danbrown.angels&demons-第70部分

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　Langdon　was　lost。　He　most　certainly　had　not。　There　were　five　Illuminati　brands。　He　backed　up；　searching　the　room　for　any　weapon　at　all。
　〃A　perfect　union　of　the　ancient　elements；〃　the　Hassassin　said。　〃The　final　brand　is　the　most　brilliant　of　all。　I'm　afraid　you　will　never　see　it；　though。〃
　Langdon　sensed　he　would　not　be　seeing　much　of　anything　in　a　moment。　He　kept　backing　up；　searching　the　room　for　an　option。　〃And　you've　seen　this　final　brand？〃　Langdon　demanded；　trying　to　buy　time。
　〃Someday　perhaps　they　will　honor　me。　As　I　prove　myself。〃　He　jabbed　at　Langdon；　as　if　enjoying　a　game。
　Langdon　slid　backward　again。　He　had　the　feeling　the　Hassassin　was　directing　him　around　the　wall　toward　some　unseen　destination。　Where？　Langdon　could　not　afford　to　look　behind　him。　〃The　brand？〃　he　demanded。　〃Where　is　it？〃　
　〃Not　here。　Janus　is　apparently　the　only　one　who　holds　it。〃
　〃Janus？〃　Langdon　did　not　recognize　the　name。
　〃The　Illuminati　leader。　He　is　arriving　shortly。〃
　〃The　Illuminati　leader　is　ing　here？〃　
　〃To　perform　the　final　branding。〃
　Langdon　shot　a　frightened　glance　to　Vittoria。　She　looked　strangely　calm；　her　eyes　closed　to　the　world　around　her；　her　lungs　pulling　slowly　。　。　。　deeply。　Was　she　the　final　victim？　Was　he？　
　〃Such　conceit；〃　the　Hassassin　sneered；　watching　Langdon's　eyes。　〃The　two　of　you　are　nothing。　You　will　die；　of　course；　that　is　for　certain。　But　the　final　victim　of　whom　I　speak　is　a　truly　dangerous　enemy。〃
　Langdon　tried　to　make　sense　of　the　Hassassin's　words。　A　dangerous　enemy？　The　top　cardinals　were　all　dead。　The　Pope　was　dead。　The　Illuminati　had　wiped　them　all　out。　Langdon　found　the　answer　in　the　vacuum　of　the　Hassassin's　eyes。　
　The　camerlegno。
　Camerlegno　Ventresca　was　the　one　man　who　had　been　a　beacon　of　hope　for　the　world　through　this　entire　tribulation。　The　camerlegno　had　done　more　to　condemn　the　Illuminati　tonight　than　decades　of　conspiracy　theorists。　Apparently　he　would　pay　the　price。　He　was　the　Illuminati's　final　target。
　〃You'll　never　get　to　him；〃　Langdon　challenged。
　〃Not　I；〃　the　Hassassin　replied；　forcing　Langdon　farther　back　around　the　wall。　〃That　honor　is　reserved　for　Janus　himself。〃
　〃The　Illuminati　leader　himself　intends　to　brand　the　camerlegno？〃
　〃Power　has　its　privileges。〃
　〃But　no　one　could　possibly　get　into　Vatican　City　right　now！〃
　The　Hassassin　looked　smug。　〃Not　unless　he　had　an　appointment。〃　
　Langdon　was　confused。　The　only　person　expected　at　the　Vatican　right　now　was　the　person　the　press　was　calling　the　11th　Hour　Samaritan…the　person　Rocher　said　had　information　that　could　save…
　Langdon　stopped　short。　Good　God！　
　The　Hassassin　smirked；　clearly　enjoying　Langdon's　sickening　cognition。　〃I　too　wondered　how　Janus　would　gain　entrance。　Then　in　the　van　I　heard　the　radio…a　report　about　an　11th　hour　Samaritan。〃　He　smiled。　〃The　Vatican　will　wele　Janus　with　open　arms。〃
　Langdon　almost　stumbled　backward。　Janus　is　the　Samaritan！　It　was　an　unthinkable　deception。　The　Illuminati　leader　would　get　a　royal　escort　directly　to　the　camerlegno's　chambers。　But　how　did　Janus　fool　Rocher？　Or　was　Rocher　somehow　involved？　Langdon　felt　a　chill。　Ever　since　he　had　almost　suffocated　in　the　secret　archives；　Langdon　had　not　entirely　trusted　Rocher。
　The　Hassassin　jabbed　suddenly；　nicking　Langdon　in　the　side。
　Langdon　jumped　back；　his　temper　flaring。　〃Janus　will　never　get　out　alive！〃
