Energy Outlook Report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Energy Outlook Report - Coursework Example The changes in the oil prices and the demand, supply and consumption levels in the market would highly affect the energy sector in Russia. The consumption of natural gas as major energy resource will be attaining momentum and the coming twenty years can be labelled as the era of gas as a main source of energy. The market position of Russia as a leading country in the global energy market may be affected by different changes which the country would try to balance through their strategies. Russia is likely to be affected by the changing situations in the market in the forecasted period. The exports of oil and gas from Russia are forecasted to be lower due to the decrease in the demand levels for these sources of energy across the world. The high costs and the existing system of taxation are likely to put a constraint on the energy resources of Russia as exported in the global energy market. Russia is a leading country with respect to world energy and is a significant player in the international market of energy and power. The energy market of Russia is a critical contributor to the world economy and also directly influences the stability of the economy of Russia. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the development and future outlook for the energy sector of Russia with respect to the global energy market perspective is significant in understanding and planning the development of the economy. The analysis of the future of the energy sectors in Russia and the global market is done to evaluate and analyse the strategies of the country with respect to the development of the energy market and the economy of the country. The global energy landscape has been undergoing major transformations after the event of the economic crisis of 2008. The characteristics of the energy outlook has been demonstrating increasing volatility in the prices of the hydrocarbons, the changing demand and supply equations, increasing level of

Investment research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Investment research - Essay Example Similarly, appended graph 1 shows the variations of these companies’ returns over the same period of time. We can see in the graph that the National Australian Bank and Westpac Banking show the greatest variation amongst the five options. This signifies the high risk involvement. Nonetheless, Woolworths shows the least variation and a moderate return and appears to be the best option for investment. The picture will be further clarified with the help of average returns and risk measurements. Woolworths is the best option amongst the five investment options as seen in appended table 2. The company provides one of the best returns with least amount of risk involvement. Similarly, Telstra also seems to be a viable option for the investment as it provides a moderate return with least risk entanglements. However, greater returns involve higher risks. Westpac Banking provides the highest returns amongst the options; nonetheless, it is also the riskiest option amongst them. On the other hand, National Australian Bank is one of the worst options to be availed as it provides the least return with a high risk factor. Thus, E must see the highest investment in the portfolio. However, in a portfolio, we need to balance our investment. We will need to make investments in all the five options so that we can earn a moderate return in all the situations. Since, Woolworths is the best possible company; therefore it must see the largest chuck of the investment. Similarly, another major chuck must be invested in Telstra. The other companies must only see a small chuck of investment to balance the

My Achievements and Inspirations Essay Example for Free

My Achievements and Inspirations Essay Education does not stop after graduating in college. It actually starts once a person realizes that it should be innate until the last years of his or her life as it would ultimately become one of the treasures that we can keep in old age. I was born on July 19, 1983 in Lahore, Pakistan. However, when I was still very young, my parents Nisar Ahmad and Rubina Nisar decided to move to Bahrain, the country where I was raised. They sent me to a reputable school where I completed my high school. They have always been supportive when it comes to the quality of my education. Indeed, I was very young, but I believe this was where my dreams were born. In high school, I became very interested in biology and chemistry. I found out that there is much more to discover in a living organism than just its physical nature. This realization left me an overflowing surge of curiosity. My chemistry teacher, Mrs. Prasana, was the one responsible for this passion that I have right now. She provided me everything she could with regard to chemistry and biology-related information. Read more: Inspirational Essays about Life Gradually, she became my inspiration in pursuing this complex but wondrous fields of science. After high school, I moved back to my hometown in Pakistan where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in one of the most renowned universities of this field. It was absolutely a new phase of my life because I get to further my education in something that I have always dreamt of learning. Studying life sciences was my dream, which is why during my undergraduate program; I have undergone internship in a hospital near my home. It was a life-changing experience for me. I would feel most alive when I worked in the laboratory under the supervision of my supervisor. I am confident with myself every time I do laboratory works, and I know that I have significant skills in handling lab works with high efficiency which I believe should be necessary for a healthcare worker. I have lived in three different countries; Bahrain, Pakistan, and in the United States. As an effective clinical scientist, it is a must that one practices flexibility at all cost as it can be a necessary trait in producing quality outputs.

