danbrown.angels&demons-第81部分

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　Langdon　felt　hands　slowly　rolling　him　onto　his　back。　His　head　swam。　He　tried　to　sit　up；　but　the　hands　gently　forced　him　back　down。　His　body　submitted。　Then　Langdon　felt　someone　going　through　his　pockets；　removing　items。　
　Then　he　passed　out　cold。
　
　Dr。　Jacobus　was　not　a　religious　man；　the　science　of　medicine　had　bred　that　from　him　long　ago。　And　yet；　the　events　in　Vatican　City　tonight　had　put　his　systematic　logic　to　the　test。　Now　bodies　are　falling　from　the　sky？　
　Dr。　Jacobus　felt　the　pulse　of　the　bedraggled　man　they　had　just　pulled　from　the　Tiber　River。　The　doctor　decided　that　God　himself　had　hand…delivered　this　one　to　safety。　The　concussion　of　hitting　the　water　had　knocked　the　victim　unconscious；　and　if　it　had　not　been　for　Jacobus　and　his　crew　standing　out　on　the　shore　watching　the　spectacle　in　the　sky；　this　falling　soul　would　surely　have　gone　unnoticed　and　drowned。　
　〃Й　Americano；〃　a　nurse　said；　going　through　the　man's　wallet　after　they　pulled　him　to　dry　land。
　American？　Romans　often　joked　that　Americans　had　gotten　so　abundant　in　Rome　that　hamburgers　should　bee　the　official　Italian　food。　But　Americans　falling　from　the　sky？　Jacobus　flicked　a　penlight　in　the　man's　eyes；　testing　his　dilation。　〃Sir？　Can　you　hear　me？　Do　you　know　where　you　are？〃
　The　man　was　unconscious　again。　Jacobus　was　not　surprised。　The　man　had　vomited　a　lot　of　water　after　Jacobus　had　performed　CPR。
　〃Si　chiama　Robert　Langdon；〃　the　nurse　said；　reading　the　man's　driver's　license。　
　The　group　assembled　on　the　dock　all　stopped　short。　
　〃Impossibile！〃　Jacobus　declared。　Robert　Langdon　was　the　man　from　the　television…the　American　professor　who　had　been　helping　the　Vatican。　Jacobus　had　seen　Mr。　Langdon；　only　minutes　ago；　getting　into　a　helicopter　in　St。　Peter's　Square　and　flying　miles　up　into　the　air。　Jacobus　and　the　others　had　run　out　to　the　dock　to　witness　the　antimatter　explosion…a　tremendous　sphere　of　light　like　nothing　any　of　them　had　ever　seen。　How　could　this　be　the　same　man！　
　〃It's　him！〃　the　nurse　exclaimed；　brushing　his　soaked　hair　back。　〃And　I　recognize　his　tweed　coat！〃
　Suddenly　someone　was　yelling　from　the　hospital　entryway。　It　was　one　of　the　patients。　She　was　screaming；　going　mad；　holding　her　portable　radio　to　the　sky　and　praising　God。　Apparently　Camerlegno　Ventresca　had　just　miraculously　appeared　on　the　roof　of　the　Vatican。
　Dr。　Jacobus　decided；　when　his　shift　got　off　at　8　A。M。；　he　was　going　straight　to　church。
　
　The　lights　over　Langdon's　head　were　brighter　now；　sterile。　He　was　on　some　kind　of　examination　table。　He　smelled　astringents；　strange　chemicals。　Someone　had　just　given　him　an　injection；　and　they　had　removed　his　clothes。
　Definitely　not　gypsies；　he　decided　in　his　semiconscious　delirium。　Aliens；　perhaps？　Yes；　he　had　heard　about　things　like　this。　Fortunately　these　beings　would　not　harm　him。　All　they　wanted　were　his…
　〃Not　on　your　life！〃　Langdon　sat　bolt　upright；　eyes　flying　open。
　〃Attento！〃　one　of　the　creatures　yelled；　steadying　him。　His　badge　read　Dr。　Jacobus。　He　looked　remarkably　human。　
　Langdon　stammered；　〃I　。　。　。　thought　。　。　。〃
　〃Easy；　Mr。　Langdon。　You're　in　a　hospital。〃
　The　fog　began　to　lift。　Langdon　felt　a　wave　of　relief。　He　hated　hospitals；　but　they　certainly　beat　aliens　harvesting　his　testicles。
　〃My　name　is　Dr。　Jacobus；〃　the　man　said。　He　explained　what　had　just　happened。　〃You　are　very　lucky　to　be　alive。〃
