danbrown.angels&demons-第29部分

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　Vittoria　eyed　him　askance。　〃Sounds　like　a　treasure　hunt。〃　
　Langdon　chuckled。　〃In　a　manner　of　speaking；　it　is。　The　Illuminati　called　their　string　of　markers　'The　Path　of　Illumination；'　and　anyone　who　wanted　to　join　the　brotherhood　had　to　follow　it　all　the　way　to　the　end。　A　kind　of　test。〃
　〃But　if　the　Vatican　wanted　to　find　the　Illuminati；〃　Vittoria　argued；　〃couldn't　they　simply　follow　the　markers？〃
　〃No。　The　path　was　hidden。　A　puzzle；　constructed　in　such　a　way　that　only　certain　people　would　have　the　ability　to　track　the　markers　and　figure　out　where　the　Illuminati　church　was　hidden。　The　Illuminati　intended　it　as　a　kind　of　initiation；　functioning　not　only　as　a　security　measure　but　also　as　a　screening　process　to　ensure　that　only　the　brightest　scientists　arrived　at　their　door。〃
　〃I　don't　buy　it。　In　the　1600s　the　clergy　were　some　of　the　most　educated　men　in　the　world。　If　these　markers　were　in　public　locations；　certainly　there　existed　members　of　the　Vatican　who　could　have　figured　it　out。〃
　〃Sure；〃　Langdon　said；　〃if　they　had　known　about　the　markers。　But　they　didn't。　And　they　never　noticed　them　because　the　Illuminati　designed　them　in　such　a　way　that　clerics　would　never　suspect　what　they　were。　They　used　a　method　known　in　symbology　as　dissimulation。〃　
　〃Camouflage。〃　
　Langdon　was　impressed。　〃You　know　the　term。〃
　〃Dissimulacione；〃　she　said。　〃Nature's　best　defense。　Try　spotting　a　trumpet　fish　floating　vertically　in　seagrass。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Langdon　said。　〃The　Illuminati　used　the　same　concept。　They　created　markers　that　faded　into　the　backdrop　of　ancient　Rome。　They　couldn't　use　ambigrams　or　scientific　symbology　because　it　would　be　far　too　conspicuous；　so　they　called　on　an　Illuminati　artist…the　same　anonymous　prodigy　who　had　created　their　ambigrammatic　symbol　'Illuminati'…and　they　missioned　him　to　carve　four　sculptures。〃
　〃Illuminati　sculptures？〃　
　〃Yes；　sculptures　with　two　strict　guidelines。　First；　the　sculptures　had　to　look　like　the　rest　of　the　artwork　in　Rome　。　。　。　artwork　that　the　Vatican　would　never　suspect　belonged　to　the　Illuminati。〃
　〃Religious　art。〃
　Langdon　nodded；　feeling　a　tinge　of　excitement；　talking　faster　now。　〃And　the　second　guideline　was　that　the　four　sculptures　had　to　have　very　specific　themes。　Each　piece　needed　to　be　a　subtle　tribute　to　one　of　the　four　elements　of　science。〃
　〃Four　elements？〃　Vittoria　said。　〃There　are　over　a　hundred。〃
　〃Not　in　the　1600s；〃　Langdon　reminded　her。　〃Early　alchemists　believed　the　entire　universe　was　made　up　of　only　four　substances：　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water。〃
　The　early　cross；　Langdon　knew；　was　the　most　mon　symbol　of　the　four　elements…four　arms　representing　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water。　Beyond　that；　though；　there　existed　literally　dozens　of　symbolic　occurrences　of　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water　throughout　history…the　Pythagorean　cycles　of　life；　the　Chinese　Hong…Fan；　the　Jungian　male　and　female　rudiments；　the　quadrants　of　the　Zodiac；　even　the　Muslims　revered　the　four　ancient　elements　。　。　。　although　in　Islam　they　were　known　as　〃squares；　clouds；　lightning；　and　waves。〃　For　Langdon；　though；　it　was　a　more　modern　usage　that　always　gave　him　chills…the　Mason's　four　mystic　grades　of　Absolute　Initiation：　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water。