Landscape Character Assessment for Heritage Management

Landscape Character Assessment for Heritage Management In 200 words or less describe why landscape characterisation has over the past decade provided a significant new dimension to heritage management practice Landscape Characterisation has been described by English Heritage as ‘a powerful tool that provides a framework for broadening our understanding of the whole landscape and contributes to decisions affecting tomorrows landscape.’[1] Landscape characterisation enables archaeologists, landscape specialists, and conservationists to work together to manage change within landscapes, using a common source that compiles often disparate research into the character of landscapes into a unified and accessible ‘map’ of the area. For heritage management this development is particularly useful because it allows for a more comprehensive study of the area under management – such as the identifying, mapping and assessing of habitats. This allows for more careful consideration of development planning especially in semi-rural areas where land is sought for residential use. To better understand the character of a landscape is to learn how to best protect it and this of fers the potential for a better ‘case’ for preserving important and/ or historic features of landscapes. The process is unique as it helps to facilitate the compilation of data from a great variety of specific historical, archaeological, and paleontological sites onto internationally accessible databases – this information is then used to help professionals manage change within landscapes on a national scale. This information can be put to good use in heritage management, particularly in terms of resources for education and visitor information. Landscape characterisation also helps the cohesion and implementation of management action plans and facilitates the strategic conservation of heritage. It does this by providing a historical context for already existing descriptions and research on landscapes, thus developing the understanding of how to manage landscapes especially on a local and regional level. Issues that interact through the process of landscape chara cterisation include local development and its control, environmental issues, and government proposals. Its use has also widened the scope for heritage management practice as it provides valuable data for existing heritage programmes and assists in future proposals involving historic field systems. Using at least three examples describe the benefits and uses of characterisation for managing landscape change. Your examples can be either urban (eg. from the EUS and UAD programmes), rural (eg. HLC) or thematic, or a combination. Historic Landscape Characterization was first developed in Cornwall in 1994 and now runs as a well-established and major programme that has redefined work with spatial historic analyses (Clark et al, 2004). It has altered perceptions of how the historic environment should be managed and encourages professionals to take into consideration the greater historical timeframe of the landscape where development has been slow, rather than more recent changes which have tended to be more rapid and unsustainable. The approach does not attempt to set precedents – rather it aims to open up discussion of land-use and make accessible information that could influence contemporary decisions. The rural impact of landscape characterization work has much to do with methods of maintaining, conserving, and managing heritage – both geological, archaeological, and architectural heritage. As expressed by Clark et al in their publication for English Heritage: â€Å"The drawing of ‘red lines’ around parts of the historic landscape was seen to risk devaluing the areas outside of the line; most importantly, it was not clear what would  be achieved other than a flagging up of interest, an objective that can be reached more directly and clearly by other methods.†[2] In both Hampshire and Lancashire the programme is reshaping the approach towards heritage management by producing interactive GIS-based descriptions of the ‘historic dimension the time-depth that characterises [the] rural landscape.’[3] It benefits from being approved by and working in accordance with the European Landscape Convention; this shows that the approach is not only applicable to projects outside the UK but has been welcomed by foreign professionals and its value recognised. As much as the UK, Europe is experiencing the squeeze of development, especially in its rural areas, and HLC is useful as it specifically focuses on how to protect and manage these changing rural landscapes. It distinguishes itself from other methods as it has been identified as being more direct and clear than other methods.[4] Perhaps one of the greatest potential selling points of the programme is that it addresses a loophole in the system, whereby common rural land can become overlook ed – falling in a ‘gap’ between the safety of having visible buildings of obvious archaeological importance and being of special scientific importance or exceptional natural beauty. In many cases the historical importance gets overlooked. English Heritage prides itself on the useful amalgamation of ‘Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC), run in partnership with County Council Sites and Monuments Records.’[5] Landscape characterisation is developing into one of the most useful and valuable resources in a society that promotes development and change, and which does so in response to the increasing demands being placed upon Britain’s landscape by the country’s economy and burgeoning population. As noted by Ucko and Layton[6] landscape character research is primarily driven by research objectives that require more in depth and comprehensive information about the landscape. For example, English Heritage need conservation-oriented information, while the planning system needs guidance, and land management decisions can rely upon the mapping of information to create landscapes of the future. A good example of how HLC is being used in the rural landscape can be seen in Suffolk, where a local Heritage Initiative has been overseeing a survey of the landscape that incorporates landscape mapping and photography. The objective of the initiative is to follow up a similar survey that was c onducted in 1999, and involves a partnership between the Womens Institute federations of East and West Suffolk, the local planning authorities in Suffolk and the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Project Partnership.[7] This is a good example of what the process of landscape characterisation can bring to a community; it can promote the integration of otherwise separate governing bodies and social groups, and thus facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the area. Different local Women’s Institute groups throughout Suffolk (about 75% of the total) surveyed the landscape and received training through events, a handbook, a leaflet and a video. The results of the study have been used to identify, rate, and type sources changes in the landscape between 1999 and 2004. The results were said to be assessed and analysed to ‘test the effectiveness of planning policies in protecting and enhancing landscape character.’[8] To aid community cohesion and promote the findings a n exhibition of the WI groups’ findings was created, as well as local exhibitions within each community that took part. At Creswell Crags near the Peak District a Management Action Plan has made use of landscape characterisation work within an ecological potentiality study that: Identifies, maps and assesses the management of existing areas of high quality habitat characteristic of the Heritage Area Identifies, maps and assesses the potential for linking and extending these areas of high quality habitat Identifies landscape characterisation work and its relationship to identification of potential for wildlife corridor links or extensions to major biodiversity nodes.