　Langdon　did　not　feel　lucky。　He　could　barely　make　sense　of　his　own　memories　。　。　。　the　helicopter　。　。　。　the　camerlegno。　His　body　ached　everywhere。　They　gave　him　some　water；　and　he　rinsed　out　his　mouth。　They　placed　a　new　gauze　on　his　palm。　
　〃Where　are　my　clothes？〃　Langdon　asked。　He　was　wearing　a　paper　robe。
　One　of　the　nurses　motioned　to　a　dripping　wad　of　shredded　khaki　and　tweed　on　the　counter。　〃They　were　soaked。　We　had　to　cut　them　off　you。〃
　Langdon　looked　at　his　shredded　Harris　tweed　and　frowned。　
　〃You　had　some　Kleenex　in　your　pocket；〃　the　nurse　said。　
　It　was　then　that　Langdon　saw　the　ravaged　shreds　of　parchment　clinging　all　over　the　lining　of　his　jacket。　The　folio　from　Galileo's　Diagramma。　The　last　copy　on　earth　had　just　dissolved。　He　was　too　numb　to　know　how　to　react。　He　just　stared。
　〃We　saved　your　personal　items。〃　She　held　up　a　plastic　bin。　〃Wallet；　camcorder；　and　pen。　I　dried　the　camcorder　off　the　best　I　could。〃　
　〃I　don't　own　a　camcorder。〃
　The　nurse　frowned　and　held　out　the　bin。　Langdon　looked　at　the　contents。　Along　with　his　wallet　and　pen　was　a　tiny　Sony　RUVI　camcorder。　He　recalled　it　now。　Kohler　had　handed　it　to　him　and　asked　him　to　give　it　to　the　media。
　〃We　found　it　in　your　pocket。　I　think　you'll　need　a　new　one；　though。〃　The　nurse　flipped　open　the　two…inch　screen　on　the　back。　〃Your　viewer　is　cracked。〃　Then　she　brightened。　〃The　sound　still　works；　though。　Barely。〃　She　held　the　device　up　to　her　ear。　〃Keeps　playing　something　over　and　over。〃　She　listened　a　moment　and　then　scowled；　handing　it　to　Langdon。　〃Two　guys　arguing；　I　think。〃
　Puzzled；　Langdon　took　the　camcorder　and　held　it　to　his　ear。　The　voices　were　pinched　and　metallic；　but　they　were　discernible。　One　close。　One　far　away。　Langdon　recognized　them　both。　
　Sitting　there　in　his　paper　gown；　Langdon　listened　in　amazement　to　the　conversation。　Although　he　couldn't　see　what　was　happening；　when　he　heard　the　shocking　finale；　he　was　thankful　he　had　been　spared　the　visual。
　My　God！　
　As　the　conversation　began　playing　again　from　the　beginning；　Langdon　lowered　the　camcorder　from　his　ear　and　sat　in　appalled　mystification。　The　antimatter　。　。　。　the　helicopter　。　。　。　Langdon's　mind　now　kicked　into　gear。
　But　that　means　。　。　。　
　He　wanted　to　vomit　again。　With　a　rising　fury　of　disorientation　and　rage；　Langdon　got　off　the　table　and　stood　on　shaky　legs。
　〃Mr。　Langdon！〃　the　doctor　said；　trying　to　stop　him。
　〃I　need　some　clothes；〃　Langdon　demanded；　feeling　the　draft　on　his　rear　from　the　backless　gown。
　〃But；　you　need　to　rest。〃
　〃I'm　checking　out。　Now。　I　need　some　clothes。〃
　〃But；　sir；　you…〃
　〃Now！〃
　Everyone　exchanged　bewildered　looks。　〃We　have　no　clothes；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃Perhaps　tomorrow　a　friend　could　bring　you　some。〃
　Langdon　drew　a　slow　patient　breath　and　locked　eyes　with　the　doctor。　〃Dr。　Jacobus；　I　am　walking　out　your　door　right　now。　I　need　clothes。　I　am　going　to　Vatican　City。　One　does　not　go　to　Vatican　City　with　one's　ass　hanging　out。　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
　Dr。　Jacobus　swallowed　hard。　〃Get　this　man　something　to　wear。〃
　
　When　Langdon　limped　out　of　Hospital　Tiberina；　he　felt　like　an　overgrown　Cub　Scout。　He　was　wearing　a　blue　paramedic's　jumpsuit　that　zipped　up　the　front　and　was　adorned　with　cloth　badges　that　apparently　depicted　his　numerous　qualifications。　