　Vittoria　seemed　mystified。　〃So　this　Illuminati　artist　created　four　pieces　of　art　that　looked　religious；　but　were　actually　tributes　to　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water？〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Langdon　said；　quickly　turning　up　Via　Sentinel　toward　the　archives。　〃The　pieces　blended　into　the　sea　of　religious　artwork　all　over　Rome。　By　donating　the　artwork　anonymously　to　specific　churches　and　then　using　their　political　influence；　the　brotherhood　facilitated　placement　of　these　four　pieces　in　carefully　chosen　churches　in　Rome。　Each　piece　of　course　was　a　marker　。　。　。　subtly　pointing　to　the　next　church　。　。　。　where　the　next　marker　awaited。　It　functioned　as　a　trail　of　clues　disguised　as　religious　art。　If　an　Illuminati　candidate　could　find　the　first　church　and　the　marker　for　Earth；　he　could　follow　it　to　Air　。　。　。　and　then　to　Fire　。　。　。　and　then　to　Water　。　。　。　and　finally　to　the　Church　of　Illumination。〃　
　Vittoria　was　looking　less　and　less　clear。　〃And　this　has　something　to　do　with　catching　the　Illuminati　assassin？〃
　Langdon　smiled　as　he　played　his　ace。　〃Oh；　yes。　The　Illuminati　called　these　four　churches　by　a　very　special　name。　The　Altars　of　Science。〃　
　Vittoria　frowned。　〃I'm　sorry；　that　means　noth…〃　She　stopped　short。　〃L'altare　di　scienza？〃　she　exclaimed。　〃The　Illuminati　assassin。　He　warned　that　the　cardinals　would　be　virgin　sacrifices　on　the　altars　of　science！〃
　Langdon　gave　her　a　smile。　〃Four　cardinals。　Four　churches。　The　four　altars　of　science。〃
　She　looked　stunned。　〃You're　saying　the　four　churches　where　the　cardinals　will　be　sacrificed　are　the　same　four　churches　that　mark　the　ancient　Path　of　Illumination？〃
　〃I　believe　so；　yes。〃
　〃But　why　would　the　killer　have　given　us　that　clue？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Langdon　replied。　〃Very　few　historians　know　about　these　sculptures。　Even　fewer　believe　they　exist。　And　their　locations　have　remained　secret　for　four　hundred　years。　No　doubt　the　Illuminati　trusted　the　secret　for　another　five　hours。　Besides；　the　Illuminati　don't　need　their　Path　of　Illumination　anymore。　Their　secret　lair　is　probably　long　gone　anyway。　They　live　in　the　modern　world。　They　meet　in　bank　boardrooms；　eating　clubs；　private　golf　courses。　Tonight　they　want　to　make　their　secrets　public。　This　is　their　moment。　Their　grand　unveiling。〃
　Langdon　feared　the　Illuminati　unveiling　would　have　a　special　symmetry　to　it　that　he　had　not　yet　mentioned。　The　four　brands。　The　killer　had　sworn　each　cardinal　would　be　branded　with　a　different　symbol。　Proof　the　ancient　legends　are　true；　the　killer　had　said。　The　legend　of　the　four　ambigrammatic　brands　was　as　old　as　the　Illuminati　itself：　earth；　air；　fire；　water…four　words　crafted　in　perfect　symmetry。　Just　like　the　word　Illuminati。　Each　cardinal　was　to　be　branded　with　one　of　the　ancient　elements　of　science。　The　rumor　that　the　four　brands　were　in　English　rather　than　Italian　remained　a　point　of　debate　among　historians。　English　seemed　a　random　deviation　from　their　natural　tongue　。　。　。　and　the　Illuminati　did　nothing　randomly。　
　Langdon　turned　up　the　brick　pathway　before　the　archive　building。　Ghastly　images　thrashed　in　his　mind。　The　overall　Illuminati　plot　was　starting　to　reveal　its　patient　grandeur。　The　brotherhood　had　vowed　to　stay　silent　as　long　as　it　took；　amassing　enough　influence　and　power　that　they　could　resurface　without　fear；　make　their　stand；　fight　their　cause　in　broad　daylight。　The　Illuminati　were　no　longer　about　hiding。　They　were　about　flaunting　their　power；　confirming　the　conspiratorial　myths　as　fact。　Tonight　was　a　global　publicity　stunt。
