scaring the altar boy, Silas grabs Sophie point his "gun" at her. Everyone is surprised as he how he got out of the car being tied up. He demands the keystone. Langdon says that he'll give it to Silas if he lets Sophie and Teabag go. They then have this strange exchange:

"I disagree." Langdon raised the cryptex high over his head. "I will not hesitiate to smash this on the floor and break the vial inside."

Although Silas sneered outwardly at the threat he felt a flash of fear. This was unexpected. He aimed the gun at Langdon's head and kept his voice as steady as his hand. "You would never break the keystone. You want to find the Grail as much as I do."

"You're wrong. You want it much more. You've proven you're willing to kill for it."

Generally, in these stories, the Hero isn't supposed to admit that he doesn't want the prize as much as the villain does. Usually he's supposed to want it more. He's supposed to declare that he wants it more and he'll do whatever it takes to keep it away from Silas. I mean, if the main character doesn't care about the prize as much as the villain does, especially in a high stakes game such as Brown has presented to us. Better Langdon should have said, "You may have killed for it, but I want it more." Or something similar.

We flash to Remy who's panicking, he wants to do something but has to stay away. Apparently the teacher contacted him and offered him everything he ever dreamed of. He also, alone, knows the Teacher's true identity. This is important to remember. Remy then goes and points a gun at Teabag's head. Teabag is surprised at this sudden but inevitable betrayal and curses. Eventually, Langdon gives Silas the cryptex and Silas, Teabag and Remy leave. Because Teabag might be useful. Sophie asks who Remy is working for, and he says that she'd be surprised.

And back to Teabag's place. One of Bobo's men discovers a hightech spy center in the barn's loft. Why this must be where Remy was doing his work! We also learn that Remy has a Past. He was a petty criminal. The person who the Barn Swallow was spying on is a Big Surprise. Probably a porn star. Old dudes bugging porn stars. Ew.

We're doing a lot of scene jumping now. Lots of short chapters. Langdon and Sophie are running through the subway. Sohpie calls up the police to report the kidnapping. She gives her name. And they give her Fache. He tells them that he made a mistake, all the charges have been dropped and they need to come because they're in danger. She hears clicking noises and thinks that they must be tracing the call so she hangs up and gets on the train. Then Back to Fache who has the Cryptex box and the white Cryptex. He talks to the banker and promises him that he'll keep his word.

I'm on page 374 and I STILL don't know what's happening. What's the plot, what's the point of the story. I still don't care about any of the characters. And I feel stupider just from having read it. Less than a hundred pages to go, with large pictures. *sighs*

Right now it feels like he's not even trying for coherency and just trying to make the plot starting to end as we try and reach some sort of climax.

Comments

[delphinapterus.livejournal.com]

Teabag is surprised at this sudden but inevitable betrayal and curses. But Brown, you said Teabag was smart and knew things in advance so shouldn't he be prepared for this? He fails again. This feels like the book where you should have crayons to colour on the large pictures.

[berseker.livejournal.com]

Why, you mean you´re not excited over all this running? Aren't you worried about the sacred feminine?

Hey, I just realized you´re not drinking. That´s good. That coudn´t be good for your health.