　The　Hassassin　shrugged。　〃Some　causes　are　worth　dying　for。〃
　Langdon　sensed　the　killer　was　serious。　Janus　ing　to　Vatican　City　on　a　suicide　mission？　A　question　of　honor？　For　an　instant；　Langdon's　mind　took　in　the　entire　terrifying　cycle。　The　Illuminati　plot　had　e　full　circle。　The　priest　whom　the　Illuminati　had　inadvertently　brought　to　power　by　killing　the　Pope　had　emerged　as　a　worthy　adversary。　In　a　final　act　of　defiance；　the　Illuminati　leader　would　destroy　him。　
　Suddenly；　Langdon　felt　the　wall　behind　him　disappear。　There　was　a　rush　of　cool　air；　and　he　staggered　backward　into　the　night。　The　balcony！　He　now　realized　what　the　Hassassin　had　in　mind。　
　Langdon　immediately　sensed　the　precipice　behind　him…a　hundred…foot　drop　to　the　courtyard　below。　He　had　seen　it　on　his　way　in。　The　Hassassin　wasted　no　time。　With　a　violent　surge；　he　lunged。　The　spear　sliced　toward　Langdon's　midsection。　Langdon　skidded　back；　and　the　point　came　up　short；　catching　only　his　shirt。　Again　the　point　came　at　him。　Langdon　slid　farther　back；　feeling　the　banister　right　behind　him。　Certain　the　next　jab　would　kill　him；　Langdon　attempted　the　absurd。　Spinning　to　one　side；　he　reached　out　and　grabbed　the　shaft；　sending　a　jolt　of　pain　through　his　palm。　Langdon　held　on。
　The　Hassassin　seemed　unfazed。　They　strained　for　a　moment　against　one　another；　face　to　face；　the　Hassassin's　breath　fetid　in　Langdon's　nostrils。　The　bar　began　to　slip。　The　Hassassin　was　too　strong。　In　a　final　act　of　desperation；　Langdon　stretched　out　his　leg；　dangerously　off　balance　as　he　tried　to　ram　his　foot　down　on　the　Hassassin's　injured　toe。　But　the　man　was　a　professional　and　adjusted　to　protect　his　weakness。　
　Langdon　had　just　played　his　final　card。　And　he　knew　he　had　lost　the　hand。
　The　Hassassin's　arms　exploded　upward；　driving　Langdon　back　against　the　railing。　Langdon　sensed　nothing　but　empty　space　behind　him　as　the　railing　hit　just　beneath　his　buttocks。　The　Hassassin　held　the　bar　crosswise　and　drove　it　into　Langdon's　chest。　Langdon's　back　arched　over　the　chasm。　
　〃Ma'assalamah；〃　the　Hassassin　sneered。　〃Good…bye。〃
　With　a　merciless　glare；　the　Hassassin　gave　a　final　shove。　Langdon's　center　of　gravity　shifted；　and　his　feet　swung　up　off　the　floor。　With　only　one　hope　of　survival；　Langdon　grabbed　on　to　the　railing　as　he　went　over。　His　left　hand　slipped；　but　his　right　hand　held　on。　He　ended　up　hanging　upside　down　by　his　legs　and　one　hand　。　。　。　straining　to　hold　on。
　Looming　over　him；　the　Hassassin　raised　the　bar　overhead；　preparing　to　bring　it　crashing　down。　As　the　bar　began　to　accelerate；　Langdon　saw　a　vision。　Perhaps　it　was　the　imminence　of　death　or　simply　blind　fear；　but　in　that　moment；　he　sensed　a　sudden　aura　surrounding　the　Hassassin。　A　glowing　effulgence　seemed　to　swell　out　of　nothing　behind　him　。　。　。　like　an　ining　fireball。
　Halfway　through　his　swing；　the　Hassassin　dropped　the　bar　and　screamed　in　agony。
　The　iron　bar　clattered　past　Langdon　out　into　the　night。　The　Hassassin　spun　away　from　him；　and　Langdon　saw　a　blistering　torch　burn　on　the　killer's　back。　Langdon　pulled　himself　up　to　see　Vittoria；　eyes　flaring；　now　facing　the　Hassassin。　
　Vittoria　waved　a　torch　in　front　of　her；　the　vengeance　in　her　face　resplendent　in　the　flames。　How　she　had　escaped；　Langdon　did　not　know　or　care。　He　began　scrambling　back　up　over　the　banister。