[9] Again, this example shows the potential for working on an interdisciplinary basis where landscape character can help professionals from different academic backgrounds to work together in better understanding of the forces which shape and change our historic landscapes. English Heritage has also been researching extensively into historic fields and settlements in their project titled ‘Turning the Plough’ that culminated in a publication documenting the dramatic loss of mediaeval fields systems in the east Midlands. Using landscape character research the project results established that ‘the loss of these ridge and furrow landscapes is extreme’[10] and that English Heritage, DEFRA and other agencies have the ’urgent’ task of sustaining a future for what remains. These examples qualify the study of landscape character as a crucial development in the archaeology profession but also one that links archaeology to a number of other important areas, s uch as planning, community work, heritage management, and geology. It is important to recognise that landscape change occurs as a result of many different influences that the activities of mankind within the landscape reflect, embody, and destroy formations which owe their existence to much older geological processes. It is our choice whether we choose to preserve the record of human endeavour as shown by the mediaeval field system project ‘Turning the Plough’ and the extent to which we maintain and preserve the heritage of rural landscapes depends on the availability of funds, resources, and the efforts of professionals. Perhaps of more apparent concern is whether we do actually have a choice, or whether landscape change is accelerating beyond our control. These are some of the issues that projects involving landscape characterisation seek to address. Bibliography Clark, J, Darlington, J, and Fairclough, G, ‘Using Historic Land Characterization.’ (2002), English Heritage [online]. Available from:  http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/a4report.pdf Countryside Agency, 2006 [online]. Available from:  http://www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/east_of_england/suffolk/suffolk_changing_landscape/index.html  [Accessed 24/08/08] English Heritage, ‘Landscape Character.’ [online]. Available from:  http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1293  [Accessed 23/08/08] English Heritage. ‘Cresswell Crags Limestone Heritage Area’ [online]. Available from:  http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.4112  [Accessed 24/08/08] Hall, D. (2001), Turning the Plough. Northamptonshire County Council [online]. Available from:  http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/turning_plough.pdf. Full version available from:  http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/goto/openfields  [Accessed 24/08/08] Ucko, P.J, and Layton, R. (1999) The Archaeology and Anthropology of Landscape: Shaping Your Landscape. London: Routledge  1 [1] English Heritage, ‘Landscape Character.’ [online]. Available from:http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1293[Accessed 23/08/08] [2] Clark, J, Darlington, J, and Fairclough, G, ‘Using Historic Land Characterization.’ (2002), English Heritage, p.4. [3] English Heritage [online]: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1293 [4] Clark et al, 2002: 2. [5] English Heritage [online]: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1293 [6] Ucko, P.J, and Layton, R. (1999) The Archaeology and Anthropology of Landscape: Shaping Your Landscape. London: Routledge. [7] Countryside Agency, 2006 [online]. Available from:http://www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/east_of_england/suffolk/suffolk_changing_landscape/index.html[Accessed 24/08/08] [8] Ibid. [9] ‘Cresswell Crags Limestone Heritage Area’ [online]. Available from:http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.4112[Accessed 24/08/08] [10] Hall, D. (2001), Turning the Plough. Northamptonshire County Council [online]. Available from:http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/turning_plough.pdf. Full version available from:http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/goto/openfields [Accessed 24/08/08]

Invisible Man Essay examples -- essays research papers

Invisible Man What makes us visible to others? How is it that sometimes society is completely blind to our exisitance? Either we are invisible because we are not being noticed or we are invisible because others can not see our true identity due to expectations relating to race, gender or class. Of course the term invisible was not intended to be taken literally. The meaning of invisible in Ellison’s Invisible Man is essentially metaphorical. Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the main character experiences invisibility in various manners and situations. Being invisible has its advantages. If others don’t acknowlegde you then you could get away with actions that people are usualy punished with a penalty. In the book, the main character tells of his advantages of being invisible such as living in the basement of an apartment building rent free beause the landlord is unaware of his dwelling. The same example can be said in a working enviornment where an employee can come in late multiple times but is not scrutinized because that employee is not vital and therefore unoticed by the employer. This type of invisiblilty is favored by some by laothed by others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some people don’t like the felling of being unimportant. Ironically, in the book Invisible Man, the main character explained the advantages of being invisible shortly after he showed contempt for being invisible. Frustrated at his invisibility, he lashes out at a man he intentionally bumped into (althought at the beginning, he said it was accidental). Observing this more closely, it was an attempt to be acknowledge by the man to see if he would move out of the way. The fact that the man didn’t bother to do so only push him down a deeper state of anger and therefore the only way for him to be acknowledge is to act drastically. This inisibility is a reflection of the other’s respect for the main character. The main character was not a seen person of importance. Not being acknowledge is usually frowned upon. This disregard of acknowledge occurs often in a place of work. Whether it be in a learning institution or a working enviornment were a perso n deprived of praise and recongnition. In order for that perons to be reconginized is to make him/herself seen and usually this calls for gaining the attention of another by some act. Then your invisibility becomes visble as a new image is ... ...rson that he/she should speak with slang and where baggy clothes. In time, this person usually go through the gradual change of becoming person that was visible to the black community. In time those who tend towards the identity that is not their own evetually becomes lost in that identity. Therefore their true identity is no longer visible to them but remain visible to others in that â€Å"other† identity. The issue of visibility and invisibility will always involve race, gender and class. Race, gender and class aren’t the ONLY subjects that would influenece visibility and invisibiy. It can also be actions, education, hieght, etc. Unfortuntely people tend to see only what they expect to see, blinding themselves from the actually truths othe of others. This seems to be an ongoing issue as people tend to only look at the surface and don’t bother to look past it. Recongnizing what deserves regonistion is not the only solution. There is also fair treatment of others. We must learn not to assume what we expect of others. This expectations usually lead to underestimting and disrespect to those that deserive it. Only when we decide not to be blind can we finally see what ws truly invisible.

