danbrown.angels&demons-第57章

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　guard　appeared；　running　toward　him。　Even　by　candlelight　Rocher　recognized　Lieutenant　Chartrand。　Young；　green；　and　eager。　
　〃Captain；〃　Chartrand　called；　holding　out　a　cellular　phone。　〃I　think　the　camerlegno's　address　may　have　worked。　We've　got　a　caller　here　who　says　he　has　information　that　can　help　us。　He　phoned　on　one　of　the　Vatican's　private　extensions。　I　have　no　idea　how　he　got　the　number。〃
　Rocher　stopped。　〃What？〃
　〃He　will　only　speak　to　the　ranking　officer。〃
　〃Any　word　from　Olivetti？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　He　took　the　receiver。　〃This　is　Captain　Rocher。　I　am　ranking　officer　here。〃
　〃Rocher；〃　the　voice　said。　〃I　will　explain　to　you　who　I　am。　Then　I　will　tell　you　what　you　are　going　to　do　next。〃　
　When　the　caller　stopped　talking　and　hung　up；　Rocher　stood　stunned。　He　now　knew　from　whom　he　was　taking　orders。　
　
　Back　at　CERN；　Sylvie　Baudeloque　was　frantically　trying　to　keep　track　of　all　the　licensing　inquiries　ing　in　on　Kohler's　voice　mail。　When　the　private　line　on　the　director's　desk　began　to　ring；　Sylvie　jumped。　Nobody　had　that　number。　She　answered。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Ms。　Baudeloque？　This　is　Director　Kohler。　Contact　my　pilot。　My　jet　is　to　be　ready　in　five　minutes。〃
　
　100

　Robert　Langdon　had　no　idea　where　he　was　or　how　long　he　had　been　unconscious　when　he　opened　his　eyes　and　found　himself　staring　up　at　the　underside　of　a　baroque；　frescoed　cupola。　Smoke　drifted　overhead。　Something　was　covering　his　mouth。　An　oxygen　mask。　He　pulled　it　off。　There　was　a　terrible　smell　in　the　room…like　burning　flesh。
　Langdon　winced　at　the　pounding　in　his　head。　He　tried　to　sit　up。　A　man　in　white　was　kneeling　beside　him。
　〃Riposati！〃　the　man　said；　easing　Langdon　onto　his　back　again。　〃Sono　il　paramйdico。〃　
　Langdon　succumbed；　his　head　spiraling　like　the　smoke　overhead。　What　the　hell　happened？　Wispy　feelings　of　panic　sifted　through　his　mind。　
　〃Sуrcio　salvatore；〃　the　paramedic　said。　〃Mouse　。　。　。　savior。〃
　Langdon　felt　even　more　lost。　Mouse　savior？　
　The　man　motioned　to　the　Mickey　Mouse　watch　on　Langdon's　wrist。　Langdon's　thoughts　began　to　clear。　He　remembered　setting　the　alarm。　As　he　stared　absently　at　the　watch　face；　Langdon　also　noted　the　hour。　10：28　P。M。　
　He　sat　bolt　upright。　
　Then；　it　all　came　back。
　
　Langdon　stood　near　the　main　altar　with　the　fire　chief　and　a　few　of　his　men。　They　had　been　rattling　him　with　questions。　Langdon　wasn't　listening。　He　had　questions　of　his　own。　His　whole　body　ached；　but　he　knew　he　needed　to　act　immediately。
　A　pompiero　approached　Langdon　across　the　church。　〃I　checked　again；　sir。　The　only　bodies　we　found　are　Cardinal　Guidera　and　the　Swiss　Guard　mander。　There's　no　sign　of　a　woman　here。〃　
　〃Grazie；〃　Langdon　said；　unsure　whether　he　was　relieved　or　horrified。　He　knew　he　had　seen　Vittoria　unconscious　on　the　floor。　Now　she　was　gone。　The　only　explanation　he　came　up　with　was　not　a　forting　one。　The　killer　had　not　been　subtle　on　the　phone。　A　woman　of　spirit。　I　am　aroused。　Perhaps　before　this　night　is　over；　I　will　find　you。　And　when　I　do　。　。　。〃　
　Langdon　looked　around。　〃Where　is　the　Swiss　Guard？〃　
　〃Still　no　contact。　Vatican　lines　are　jammed。〃
　Langdon　felt　overwhelmed　and　alone。　Olivetti　was　dead。　The　cardinal　was　dead。　Vittoria　was　missing。　A　half　hour　of　his　life　had　disappeared　in　a　blink。
　Outside；　Langdon　could　hear　the　press　swarming。　He　suspected　footage　of　the　third　cardinal's　horrific　death　would　no　doubt　air　soon；　if　it　hadn't　already。　Langdon　hoped　the　camerlegno　had　long　since　assumed　the　worst　and　taken　action。　Evacuate　the　damn　Vatican！　Enough　games！　We　lose！　
