danbrown.angels&demons-第41部分

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　Glick　read。　〃。　。　。　concern　that　secret　factions　within　the　Masons　exerted　considerable　control　over　political　and　financial　systems。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Caused　quite　a　bustle。　The　Masons　in　parliament　were　furious。　Had　a　right　to　be。　The　vast　majority　turned　out　to　be　innocent　men　who　joined　the　Masons　for　networking　and　charity　work。　They　had　no　clue　about　the　brotherhood's　past　affiliations。〃
　〃Alleged　affiliations。〃
　〃Whatever。〃　Glick　scanned　the　articles。　〃Look　at　this　stuff。　Accounts　tracing　the　Illuminati　back　to　Galileo；　the　Guerenets　of　France；　the　Alumbrados　of　Spain。　Even　Karl　Marx　and　the　Russian　Revolution。〃
　〃History　has　a　way　of　rewriting　itself。〃
　〃Fine；　you　want　something　current？　Have　a　look　at　this。　Here's　an　Illuminati　reference　from　a　recent　Wall　Street　Journal。〃　
　This　caught　Macri's　ear。　〃The　Journal？〃　
　〃Guess　what　the　most　popular　Internet　puter　game　in　America　is　right　now？〃
　〃Pin　the　tail　on　Pamela　Anderson。〃
　〃Close。　It's　called；　Illuminati：　New　World　Order。〃　
　Macri　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　the　blurb。　〃Steve　Jackson　Games　has　a　runaway　hit　。　。　。　a　quasi…historical　adventure　in　which　an　ancient　satanic　brotherhood　from　Bavaria　sets　out　to　take　over　the　world。　You　can　find　them　on…line　at　。　。　。〃　Macri　looked　up；　feeling　ill。　〃What　do　these　Illuminati　guys　have　against　Christianity？〃
　〃Not　just　Christianity；〃　Glick　said。　〃Religion　in　general。〃　Glick　cocked　his　head　and　grinned。　〃Although　from　the　phone　call　we　just　got；　it　appears　they　do　have　a　special　spot　in　their　hearts　for　the　Vatican。〃
　〃Oh；　e　on。　You　don't　really　think　that　guy　who　called　is　who　he　claims　to　be；　do　you？〃
　〃A　messenger　of　the　Illuminati？　Preparing　to　kill　four　cardinals？〃　Glick　smiled。　〃I　sure　hope　so。〃
　
　64

　Langdon　and　Vittoria's　taxi　pleted　the　one…mile　sprint　up　the　wide　Via　della　Scrofa　in　just　over　a　minute。　They　skidded　to　a　stop　on　the　south　side　of　the　Piazza　del　Popolo　just　before　eight。　Not　having　any　lire；　Langdon　overpaid　the　driver　in　U。S。　dollars。　He　and　Vittoria　jumped　out。　The　piazza　was　quiet　except　for　the　laughter　of　a　handful　of　locals　seated　outside　the　popular　Rosati　Cafй…a　hot　spot　of　the　Italian　literati。　The　breeze　smelled　of　espresso　and　pastry。
　Langdon　was　still　in　shock　over　his　mistake　at　the　Pantheon。　With　a　cursory　glance　at　this　square；　however；　his　sixth　sense　was　already　tingling。　The　piazza　seemed　subtly　filled　with　Illuminati　significance。　Not　only　was　it　laid　out　in　a　perfectly　elliptical　shape；　but　dead　center　stood　a　towering　Egyptian　obelisk…a　square　pillar　of　stone　with　a　distinctively　pyramidal　tip。　Spoils　of　Rome's　imperial　plundering；　obelisks　were　scattered　across　Rome　and　referred　to　by　symbologists　as　〃Lofty　Pyramids〃…skyward　extensions　of　the　sacred　pyramidal　form。　
　As　Langdon's　eyes　moved　up　the　monolith；　though；　his　sight　was　suddenly　drawn　to　something　else　in　the　background。　Something　even　more　remarkable。
　〃We're　in　the　right　place；〃　he　said　quietly；　feeling　a　sudden　exposed　wariness。　〃Have　a　look　at　that。〃　Langdon　pointed　to　the　imposing　Porta　del　Popolo…the　high　stone　archway　at　the　far　end　of　the　piazza。　The　vaulted　structure　had　been　overlooking　the　piazza　for　centuries。　Dead　center　of　the　archway's　highest　point　was　a　symbolic　engraving。　〃Look　familiar？〃　