Gettysburg :: essays research papers

There is a lot to say about the Battle of Gettysburg. Many people wonder why this battle out of all others during the war was so great. Many questions were asked. Such as, what did they do for supplies? How did they live? What was the typical military strategy? I will also answer many other questions to in this essay. It’s really hard to believe the things I saw during the movie. It just makes wonder how stupid the government was to even think about starting a Civil War. Millions and millions of men died in this war. For what? Honor? I certainly think they did not die honorably, but just went out there and got slaughtered. Although many people say that the Union and Confederate armies fought because of the importance of Gettysburg; the thing is that it was just a small town back then. Gettysburg was chosen because it was â€Å"good ground†. The Confederate army was passing through to go further north and invade the Union territory. The Union army was having the same idea about the south. Good ground was high terrain surrounded by trees. The role geography played in the war was that the army who was placed on the good ground would have a better position on the opposing forces. The officers and soldiers had different lifestyles during the war. The generals would be in cabins or log houses with plenty of supplies. The rest of the army had lived in tents with supplies, but not as much as the generals. So basically the higher your rank, the better you r living conditions were. Although living conditions were different, the strategy was similar. Many times the Union army had to play defensively. The development of trench warfare began. If supplies or ammo got too low, sometimes they would charge and attack the Southerners, like Colonel Chamberlain did when he was defending the line. The Confederate army under the command of General Lee would march all the way to the gate and try to capture it. When in combat, both sides had the same kind of artillery. Soldiers used muskets and small handguns and generals on the other hand would ride on horseback with a sword and pistol. Another type of weaponry that was used were cannons. Even though cannons were much more powerful, muskets were easier due to the fact that they were portable and fired rounds quicker.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 48-51

CHAPTER 48 In the heat of the moment, Capitol police officer Nunez had seen no option but to help the Capitol Architect and Robert Langdon escape. Now, however, back in the basement police headquarters, Nunez could see the storm clouds gathering fast. Chief Trent Anderson was holding an ice pack to his head while another officer was tending to Sato's bruises. Both of them were standing with the video surveillance team, reviewing digital playback files in an attempt to locate Langdon and Bellamy. â€Å"Check the playback on every hallway and exit,† Sato demanded. â€Å"I want to know where they went!† Nunez felt ill as he looked on. He knew it would be only a matter of minutes before they found the right video clip and learned the truth. I helped them escape. Making matters worse was the arrival of a four-man CIA field team that was now staging nearby, prepping to go after Langdon and Bellamy. These guys looked nothing like the Capitol Police. These guys were dead-serious soldiers . . . black camouflage, night vision, futuristic-looking handguns. Nunez felt like he would throw up. Making up his mind, he motioned discreetly to Chief Anderson. â€Å"A word, Chief?† â€Å"What is it?† Anderson followed Nunez into the hall. â€Å"Chief, I made a bad mistake,† Nunez said, breaking a sweat. â€Å"I'm sorry, and I'm resigning.† You'll fire me in a few minutes anyway. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† Nunez swallowed hard. â€Å"Earlier, I saw Langdon and Architect Bellamy in the visitor center on their way out of the building.† â€Å"What?!† Anderson bellowed. â€Å"Why didn't you say something?!† â€Å"The Architect told me not to say a word.† â€Å"You work for me, goddamm it!† Anderson's voice echoed down the corridor. â€Å"Bellamy smashed my head into a wall, for Christ's sake!† Nunez handed Anderson the key that the Architect had given him. â€Å"What is this?† Anderson demanded. â€Å"A key to the new tunnel under Independence Avenue. Architect Bellamy had it. That's how they escaped.† Anderson stared down at the key, speechless. Sato poked her head out into the hallway, eyes probing. â€Å"What's going on out here?† Nunez felt himself go pale. Anderson was still holding the key, and Sato clearly had seen it. As the hideous little woman drew near, Nunez improvised as best as he could, hoping to protect his chief. â€Å"I found a key on the floor in the subbasement. I was just asking Chief Anderson if he knew what it might go to.† Sato arrived, eyeing the key. â€Å"And does the chief know?† Nunez glanced up at Anderson, who was clearly weighing all his options before speaking. Finally, the chief shook his head. â€Å"Not offhand. I'd have to check the–â€Å" â€Å"Don't bother,† Sato said. â€Å"This key unlocks a tunnel off the visitor center.† â€Å"Really?† Anderson said. â€Å"How do you know that?† â€Å"We just found the surveillance clip. Officer Nunez here helped Langdon and Bellamy escape and then relocked that tunnel door behind them. Bellamy gave Nunez that key.† Anderson turned to Nunez with a flare of anger. â€Å"Is this true?!† Nunez nodded vigorously, doing his best to play along. â€Å"I'm sorry, sir. The Architect told me not to tell a soul!† â€Å"I don't give a damn what the Architect told you!† Anderson yelled. â€Å"I expect–â€Å" â€Å"Shut up, Trent,† Sato snapped. â€Å"You're both lousy liars. Save it for your CIA inquisition.† She snatched the Architect's tunnel key from Anderson. â€Å"You're done here.† CHAPTER 49 Robert Langdon hung up his cell phone, feeling increasingly worried. Katherine's not answering her cell? Katherine had promised to call him as soon as she was safely out of the lab and on her way to meet him here, but she had never done so. Bellamy sat beside Langdon at the reading-room desk. He, too, had just made a call, his to an individual he claimed could offer them sanctuary–a safe place to hide. Unfortunately, this person was not answering either, and so Bellamy had left an urgent message, telling him to call Langdon's cell phone right away. â€Å"I'll keep trying,† he said to Langdon, â€Å"but for the moment, we're on our own. And we need to discuss a plan for this pyramid.