“I became fascinated with the cult when I first learned that U.S. currency is covered with Illuminati symbology.”

Vittoria’s eyes narrowed, apparently not knowing whether or not to take him seriously.

Langdon handed her the bill. “Look at the back. See the Great Seal on the left?”

Vittoria turned the one-dollar bill over. “You mean the pyramid?”

“The pyramid. Do you know what pyramids have to do with U.S. history?”

Vittoria shrugged.

“Exactly,” Langdon said. “Absolutely nothing.”

Vittoria frowned. “So why is it the central symbol of your Great Seal?”

“An eerie bit of history,” Langdon said. “The pyramid is an occult symbol representing a convergence upward, toward the ultimate source of Illumination. See what’s above it?”

Vittoria studied the bill. “An eye inside a triangle.”

“It’s called the trinacria. Have you ever seen that eye in a triangle anywhere else?”

Vittoria was silent a moment. “Actually, yes, but I’m not sure . . .”

“It’s emblazoned on Masonic lodges around the world.”

“The symbol is Masonic?”

“Actually, no. It’s Illuminati. They called it their ‘shining delta.’ A call for enlightened change. The eye signifies the Illuminati’s ability to infiltrate and watch all things. The shining triangle represents enlightenment. And the triangle is also the Greek letter delta, which is the mathematical symbol for-”

“Change. Transition.”

Langdon smiled. “I forgot I was talking to a scientist.”

“So you’re saying the U.S. Great Seal is a call for enlightened, all-seeing change?”

“Some would call it a New World Order.”

Vittoria seemed startled. She glanced down at the bill again. “The writing under the pyramid says Novus . . . Ordo . . .”

“Novus Ordo Seculorum,” Langdon said. “It means New Secular Order.”

“Secular as in nonreligious?”

“Nonreligious. The phrase not only clearly states the Illuminati objective, but it also blatantly contradicts the phrase beside it. In God We Trust.”