　The　battle　would　be　short。　The　Hassassin　was　a　deadly　match。　Screaming　with　rage；　the　killer　lunged　for　her。　She　tried　to　dodge；　but　the　man　was　on　her；　holding　the　torch　and　about　to　wrestle　it　away。　Langdon　did　not　wait。　Leaping　off　the　banister；　Langdon　jabbed　his　clenched　fist　into　the　blistered　burn　on　the　Hassassin's　back。　
　The　scream　seemed　to　echo　all　the　way　to　the　Vatican。　
　The　Hassassin　froze　a　moment；　his　back　arched　in　anguish。　He　let　go　of　the　torch；　and　Vittoria　thrust　it　hard　into　his　face。　There　was　a　hiss　of　flesh　as　his　left　eye　sizzled。　He　screamed　again；　raising　his　hands　to　his　face。
　〃Eye　for　an　eye；〃　Vittoria　hissed。　This　time　she　swung　the　torch　like　a　bat；　and　when　it　connected；　the　Hassassin　stumbled　back　against　the　railing。　Langdon　and　Vittoria　went　for　him　at　the　same　instant；　both　heaving　and　pushing。　The　Hassassin's　body　sailed　backward　over　the　banister　into　the　night。　There　was　no　scream。　The　only　sound　was　the　crack　of　his　spine　as　he　landed　spread…eagle　on　a　pile　of　cannonballs　far　below。
　Langdon　turned　and　stared　at　Vittoria　in　bewilderment。　Slackened　ropes　hung　off　her　midsection　and　shoulders。　Her　eyes　blazed　like　an　inferno。　
　〃Houdini　knew　yoga。〃
　
　109

　Meanwhile；　in　St。　Peter's　Square；　the　wall　of　Swiss　Guards　yelled　orders　and　fanned　outward；　trying　to　push　the　crowds　back　to　a　safer　distance。　It　was　no　use。　The　crowd　was　too　dense　and　seemed　far　more　interested　in　the　Vatican's　impending　doom　than　in　their　own　safety。　The　towering　media　screens　in　the　square　were　now　transmitting　a　live　countdown　of　the　antimatter　canister…a　direct　feed　from　the　Swiss　Guard　security　monitor…pliments　of　the　camerlegno。　Unfortunately；　the　image　of　the　canister　counting　down　was　doing　nothing　to　repel　the　crowds。　The　people　in　the　square　apparently　looked　at　the　tiny　droplet　of　liquid　suspended　in　the　canister　and　decided　it　was　not　as　menacing　as　they　had　thought。　They　could　also　see　the　countdown　clock　now…a　little　under　forty…five　minutes　until　detonation。　Plenty　of　time　to　stay　and　watch。
　Nonetheless；　the　Swiss　Guards　unanimously　agreed　that　the　camerlegno's　bold　decision　to　address　the　world　with　the　truth　and　then　provide　the　media　with　actual　visuals　of　Illuminati　treachery　had　been　a　savvy　maneuver。　The　Illuminati　had　no　doubt　expected　the　Vatican　to　be　their　usual　reticent　selves　in　the　face　of　adversity。　Not　tonight。　Camerlegno　Carlo　Ventresca　had　proven　himself　a　manding　foe。　
　
　Inside　the　Sistine　Chapel；　Cardinal　Mortati　was　getting　restless。　It　was　past　11：15　P。M。　Many　of　the　cardinals　were　continuing　to　pray；　but　others　had　clustered　around　the　exit；　clearly　unsettled　by　the　hour。　Some　of　the　cardinals　began　pounding　on　the　door　with　their　fists。
　Outside　the　door　Lieutenant　Chartrand　heard　the　pounding　and　didn't　know　what　to　do。　He　checked　his　watch。　It　was　time。　Captain　Rocher　had　given　strict　orders　that　the　cardinals　were　not　to　be　let　out　until　he　gave　the　word。　The　pounding　on　the　door　became　more　intense；　and　Chartrand　felt　uneasy。　He　wondered　if　the　captain　had　simply　forgotten。　The　captain　had　been　acting　very　erratic　since　his　mysterious　phone　call。　
　Chartrand　pulled　out　his　walkie…talkie。　〃Captain？　Chartrand　here。　It　is　past　time。　Should　I　open　the　Sistine？〃
　〃That　door　stays　shut。　I　believe　I　already　gave　you　that　order。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　I　just…〃
　〃Our　guest　is　arriving　shortly。　Take　a　few　men　upstairs；　and　guard　the　door　of　the　Pope's　office。　The　camerlegno　is　not　to　go　anywhere。〃　
　〃I'm　sorry；　sir？〃
　〃What　is　it　that　you　don't　understand；　L