† The pyramid. For Langdon, the spectacular backdrop of the reading room had all but disappeared, his world constricting now to include only what was directly in front of him–a stone pyramid, a sealed package containing a capstone, and an elegant African American man who had materialized out of the darkness and rescued him from the certainty of a CIA interrogation. Langdon had expected a modicum of sanity from the Architect of the Capitol, but now it seemed Warren Bellamy was no more rational than the madman claiming Peter was in purgatory. Bellamy was insisting this stone pyramid was, in fact, the Masonic Pyramid of legend. An ancient map? That guides us to powerful wisdom? â€Å"Mr. Bellamy,† Langdon said politely, â€Å"this idea that there exists some kind of ancient knowledge that can imbue men with great power . . . I simply can't take it seriously.† Bellamy's eyes looked both disappointed and earnest, making Langdon's skepticism all the more awkward. â€Å"Yes, Professor, I had imagined you might feel this way, but I suppose I should not be surprised. You are an outsider looking in. There exist certain Masonic realities that you will perceive as myth because you are not properly initiated and prepared to understand them.† Now Langdon felt patronized. I wasn't a member of Odysseus's crew, but I'm certain the Cyclops is a myth. â€Å"Mr. Bellamy, even if the legend is true . . . this pyramid cannot possibly be the Masonic Pyramid.† â€Å"No?† Bellamy ran a finger across the Masonic cipher on the stone. â€Å"It looks to me like it fits the description perfectly. A stone pyramid with a shining metal capstone, which, according to Sato's X-ray, is exactly what Peter entrusted to you.† Bellamy picked up the little cube-shaped package, weighing it in his hand. â€Å"This stone pyramid is less than a foot tall,† Langdon countered. â€Å"Every version of the story I've ever heard describes the Masonic Pyramid as enormous.† Bellamy had clearly anticipated this point. â€Å"As you know, the legend speaks of a pyramid rising so high that God Himself can reach out and touch it.† â€Å"Exactly.† â€Å"I can see your dilemma, Professor. However, both the Ancient Mysteries and Masonic philosophy celebrate the potentiality of God within each of us. Symbolically speaking, one could claim that anything within reach of an enlightened man . . . is within reach of God.† Langdon felt unswayed by the wordplay. â€Å"Even the Bible concurs,† Bellamy said. â€Å"If we accept, as Genesis tells us, that `God created man in his own image,' then we also must accept what this implies–that mankind was not created inferior to God. In Luke 17:20 we are told, `The kingdom of God is within you.' â€Å" â€Å"I'm sorry, but I don't know any Christians who consider themselves God's equal.† â€Å"Of course not,† Bellamy said, his tone hardening. â€Å"Because most Christians want it both ways. They want to be able to proudly declare they are believers in the Bible and yet simply ignore those parts they find too difficult or too inconvenient to believe.† Langdon made no response. â€Å"Anyhow,† Bellamy said, â€Å"the Masonic Pyramid's age-old description as being tall enough to be touched by God . . . this has long led to misinterpretations about its size. Conveniently, it keeps academics like yourself insisting the pyramid is a legend, and nobody searches for it.† Langdon looked down at the stone pyramid. â€Å"I apologize that I'm frustrating you,† he said. â€Å"I've simply always thought of the Masonic Pyramid as a myth.† â€Å"Does it not seem perfectly fitting to you that a map created by stonemasons would be carved in stone? Throughout history, our most important guideposts have always been carved in stone– including the tablets God gave Moses–Ten Commandments to guide our human conduct.† â€Å"I understand, and yet it is always referred to as the Legend of the Masonic Pyramid. Legend implies it is mythical.† â€Å"Yes, legend.† Bellamy chuckled. â€Å"I'm afraid you're suffering from the same problem Moses had.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† Bellamy looked almost amused as he turned in his seat, glancing up at the second-tier balcony, where sixteen bronze statues peered down at them. â€Å"Do you see Moses?† Langdon gazed up at the library's celebrated statue of Moses. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"He has horns.† â€Å"I'm aware of that.† â€Å"But do you know why he has horns?† Like most teachers, Langdon did not enjoy being lectured to. The Moses above them had horns for the same reason thousands of Christian images of Moses had horns–a mistranslation of the book of Exodus. The original Hebrew text described Moses as having â€Å"karan ‘ohr panav†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ â€Å"facial skin that glowed with rays of light†Ã¢â‚¬â€œbut when the Roman Catholic Church created the official Latin translation of the Bible, the translator bungled Moses's description, rendering it as â€Å"cornuta esset facies sua,† meaning â€Å"his face was horned.† From that moment on, artists and sculptors, fearing reprisals if they were not true to the Gospels, began depicting Moses with horns. â€Å"It was a simple mistake,† Langdon replied. â€Å"A mistranslation by Saint Jerome around four hundred A.D.† Bellamy looked impressed. â€Å"Exactly. A mistranslation. And the result is . . . poor Moses is now misshapen for all history.† â€Å"Misshapen† was a nice way to put it. Langdon, as a child, had been terrified when he saw Michelangelo's diabolical â€Å"horned Moses†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthe centerpiece of Rome's Basilica of St. Peter in Chains. â€Å"I mention the horned Moses,† Bellamy now said, â€Å"to illustrate how a single word, misunderstood, can rewrite history.