　Vittoria　looked　up　at　the　huge　carving。　〃A　shining　star　over　a　triangular　pile　of　stones？〃　
　Langdon　shook　his　head。　〃A　source　of　Illumination　over　a　pyramid。〃
　Vittoria　turned；　her　eyes　suddenly　wide。　〃Like　。　。　。　the　Great　Seal　of　the　United　States？〃
　〃Exactly。　The　Masonic　symbol　on　the　one…dollar　bill。〃
　Vittoria　took　a　deep　breath　and　scanned　the　piazza。　〃So　where's　this　damn　church？〃
　
　The　Church　of　Santa　Maria　del　Popolo　stood　out　like　a　misplaced　battleship；　askew　at　the　base　of　a　hill　on　the　southeast　corner　of　the　piazza。　The　eleventh…century　stone　aerie　was　made　even　more　clumsy　by　the　tower　of　scaffolding　covering　the　faзade。
　Langdon's　thoughts　were　a　blur　as　they　raced　toward　the　edifice。　He　stared　up　at　the　church　in　wonder。　Could　a　murder　really　be　about　to　take　place　inside？　He　wished　Olivetti　would　hurry。　The　gun　felt　awkward　in　his　pocket。
　The　church's　front　stairs　were　ventaglio…a　weling；　curved　fan…ironic　in　this　case　because　they　were　blocked　with　scaffolding；　construction　equipment；　and　a　sign　warning：　CONSTRUZZIONE。　NON　ENTRARE。
　Langdon　realized　that　a　church　closed　for　renovation　meant　total　privacy　for　a　killer。　Not　like　the　Pantheon。　No　fancy　tricks　needed　here。　Only　to　find　a　way　in。　
　Vittoria　slipped　without　hesitation　between　the　sawhorses　and　headed　up　the　staircase。　
　〃Vittoria；〃　Langdon　cautioned。　〃If　he's　still　in　there　。　。　。〃　
　Vittoria　did　not　seem　to　hear。　She　ascended　the　main　portico　to　the　church's　sole　wooden　door。　Langdon　hurried　up　the　stairs　behind　her。　Before　he　could　say　a　word　she　had　grasped　the　handle　and　pulled。　Langdon　held　his　breath。　The　door　did　not　budge。　
　〃There　must　be　another　entrance；〃　Vittoria　said。
　〃Probably；〃　Langdon　said；　exhaling；　〃but　Olivetti　will　be　here　in　a　minute。　It's　too　dangerous　to　go　in。　We　should　cover　the　church　from　out　here　until…〃
　Vittoria　turned；　her　eyes　blazing。　〃If　there's　another　way　in；　there's　another　way　out。　If　this　guy　disappears；　we're　fungito。〃　
　Langdon　knew　enough　Italian　to　know　she　was　right。　
　The　alley　on　the　right　side　of　the　church　was　pinched　and　dark；　with　high　walls　on　both　sides。　It　smelled　of　urine…a　mon　aroma　in　a　city　where　bars　outnumbered　public　rest　rooms　twenty　to　one。　
　Langdon　and　Vittoria　hurried　into　the　fetid　dimness。　They　had　gone　about　fifteen　yards　down　when　Vittoria　tugged　Langdon's　arm　and　pointed。
　Langdon　saw　it　too。　Up　ahead　was　an　unassuming　wooden　door　with　heavy　hinges。　Langdon　recognized　it　as　the　standard　porta　sacra…a　private　entrance　for　clergy。　Most　of　these　entrances　had　gone　out　of　use　years　ago　as　encroaching　buildings　and　limited　real　estate　relegated　side　entrances　to　inconvenient　alleyways。
　Vittoria　hurried　to　the　door。　She　arrived　and　stared　down　at　the　doorknob；　apparently　perplexed。　Langdon　arrived　behind　her　and　eyed　the　peculiar　donut…shaped　hoop　hanging　where　the　doorknob　should　have　been。
　〃An　annulus；〃　he　whispered。　Langdon　reached　out　and　quietly　lifted　the　ring　in　his　hand。　He　pulled　the　ring　toward　him。　The　fixture　clicked。　Vittoria　shifted；　looking　suddenly　uneasy。　Quietly；　Langdon　twisted　the　ring　clockwise。　It　spun　loosely　360　degrees；　not　engaging。　Langdon　frowned　and　tried　the　other　direction　with　the　same　result。　
　Vittoria　looked　down　the　remainder　of　the　alley。　〃You　think　there's　another　entrance？〃
　Langdon　doubted　it。　Most　Renaissance　cathedrals　were　designed　as　makeshift　fortresses　in　the　event　a　city　was　stormed。　They　had　as　few　entrances　as　possible。　〃If　there　is　another　way　in；〃　he　said；　〃it's　probably　recessed　in　the　rear　bastion…more　of　an　escape　route　than　an　entrance。〃