　Langdon　suddenly　realized　that　all　of　the　catalysts　that　had　been　driving　him…helping　to　save　Vatican　City；　rescuing　the　four　cardinals；　ing　face　to　face　with　the　brotherhood　he　had　studied　for　years…all　of　these　things　had　evaporated　from　his　mind。　The　war　was　lost。　A　new　pulsion　had　ignited　within　him。　It　was　simple。　Stark。　Primal。　
　Find　Vittoria。
　He　felt　an　unexpected　emptiness　inside。　Langdon　had　often　heard　that　intense　situations　could　unite　two　people　in　ways　that　decades　together　often　did　not。　He　now　believed　it。　In　Vittoria's　absence　he　felt　something　he　had　not　felt　in　years。　Loneliness。　The　pain　gave　him　strength。
　Pushing　all　else　from　his　mind；　Langdon　mustered　his　concentration。　He　prayed　that　the　Hassassin　would　take　care　of　business　before　pleasure。　Otherwise；　Langdon　knew　he　was　already　too　late。　No；　he　told　himself；　you　have　time。　Vittoria's　captor　still　had　work　to　do。　He　had　to　surface　one　last　time　before　disappearing　forever。　
　The　last　altar　of　science；　Langdon　thought。　The　killer　had　one　final　task。　Earth。　Air。　Fire。　Water。　
　He　looked　at　his　watch。　Thirty　minutes。　Langdon　moved　past　the　firemen　toward　Bernini's　Ecstasy　of　St。　Teresa。　This　time；　as　he　stared　at　Bernini's　marker；　Langdon　had　no　doubt　what　he　was　looking　for。
　Let　angels　guide　you　on　your　lofty　quest　。　。　。　
　Directly　over　the　recumbent　saint；　against　a　backdrop　of　gilded　flame；　hovered　Bernini's　angel。　The　angel's　hand　clutched　a　pointed　spear　of　fire。　Langdon's　eyes　followed　the　direction　of　the　shaft；　arching　toward　the　right　side　of　the　church。　His　eyes　hit　the　wall。　He　scanned　the　spot　where　the　spear　was　pointing。　There　was　nothing　there。　Langdon　knew；　of　course；　the　spear　was　pointing　far　beyond　the　wall；　into　the　night；　somewhere　across　Rome。
　〃What　direction　is　that？〃　Langdon　asked；　turning　and　addressing　the　chief　with　a　newfound　determination。
　〃Direction？〃　The　chief　glanced　where　Langdon　was　pointing。　He　sounded　confused。　〃I　don't　know　。　。　。　west；　I　think。〃
　〃What　churches　are　in　that　direction？〃
　The　chief's　puzzlement　seemed　to　deepen。　〃Dozens。　Why？〃
　Langdon　frowned。　Of　course　there　were　dozens。　〃I　need　a　city　map。　Right　away。〃
　The　chief　sent　someone　running　out　to　the　fire　truck　for　a　map。　Langdon　turned　back　to　the　statue。　Earth　。　。　。　Air　。　。　。　Fire　。　。　。　VITTORIA。　
　The　final　marker　is　Water；　he　told　himself。　Bernini's　Water。　It　was　in　a　church　out　there　somewhere。　A　needle　in　a　haystack。　He　spurred　his　mind　through　all　the　Bernini　works　he　could　recall。　I　need　a　tribute　to　Water！　
　Langdon　flashed　on　Bernini's　statue　of　Triton…the　Greek　God　of　the　sea。　Then　he　realized　it　was　located　in　the　square　outside　this　very　church；　in　entirely　the　wrong　direction。　He　forced　himself　to　think。　What　figure　would　Bernini　have　carved　as　a　glorification　of　water？　Neptune　and　Apollo？　Unfortunately　that　statue　was　in　London's　Victoria　&　Albert　Museum。　
　〃Signore？〃　A　fireman　ran　in　with　a　map。
　Langdon　thanked　him　and　spread　it　out　on　the　altar。　He　immediately　realized　he　had　asked　the　right　people；　the　fire　department's　map　of　Rome　was　as　detailed　as　any　Langdon　had　ever　seen。　〃Where　are　we　now？〃
　The　man　pointed。　〃Next　to　Piazza　Barberini。〃
　Langdon　looked　at　the　angel's　spear　again　to　get　his　bearings。　The　chief　had　estimated　correctly。　According　to　the　map；　the　spear　was　pointing　west。　Langdon　traced　a　line　from　his　current　location　west　across　the　map。　Almost　instantly　his　hopes　began　to　sink。　It　seemed　that　with　every　inch　his　finger　traveled；　he　passed　yet　another　building　marked　by　a　tiny　black　cross。　Churches。　The　city　was　riddled　with　them。　Finally；　Langdon's　finger　ran　out　of　churches　and　trailed　off　into　the　suburbs　of　Rome。　He　exhaled　and　stepped　back　from　the　map。　Damn。　
　Surveying　the　whole　of　Rome；　Langdon's　eyes　touched　down　on　the　three　churches　where　the　first　three　cardinals　had　been　killed。　The　Chigi　Chapel　。　。　。　St。　Peter's　。　。　。　here　。　。　。　