† You're preaching to the choir, Langdon thought, having learned the lesson firsthand in Paris a number of years back. SanGreal: Holy Grail. SangReal: Royal Blood. â€Å"In the case of the Masonic Pyramid,† Bellamy continued, â€Å"people heard whispers about a `legend.' And the idea stuck. The Legend of the Masonic Pyramid sounded like a myth. But the word legend was referring to something else. It had been misconstrued. Much like the word talisman.† He smiled. â€Å"Language can be very adept at hiding the truth.† â€Å"That's true, but you're losing me here.† â€Å"Robert, the Masonic Pyramid is a map. And like every map, it has a legend–a key that tells you how to read it.† Bellamy took the cube-shaped package and held it up. â€Å"Don't you see? This capstone is the legend to the pyramid. It is the key that tells you how to read the most powerful artifact on earth . . . a map that unveils the hiding place of mankind's greatest treasure–the lost wisdom of the ages.† Langdon fell silent. â€Å"I humbly submit,† Bellamy said, â€Å"that your towering Masonic Pyramid is only this . . . a modest stone whose golden capstone reaches high enough to be touched by God. High enough that an enlightened man can reach down and touch it.† Silence hung between the two men for several seconds. Langdon felt an unexpected pulse of excitement as he looked down at the pyramid, seeing it in a new light. His eyes moved again to the Masonic cipher. â€Å"But this code . . . it seems so . . .† â€Å"Simple?† Langdon nodded. â€Å"Almost anyone could decipher this.† Bellamy smiled and retrieved a pencil and paper for Langdon. â€Å"Then perhaps you should enlighten us?† Langdon felt uneasy about reading the code, and yet considering the circumstances, it seemed a minor betrayal of Peter's trust. Moreover, whatever the engraving said, he could not imagine that it unveiled a secret hiding place of anything at all . . . much less that of one of history's greatest treasures. Langdon accepted the pencil from Bellamy and tapped it on his chin as he studied the cipher. The code was so simple that he barely needed pencil and paper. Even so, he wanted to ensure he made no mistakes, and so he dutifully put pencil to paper and wrote down the most common decryption key for a Masonic cipher. The key consisted of four grids–two plain and two dotted–with the alphabet running through them in order. Each letter of the alphabet was now positioned inside a uniquely shaped â€Å"enclosure† or â€Å"pen.† The shape of each letter's enclosure became the symbol for that letter. The scheme was so simple, it was almost infantile. Langdon double-checked his handiwork. Feeling confident the decryption key was correct, he now turned his attention back to the code inscribed on the pyramid. To decipher it, all he had to do was to find the matching shape on his decryption key and write down the letter inside it. The first character on the pyramid looked like a down arrow or a chalice. Langdon quickly found the chalice-shaped segment on the decryption key. It was located in the lower left-hand corner and enclosed the letter S. Langdon wrote down S. The next symbol on the pyramid was a dotted square missing its right side. That shape on the decryption grid enclosed the letter O. He wrote down O. The third symbol was a simple square, which enclosed the letter E. Langdon wrote down E. SOE†¦ He continued, picking up speed until he had completed the entire grid. Now, as he gazed down at his finished translation, Langdon let out a puzzled sigh. Hardly what I'd call a eureka moment. Bellamy's face showed the hint of a smile. â€Å"As you know, Professor, the Ancient Mysteries are reserved only for the truly enlightened.† â€Å"Right,† Langdon said, frowning. Apparently, I don't qualify. CHAPTER 50 In a basement office deep inside CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, the same sixteen- character Masonic cipher glowed brightly on a high-definition computer monitor. Senior OS analyst Nola Kaye sat alone and studied the image that had been e-mailed to her ten minutes ago by her boss, Director Inoue Sato. Is this some kind of joke? Nola knew it was not, of course; Director Sato had no sense of humor, and the events of tonight were anything but a joking matter. Nola's high-level clearance within the CIA's all-seeing Office of Security had opened her eyes to the shadow worlds of power. But what Nola had witnessed in the last twenty-four hours had changed her impressions forever of the secrets that powerful men kept. â€Å"Yes, Director,† Nola now said, cradling the phone on her shoulder as she talked to Sato. â€Å"The engraving is indeed the Masonic cipher. However, the cleartext is meaningless. It appears to be a grid of random letters.† She gazed down at her decryption. â€Å"It must say something,† Sato insisted. â€Å"Not unless it has a second layer of encryption that I'm not aware of.† â€Å"Any guesses?† Sato asked. â€Å"It's a grid-based matrix, so I could run the usual–Vigenre, grilles, trellises, and so forth–but no promises, especially if it's a onetime pad.† â€Å"Do what you can. And do it fast. How about the X-ray?† Nola swiveled her chair to a second system, which displayed a standard security X-ray of someone's bag. Sato had requested information on what appeared to be a small pyramid inside a cube-shaped box. Normally, a two-inch-tall object would not be an issue of national security unless it was made of enriched plutonium. This one was not. It was made of something almost equally startling. â€Å"Image-density analysis was conclusive,† Nola said. â€Å"Nineteen-point-three grams per cubic centimeter. It's pure gold. Very, very valuable.† â€Å"Anything else?† â€Å"Actually, yes. The density scan picked up minor irregularities on the surface of the gold pyramid. It turns out the gold is engraved with text.† â€Å"Really?† Sato sounded hopeful. â€Å"What does it say?† â€Å"I can't tell yet. The inscription is extremely faint. I'm trying to enhance with filters, but the resolution on the X-ray is not great.† â€Å"Okay, keep trying. Call me when you have something.† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† â€Å"And, Nola?† Sato's tone turned ominous. â€Å"As with everything you have learned in the last twenty-four hours, the images of the stone pyramid and gold capstone are classified at the highest levels of security. You are to consult no one. You report to me directly. I want to make sure that is clear.