　Vittoria　was　already　on　the　move。
　Langdon　followed　deeper　into　the　alley。　The　walls　shot　skyward　on　both　sides　of　him。　Somewhere　a　bell　began　ringing　eight　o'clock　。　。　。　
　
　Robert　Langdon　did　not　hear　Vittoria　the　first　time　she　called　to　him。　He　had　slowed　at　a　stained…glass　window　covered　with　bars　and　was　trying　to　peer　inside　the　church。　
　〃Robert！〃　Her　voice　was　a　loud　whisper。
　Langdon　looked　up。　Vittoria　was　at　the　end　of　the　alley。　She　was　pointing　around　the　back　of　the　church　and　waving　to　him。　Langdon　jogged　reluctantly　toward　her。　At　the　base　of　the　rear　wall；　a　stone　bulwark　jutted　out　concealing　a　narrow　grotto…a　kind　of　pressed　passageway　cutting　directly　into　the　foundation　of　the　church。
　〃An　entrance？〃　Vittoria　asked。
　Langdon　nodded。　Actually　an　exit；　but　we　won't　get　technical。　
　Vittoria　knelt　and　peered　into　the　tunnel。　〃Let's　check　the　door。　See　if　it's　open。〃
　Langdon　opened　his　mouth　to　object；　but　Vittoria　took　his　hand　and　pulled　him　into　the　opening。
　〃Wait；〃　Langdon　said。
　She　turned　impatiently　toward　him。
　Langdon　sighed。　〃I'll　go　first。〃
　Vittoria　looked　surprised。　〃More　chivalry？〃
　〃Age　before　beauty。〃
　〃Was　that　a　pliment？〃
　Langdon　smiled　and　moved　past　her　into　the　dark。　〃Careful　on　the　stairs。〃
　He　inched　slowly　into　the　darkness；　keeping　one　hand　on　the　wall。　The　stone　felt　sharp　on　his　fingertips。　For　an　instant　Langdon　recalled　the　ancient　myth　of　Daedelus；　how　the　boy　kept　one　hand　on　the　wall　as　he　moved　through　the　Minotaur's　labyrinth；　knowing　he　was　guaranteed　to　find　the　end　if　he　never　broke　contact　with　the　wall。　Langdon　moved　forward；　not　entirely　certain　he　wanted　to　find　the　end。　
　The　tunnel　narrowed　slightly；　and　Langdon　slowed　his　pace。　He　sensed　Vittoria　close　behind　him。　As　the　wall　curved　left；　the　tunnel　opened　into　a　semicircular　alcove。　Oddly；　there　was　faint　light　here。　In　the　dimness　Langdon　saw　the　outline　of　a　heavy　wooden　door。
　〃Uh　oh；〃　he　said。
　〃Locked？〃
　〃It　was。〃　
　〃Was？〃　Vittoria　arrived　at　his　side。
　Langdon　pointed。　Lit　by　a　shaft　of　light　ing　from　within；　the　door　hung　ajar　。　。　。　its　hinges　splintered　by　a　wrecking　bar　still　lodged　in　the　wood。
　They　stood　a　moment　in　silence。　Then；　in　the　dark；　Langdon　felt　Vittoria's　hands　on　his　chest；　groping；　sliding　beneath　his　jacket。　
　〃Relax；　professor；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　just　getting　the　gun。〃
　
　At　that　moment；　inside　the　Vatican　Museums；　a　task　force　of　Swiss　Guards　spread　out　in　all　directions。　The　museum　was　dark；　and　the　guards　wore　U。S。　Marine　issue　infrared　goggles。　The　goggles　made　everything　appear　an　eerie　shade　of　green。　Every　guard　wore　headphones　connected　to　an　antennalike　detector　that　he　waved　rhythmically　in　front　of　him…the　same　devices　they　used　twice　a　week　to　sweep　for　electronic　bugs　inside　the　Vatican。　They　moved　methodically；　checking　behind　statues；　inside　niches；　closets；　under　furniture。　The　antennae　would　sound　if　they　detected　even　the　tiniest　magnetic　field。　
　Tonight；　however；　they　were　getting　no　readings　at　all。
　
　65

　The　interior　of　Santa　Maria　del　Popolo　was　a　murky　cave　in　the　dimming　light。　It　looked　more　like　a　half…finished　subway　station　than　a　cathedral。　The　main　sanctuary　was　an　obstacle　course　of　torn…up　flooring；　brick　pallets；　mounds　of　dirt；　wheelbarrows；　and　even　a　rusty　backh