danbrown.angels&demons-第62部分

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e　raised　his　eyes　to　the　dome　of　St。　Peter's；　three　quarters　of　a　mile　away；　naked　under　the　glare　of　hundreds　of　press　lights。　
　〃Your　final　hour；〃　he　said　aloud；　picturing　the　thousands　of　Muslims　slaughtered　during　the　Crusades。　〃At　midnight　you　will　meet　your　God。〃
　Behind　him；　the　woman　stirred。　The　Hassassin　turned。　He　considered　letting　her　wake　up。　Seeing　terror　in　a　woman's　eyes　was　his　ultimate　aphrodisiac。　
　He　opted　for　prudence。　It　would　be　better　if　she　remained　unconscious　while　he　was　gone。　Although　she　was　tied　and　would　never　escape；　the　Hassassin　did　not　want　to　return　and　find　her　exhausted　from　struggling。　I　want　your　strength　preserved　。　。　。　for　me。　
　Lifting　her　head　slightly；　he　placed　his　palm　beneath　her　neck　and　found　the　hollow　directly　beneath　her　skull。　The　crown/meridian　pressure　point　was　one　he　had　used　countless　times。　With　crushing　force；　he　drove　his　thumb　into　the　soft　cartilage　and　felt　it　depress。　The　woman　slumped　instantly。Twenty　minutes；　he　thought。　She　would　be　a　tantalizing　end　to　a　perfect　day。　After　she　had　served　him　and　died　doing　it；　he　would　stand　on　the　balcony　and　watch　the　midnight　Vatican　fireworks。　
　Leaving　his　prize　unconscious　on　the　couch；　the　Hassassin　went　downstairs　into　a　torchlit　dungeon。　The　final　task。　He　walked　to　the　table　and　revered　the　sacred；　metal　forms　that　had　been　left　there　for　him。　
　Water。　It　was　his　last。　
　Removing　a　torch　from　the　wall　as　he　had　done　three　times　already；　he　began　heating　the　end。　When　the　end　of　the　object　was　white　hot；　he　carried　it　to　the　cell。　
　Inside；　a　single　man　stood　in　silence。　Old　and　alone。　
　〃Cardinal　Baggia；〃　the　killer　hissed。　〃Have　you　prayed　yet？〃
　The　Italian's　eyes　were　fearless。　〃Only　for　your　soul。〃
　
　98

　The　six　pompieri　firemen　who　responded　to　the　fire　at　the　Church　of　Santa　Maria　Della　Vittoria　extinguished　the　bonfire　with　blasts　of　Halon　gas。　Water　was　cheaper；　but　the　steam　it　created　would　have　ruined　the　frescoes　in　the　chapel；　and　the　Vatican　paid　Roman　pompieri　a　healthy　stipend　for　swift　and　prudent　service　in　all　Vatican…owned　buildings。
　Pompieri；　by　the　nature　of　their　work；　witnessed　tragedy　almost　daily；　but　the　execution　in　this　church　was　something　none　of　them　would　ever　forget。　Part　crucifixion；　part　hanging；　part　burning　at　the　stake；　the　scene　was　something　dredged　from　a　Gothic　nightmare。　
　Unfortunately；　the　press；　as　usual；　had　arrived　before　the　fire　department。　They'd　shot　plenty　of　video　before　the　pompieri　cleared　the　church。　When　the　firemen　finally　cut　the　victim　down　and　lay　him　on　the　floor；　there　was　no　doubt　who　the　man　was。
　〃Cardinale　Guidera；〃　one　whispered。　〃Di　Barcellona。〃　
　The　victim　was　nude。　The　lower　half　of　his　body　was　crimson…black；　blood　oozing　through　gaping　cracks　in　his　thighs。　His　shinbones　were　exposed。　One　fireman　vomited。　Another　went　outside　to　breathe。
　The　true　horror；　though；　was　the　symbol　seared　on　the　cardinal's　chest。　The　squad　chief　circled　the　corpse　in　awestruck　dread。　Lavoro　del　diavolo；　he　said　to　himself。　Satan　himself　did　this。　He　crossed　himself　for　the　first　time　since　childhood。
　〃Un'　altro　corpo！〃　someone　yelled。　One　of　the　firemen　had　found　another　body。　
　The　second　victim　was　a　man　the　chief　recognized　immediately。　The　austere　mander　of　the　Swiss　Guard　was　a　man　for　whom　few　public　law　enforcement　officials　had　any　affection。　The　chief　called　the　Vatican；　but　all　the　circuits　were　busy。　He　knew　it　didn't　matter。　The　Swiss　Guard　would　hear　about　this　on　television　in　a　matter　of　minutes。
　As　the　chief　surveyed　the　damage；　trying　to　recreate　what　possibly　could　have　gone　on　here；　he　saw　a　niche　riddled　with　bullet　holes。　A　coffin　had　been　rolled　off　its　supports　and　fallen　upside　down　in　an　apparent　struggle。　It　was　a　mess。　That's　for　the　police　and　Holy　See　to　deal　with；　the　chief　thought；　turning　away。
　As　he　turned；　though；　he　stopped。　ing　from　the　coffin　he　heard　a　sound。　It　was　not　a　sound　any　fireman　ever　liked　to　hear。
　〃Bomba！〃　he　cried　out。　〃Tutti　fuori！〃　
　When　the　bomb　squad　rolled　the　coffin　over；　they　discovered　the　source　of　the　electronic　beeping。　They　stared；　confused。
　〃Mиdico！〃　one　finally　screamed。　〃Mиdico！〃　
　
　99　