† â€Å"Of course, ma'am.† â€Å"Good. Keep me posted.† Sato hung up. Nola rubbed her eyes and looked blearily back at her computer screens. She had not slept in over thirty-six hours, and she knew damn well she would not sleep again until this crisis had reached its conclusion. Whatever that may be. Back at the Capitol Visitor Center, four black-clad CIA field-op specialists stood at the entrance to the tunnel, peering hungrily down the dimly lit shaft like a pack of dogs eager for the hunt. Sato approached, having just hung up from a call. â€Å"Gentlemen,† she said, still holding the Architect's key, â€Å"are your mission parameters clear?† â€Å"Affirmative,† the lead agent replied. â€Å"We have two targets. The first is an engraved stone pyramid, approximately one foot tall. The second is a smaller, cube-shaped package, approximately two inches tall. Both were last seen in Robert Langdon's shoulder bag.† â€Å"Correct,† Sato said. â€Å"These two items must be retrieved quickly and intact. Do you have any questions?† â€Å"Parameters for use of force?† Sato's shoulder was still throbbing from where Bellamy had struck her with a bone. â€Å"As I said, it is of critical importance that these items be retrieved.† â€Å"Understood.† The four men turned and headed into the darkness of the tunnel. Sato lit a cigarette and watched them disappear. CHAPTER 51 Katherine Solomon had always been a prudent driver, but now she was pushing her Volvo at over ninety as she fled blindly up the Suitland Parkway. Her trembling foot had been lodged on the accelerator for a full mile before her panic began to lift. She now realized her uncontrollable shivering was no longer solely from fear. I'm freezing. The wintry night air was gushing through her shattered window, buffeting her body like an arctic wind. Her stockinged feet were numb, and she reached down for her spare pair of shoes, which she kept beneath the passenger seat. As she did, she felt a stab of pain from the bruise on her throat, where the powerful hand had latched on to her neck. The man who had smashed through her window bore no resemblance to the blond-haired gentleman whom Katherine knew as Dr. Christopher Abaddon. His thick hair and smooth, tanned complexion had disappeared. His shaved head, bare chest, and makeup-smeared face had been unveiled as a terrifying tapestry of tattoos. She heard his voice again, whispering to her in the howl of wind outside her broken window. Katherine, I should have killed you years ago . . . the night I killed your mother. Katherine shivered, feeling no doubt. That was him. She had never forgotten the look of fiendish violence in his eyes. Nor had she ever forgotten the sound of her brother's single gunshot, which had killed this man, propelling him off a high ledge into the frozen river below, where he plummeted through the ice and never resurfaced. Investigators had searched for weeks, never finding his body, and finally decided it had been washed away by the current out to the Chesapeake Bay. They were wrong, she now knew. He is still alive. And he's back. Katherine felt angst-ridden as the memories flooded back. It was almost exactly ten years ago. Christmas Day. Katherine, Peter, and their mother–her entire family–were gathered at their sprawling stone mansion in Potomac, nestled on a two-hundred-acre wooded estate with its own river running through it. As was tradition, their mother worked diligently in the kitchen, rejoicing in the holiday custom of cooking for her two children. Even at seventy-five years of age, Isabel Solomon was an exuberant cook, and tonight the mouthwatering smells of roast venison, parsnip gravy, and garlic mashed potatoes wafted through the house. While Mother prepared the feast, Katherine and her brother relaxed in the conservatory, discussing Katherine's latest fascination–a new field called Noetic Science. An unlikely fusion of modern particle physics and ancient mysticism, Noetics had absolutely captivated Katherine's imagination. Physics meets philosophy. Katherine told Peter about some of the experiments she was dreaming up, and she could see in his eyes that he was intrigued. Katherine felt particularly pleased to give her brother something positive to think about this Christmas, since the holiday had also become a painful reminder of a terrible tragedy. Peter's son, Zachary. Katherine's nephew's twenty-first birthday had been his last. The family had been through a nightmare, and it seemed that her brother was only now finally learning how to laugh again. Zachary had been a late bloomer, frail and awkward, a rebellious and angry teenager. Despite his deeply loving and privileged upbringing, the boy seemed determined to detach himself from the Solomon â€Å"establishment.† He was kicked out of prep school, partied hard with the â€Å"celebrati,† and shunned his parents' exhaustive attempts to provide him firm and loving guidance. He broke Peter's heart. Shortly before Zachary's eighteenth birthday, Katherine had sat down with her mother and brother and listened to them debating whether or not to withhold Zachary's inheritance until he was more mature. The Solomon inheritance–a centuries-old tradition in the family–bequeathed a staggeringly generous piece of the Solomon wealth to every Solomon child on his or her eighteenth birthday. The Solomons believed that an inheritance was more helpful at the beginning of someone's life than at the end. Moreover, placing large pieces of the Solomon fortune in the hands of eager young descendants had been the key to growing the family's dynastic wealth. In this case, however, Katherine's mother argued that it was dangerous to give Peter's troubled son such a large sum of money. Peter disagreed. â€Å"The Solomon inheritance,† her brother had said, â€Å"is a family tradition that should not be broken. This money may well force Zachary to be more responsible.