　Seeing　them　all　laid　out　before　him　now；　Langdon　noted　an　oddity　in　their　locations。　Somehow　he　had　imagined　the　churches　would　be　scattered　randomly　across　Rome。　But　they　most　definitely　were　not。　Improbably；　the　three　churches　seemed　to　be　separated　systematically；　in　an　enormous　city…wide　triangle。　Langdon　double…checked。　He　was　not　imagining　things。　〃Penna；〃　he　said　suddenly；　without　looking　up。　
　Someone　handed　him　a　ballpoint　pen。　
　Langdon　circled　the　three　churches。　His　pulse　quickened。　He　triple…checked　his　markings。　A　symmetrical　triangle！　
　Langdon's　first　thought　was　for　the　Great　Seal　on　the　one…dollar　bill…the　triangle　containing　the　all…seeing　eye。　But　it　didn't　make　sense。　He　had　marked　only　three　points。　There　were　supposed　to　be　four　in　all。
　So　where　the　hell　is　Water？　Langdon　knew　that　anywhere　he　placed　the　fourth　point；　the　triangle　would　be　destroyed。　The　only　option　to　retain　the　symmetry　was　to　place　the　fourth　marker　inside　the　triangle；　at　the　center。　He　looked　at　the　spot　on　the　map。　Nothing。　The　idea　bothered　him　anyway。　The　four　elements　of　science　were　considered　equal。　Water　was　not　special；　Water　would　not　be　at　the　center　of　the　others。
　Still；　his　instinct　told　him　the　systematic　arrangement　could　not　possibly　be　accidental。　I'm　not　yet　seeing　the　whole　picture。　There　was　only　one　alternative。　The　four　points　did　not　make　a　triangle；　they　made　some　other　shape。
　Langdon　looked　at　the　map。　A　square；　perhaps？　Although　a　square　made　no　symbolic　sense；　squares　were　symmetrical　at　least。　Langdon　put　his　finger　on　the　map　at　one　of　the　points　that　would　turn　the　triangle　into　a　square。　He　saw　immediately　that　a　perfect　square　was　impossible。　The　angles　of　the　original　triangle　were　oblique　and　created　more　of　a　distorted　quadrilateral。
　As　he　studied　the　other　possible　points　around　the　triangle；　something　unexpected　happened。　He　noticed　that　the　line　he　had　drawn　earlier　to　indicate　the　direction　of　the　angel's　spear　passed　perfectly　through　one　of　the　possibilities。　Stupefied；　Langdon　circled　that　point。　He　was　now　looking　at　four　ink　marks　on　the　map；　arranged　in　somewhat　of　an　awkward；　kitelike　diamond。　
　He　frowned。　Diamonds　were　not　an　Illuminati　symbol　either。　He　paused。　Then　again　。　。　。　
　For　an　instant　Langdon　flashed　on　the　famed　Illuminati　Diamond。　The　thought；　of　course；　was　ridiculous。　He　dismissed　it。　Besides；　this　diamond　was　oblong…like　a　kite…hardly　an　example　of　the　flawless　symmetry　for　which　the　Illuminati　Diamond　was　revered。
　When　he　leaned　in　to　examine　where　he　had　placed　the　final　mark；　Langdon　was　surprised　to　find　that　the　fourth　point　lay　dead　center　of　Rome's　famed　Piazza　Navona。　He　knew　the　piazza　contained　a　major　church；　but　he　had　already　traced　his　finger　through　that　piazza　and　considered　the　church　there。　To　the　best　of　his　knowledge　it　contained　no　Bernini　works。　The　church　was　called　Saint　Agnes　in　Agony；　named　for　St。　Agnes；　a　ravishing　teenage　virgin　banished　to　a　life　of　sexual　slavery　for　refusing　to　renounce　her　faith。　
　There　must　be　something　in　that　church！　Langdon　racked　his　brain；　picturing　the　inside　of　the　church。　He　could　think　of　no　Bernini　works　at　all　inside；　much　less　anything　to　do　with　water。　The　arrangement　on　the　map　was　bothering　him　too。　A　diamond。　It　was　far　too　accurate　to　be　coincidence；　but　it　was　not　accurate　enough　to　make　any　sense。　A　kite？　Langdon　wondered　if　he　had　chosen　the　wrong　point。　What　am　I　missing！　
　The　answer　took　another　thirty　seconds　to　hit　him；　but　when　it　did；　Langdon　felt　an　exhilaration　like　nothing　he　had　ever　experienced　in　his　academic　career。　
　The　Illuminati　genius；　it　seemed；　would　never　cease。
　The　shape　he　was　looking　at　was　not　intended　as　a　diamond　at　all。　The　four　points　only　formed