　Any　word　from　Olivetti？〃　the　camerlegno　asked；　looking　drained　as　Rocher　escorted　him　back　from　the　Sistine　Chapel　to　the　Pope's　office。
　〃No；　signore。　I　am　fearing　the　worst。〃
　When　they　reached　the　Pope's　office；　the　camerlegno's　voice　was　heavy。　〃Captain；　there　is　nothing　more　I　can　do　here　tonight。　I　fear　I　have　done　too　much　already。　I　am　going　into　this　office　to　pray。　I　do　not　wish　to　be　disturbed。　The　rest　is　in　God's　hands。〃
　〃Yes；　signore。〃
　〃The　hour　is　late；　Captain。　Find　that　canister。〃
　〃Our　search　continues。〃　Rocher　hesitated。　〃The　weapon　proves　to　be　too　well　hidden。〃
　The　camerlegno　winced；　as　if　he　could　not　think　of　it。　〃Yes。　At　exactly　11：15　P。M。；　if　the　church　is　still　in　peril；　I　want　you　to　evacuate　the　cardinals。　I　am　putting　their　safety　in　your　hands。　I　ask　only　one　thing。　Let　these　men　proceed　from　this　place　with　dignity。　Let　them　exit　into　St。　Peter's　Square　and　stand　side　by　side　with　the　rest　of　the　world。　I　do　not　want　the　last　image　of　this　church　to　be　frightened　old　men　sneaking　out　a　back　door。〃
　〃Very　good；　signore。　And　you？　Shall　I　e　for　you　at　11：15　as　well？〃
　〃There　will　be　no　need。〃
　〃Signore？〃
　〃I　will　leave　when　the　spirit　moves　me。〃　
　Rocher　wondered　if　the　camerlegno　intended　to　go　down　with　the　ship。　
　The　camerlegno　opened　the　door　to　the　Pope's　office　and　entered。　〃Actually　。　。　。〃　he　said；　turning。　〃There　is　one　thing。〃
　〃Signore？〃
　〃There　seems　to　be　a　chill　in　this　office　tonight。　I　am　trembling。〃
　〃The　electric　heat　is　out。　Let　me　lay　you　a　fire。〃
　The　camerlegno　smiled　tiredly。　〃Thank　you。　Thank　you；　very　much。〃
　
　Rocher　exited　the　Pope's　office　where　he　had　left　the　camerlegno　praying　by　firelight　in　front　of　a　small　statue　of　the　Blessed　Mother　Mary。　It　was　an　eerie　sight。　A　black　shadow　kneeling　in　the　flickering　glow。　As　Rocher　headed　down　the　hall；　a　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。　Loneline