† Sadly, her brother had been wrong. The moment Zachary received the money, he broke from the family, disappearing from the house without taking any of his belongings. He surfaced a few months later in the tabloids: TRUST FUND PLAYBOY LIVING EUROPEAN HIGH LIFE. The tabloids took joy in documenting Zachary's spoiled life of debauchery. The photos of wild parties on yachts and drunken disco stupors were hard for the Solomons to take, but the photos of their wayward teen turned from tragic to frightening when the papers reported Zachary had been caught carrying cocaine across a border in Eastern Europe: SOLOMON MILLIONAIRE IN TURKISH PRISON. The prison, they learned, was called Soganlik–a brutal F-class detention center located in the Kartal district outside of Istanbul. Peter Solomon, fearing for his son's safety, flew to Turkey to retrieve him. Katherine's distraught brother returned empty-handed, having been forbidden even to visit with Zachary. The only promising news was that Solomon's influential contacts at the U.S. State Department were working on getting him extradited as quickly as possible. Two days later, however, Peter received a horrifying international phone call. The next morning, headlines blared: SOLOMON HEIR MURDERED IN PRISON. The prison photos were horrific, and the media callously aired them all, even long after the Solomons' private burial ceremony. Peter's wife never forgave him for failing to free Zachary, and their marriage came to an end six months later. Peter had been alone ever since. It was years later that Katherine, Peter, and their mother, Isabel, were gathered quietly for Christmas. The pain was still a presence in their family, but mercifully it was fading with each passing year. The pleasant rattle of pots and pans now echoed from the kitchen as their mother prepared the traditional feast. Out in the conservatory, Peter and Katherine were enjoying a baked Brie and relaxed holiday conversation. Then came an utterly unexpected sound. â€Å"Hello, Solomons,† an airy voice said behind them. Startled, Katherine and her brother spun to see an enormous muscular figure stepping into the conservatory. He wore a black ski mask that covered all of his face except his eyes, which shone with feral ferocity. Peter was on his feet in an instant. â€Å"Who are you?! How did you get in here?!† â€Å"I knew your little boy, Zachary, in prison. He told me where this key was hidden.† The stranger held up an old key and grinned like a beast. â€Å"Right before I bludgeoned him to death.† Peter's mouth fell open. A pistol appeared, aimed directly at Peter's chest. â€Å"Sit.† Peter fell back into his chair. As the man moved into the room, Katherine was frozen in place. Behind his mask, the man's eyes were wild like those of a rabid animal. â€Å"Hey!† Peter yelled, as if trying to warn their mother in the kitchen. â€Å"Whoever you are, take what you want, and get out!† The man leveled his gun at Peter's chest. â€Å"And what is it you think I want?† â€Å"Just tell me how much,† Solomon said. â€Å"We don't have money in the house, but I can–â€Å" The monster laughed. â€Å"Do not insult me. I have not come for money. I have come tonight for Zachary's other birthright.† He grinned. â€Å"He told me about the pyramid.† Pyramid? Katherine thought in bewildered terror. What pyramid? Her brother was defiant. â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about.† â€Å"Don't play dumb with me! Zachary told me what you keep in your study vault. I want it. Now.† â€Å"Whatever Zachary told you, he was confused,† Peter said. â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about!† â€Å"No?† The intruder turned and aimed the gun at Katherine's face. â€Å"How about now?† Peter's eyes filled with terror. â€Å"You must believe me! I don't know what it is you want!† â€Å"Lie to me one more time,† he said, still aiming at Katherine, â€Å"and I swear I will take her from you.† He smiled. â€Å"And from what Zachary said, your little sister is more precious to you than all your–â€Å" â€Å"What's going on?!† Katherine's mother shouted, marching into the room with Peter's Browning Citori shotgun–which she aimed directly at the man's chest. The intruder spun toward her, and the feisty seventy-five-year-old woman wasted no time. She fired a deafening blast of pellets. The intruder staggered backward, firing his handgun wildly in all directions, shattering windows as he fell and crashed through the glass doorway, dropping the pistol as he fell. Peter was instantly in motion, diving on the loose handgun. Katherine had fallen, and Mrs. Solomon hurried to her side, kneeling beside her. â€Å"My God, are you hurt?!† Katherine shook her head, mute with shock. Outside the shattered glass door, the masked man had clambered to his feet and was running into the woods, clutching his side as he ran. Peter Solomon glanced back to make sure his mother and sister were safe, and seeing they were fine, he held the pistol and raced out the door after the intruder. Katherine's mother held her hand, trembling. â€Å"Thank heavens you're okay.† Then suddenly her mother pulled away. â€Å"Katherine? You're bleeding! There's blood! You're hurt!† Katherine saw the blood. A lot of blood. It was all over her. But she felt no pain. Her mother frantically searched Katherine's body for a wound. â€Å"Where does it hurt!† â€Å"Mom, I don't know, I don't feel anything!† Then Katherine saw the source of the blood, and she went cold. â€Å"Mom, it's not me . . .† She pointed to the side of her mother's white satin blouse, where blood was running freely, and a small tattered hole was visible. Her mother glanced down, looking more confused than anything else. She winced and shrank back, as if the pain had just hit her. â€Å"Katherine?† Her voice was calm, but suddenly it carried the weight of her seventy-five years. â€Å"I need you to call an ambulance.† Katherine ran to the hall phone and called for help. When she got back to the conservatory, she found her mother lying motionless in a pool of blood. She ran to her, crouching down, cradling her mother's body in her arms. Katherine had no idea how much time had passed when she heard the distant gunshot in the woods. Finally, the conservatory door burst open, and her brother, Peter, rushed in, eyes wild, gun still in his hand. When he saw Katherine sobbing, holding their lifeless mother in her arms, his face contorted in anguish. The scream that echoed through the conservatory was a sound Katherine Solomon would never forget.