　Vittoria　said；　〃Here　es　our　escort。〃　Langdon　looked　up　to　see　a　Swiss　Guard　hurrying　across　an　adjacent　lawn　toward　the　front　door。
　When　the　guard　saw　them；　he　stopped　in　his　tracks。　He　stared　at　them；　as　though　he　thought　he　was　hallucinating。　Without　a　word　he　turned　away　and　pulled　out　his　walkie…talkie。　Apparently　incredulous　at　what　he　was　being　asked　to　do；　the　guard　spoke　urgently　to　the　person　on　the　other　end。　The　angry　bark　ing　back　was　indecipherable　to　Langdon；　but　its　message　was　clear。　The　guard　slumped；　put　away　the　walkie…talkie；　and　turned　to　them　with　a　look　of　discontent。
　Not　a　word　was　spoken　as　the　guard　guided　them　into　the　building。　They　passed　through　four　steel　doors；　two　passkey　entries；　down　a　long　stairwell；　and　into　a　foyer　with　two　bination　keypads。　Passing　through　a　high…tech　series　of　electronic　gates；　they　arrived　at　the　end　of　a　long　hallway　outside　a　set　of　wide　oak　double　doors。　The　guard　stopped；　looked　them　over　again　and；　mumbling　under　his　breath；　walked　to　a　metal　box　on　the　wall。　He　unlocked　it；　reached　inside；　and　pressed　a　code。　The　doors　before　them　buzzed；　and　the　deadbolt　fell　open。　
　The　guard　turned；　speaking　to　them　for　the　first　time。　〃The　archives　are　beyond　that　door。　I　have　been　instructed　to　escort　you　this　far　and　return　for　briefing　on　another　matter。〃
　〃You're　leaving？〃　Vittoria　demanded。　
　〃Swiss　Guards　are　not　cleared　for　access　to　the　Secret　Archives。　You　are　here　only　because　my　mander　received　a　direct　order　from　the　camerlegno。〃
　〃But　how　do　we　get　out？〃　
　〃Monodirectional　security。　You　will　have　no　difficulties。〃　That　being　the　entirety　of　the　conversation；　the　guard　spun　on　his　heel　and　marched　off　down　the　hall。
　Vittoria　made　some　ment；　but　Langdon　did　not　hear。　His　mind　was　fixed　on　the　double　doors　before　him；　wondering　what　mysteries　lay　beyond。
　
　47　

　Although　he　knew　time　was　short；　Camerlegno　Carlo　Ventresca　walked　slowly。　He　needed　the　time　alone　to　gather　his　thoughts　before　facing　opening　prayer。　So　much　was　happening。　As　he　moved　in　dim　solitude　down　the　Northern　Wing；　the　challenge　of　the　past　fifteen　days　weighed　heavy　in　his　bones。　
　He　had　followed　his　holy　duties　to　the　letter。
　As　was　Vatican　tradition；　following　the　Pope's　death　the　camerlegno　had　personally　confirmed　expiration　by　placing　his　fingers　on　the　Pope's　carotid　artery；　listening　for　breath；　and　then　calling　the　Pope's　name　three　times。　By　law　there　was　no　autopsy。　Then　he　had　sealed　the　Pope's　bedroom；　destroyed　the　papal　fisherman's　ring；　shattered　the　die　used　to　make　lead　seals；　and　arranged　for　the　funeral。　That　done；　he　began　preparations　for　the　conclave。　
　Conclave；　he　thought。　The　final　hurdle。　It　was　one　of　the　oldest　traditions　in　Christendom。　Nowadays；　because　the　oute　of　conclave　was　usually　known　before　it　began；　the　process　was　criticized　as　obsolete…more　of　a　burlesque　than　an　election。　The　camerlegno　knew；　however；　this　was　only　a　lack　of　understanding。　Conclave　was　not　an　election。　It　was　an　ancient；　mystic　transference　of　power。　The　tradition　was　timeless　。　。　。　the　secrecy；　the　folded　slips　of　paper；　the　burning　of　the　ballots；　the　mixing　of　ancient　chemicals；　the　smoke　signals。
　As　the　camerlegno　approached　through　the　Loggias　of　Gregory　XIII；　he　wondered　if　Cardinal　Mortati　was　in　a　panic　yet。　Certainly　Mortati　had　noticed　the　preferiti　were　missing。　Without　them；　the　voting　would　go　on　all　night。　Mortati's　appointment　as　the　Great　Elector；　the　camerlegno　assured　himself；　was　a　good　one。　The　man　was　a　freethink