　The　woman　acpanying　him　was　heavyset　and　wore　a　similar　suit。　The　doctor　had　assured　Langdon　she　would　get　him　to　the　Vatican　in　record　time。　
　〃Molto　traffico；〃　Langdon　said；　reminding　her　that　the　area　around　the　Vatican　was　packed　with　cars　and　people。
　The　woman　looked　unconcerned。　She　pointed　proudly　to　one　of　her　patches。　〃Sono　conducente　di　ambulanza。〃　
　〃Ambulanza？〃　That　explained　it。　Langdon　felt　like　he　could　use　an　ambulance　ride。
　The　woman　led　him　around　the　side　of　the　building。　On　an　outcropping　over　the　water　was　a　cement　deck　where　her　vehicle　sat　waiting。　When　Langdon　saw　the　vehicle　he　stopped　in　his　tracks。　It　was　an　aging　medevac　chopper。　The　hull　read　Aero…Ambulanza。　
　He　hung　his　head。
　The　woman　smiled。　〃Fly　Vatican　City。　Very　fast。〃
　
　128

　The　College　of　Cardinals　bristled　with　ebullience　and　electricity　as　they　streamed　back　into　the　Sistine　Chapel。　In　contrast；　Mortati　felt　in　himself　a　rising　confusion　he　thought　might　lift　him　off　the　floor　and　carry　him　away。　He　believed　in　the　ancient　miracles　of　the　Scriptures；　and　yet　what　he　had　just　witnessed　in　person　was　something　he　could　not　possibly　prehend。　After　a　lifetime　of　devotion；　seventy…nine　years；　Mortati　knew　these　events　should　ignite　in　him　a　pious　exuberance　。　。　。　a　fervent　and　living　faith。　And　yet　all　he　felt　was　a　growing　spectral　unease。　Something　did　not　feel　right。
　〃Signore　Mortati！〃　a　Swiss　Guard　yelled；　running　down　the　hall。　〃We　have　gone　to　the　roof　as　you　asked。　The　camerlegno　is　。　。　。　flesh！　He　is　a　true　man！　He　is　not　a　spirit！　He　is　exactly　as　we　knew　him！〃
　〃Did　he　speak　to　you？〃
　〃He　kneels　in　silent　prayer！　We　are　afraid　to　touch　him！〃
　Mortati　was　at　a　loss。　〃Tell　him　。　。　。　his　cardinals　await。〃　
　〃Signore；　because　he　is　a　man　。　。　。〃　the　guard　hesitated。
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃His　chest　。　。　。　he　is　burned。　Should　we　bind　his　wounds？　He　must　be　in　pain。〃
　Mortati　considered　it。　Nothing　in　his　lifetime　of　service　to　the　church　had　prepared　him　for　this　situation。　〃He　is　a　man；　so　serve　him　as　a　man。　Bathe　him。　Bind　his　wounds。　Dress　him　in　fresh　robes。　We　await　his　arrival　in　the　Sistine　Chapel。〃
　The　guard　ran　off。
　Mortati　headed　for　the　chapel。　The　rest　of　the　cardinals　were　inside　now。　As　he　walked　down　the　hall；　he　saw　Vittoria　Vetra　slumped　alone　on　a　bench　at　the　foot　of　the　Royal　Staircase。　He　could　see　the　pain　and　loneliness　of　her　loss　and　wanted　to　go　to　her；　but　he　knew　it　would　have　to　wait。　He　had　work　to　do　。　。　。　although　he　had　no　idea　what　that　work　could　possibly　be。
　Mortati　entered　the　chapel。　There　was　a　riotous　excitement。　He　closed　the　door。　God　help　me。　
　
　Hospital　Tiberina's　twin…rotor　Aero…Ambulanza　circled　in　behind　Vatican　City；　and　Langdon　clenched　his　teeth；　swearing　to　God　this　was　the　very　last　helicopter　ride　of　his　life。
　After　convincing　the　pilot　that　the　rules　governing　Vatican　airspace　were　the　least　of　the　Vatican's　concerns　right　now；　he　guided　her　in；　unseen；　over　the　rear　wall；　and　landed　them　on　the　Vatican's　helipad。　
　〃Grazie；〃　he　said；　lowering　himself　painfully　onto　the　ground。　She　blew　him　a　kiss　and　quickly　took　off；　disappearing　back　over　the　wall　and　into　the　night。
　Langdon　exhaled；　trying　to　clear　his　head；　hoping　to　make　sense　of　what　he　was　about　to　do。　With　the　camcorder　in　hand；　he　boarded　the　same　golf　cart　he　had　ridden　earlier　that　day。　It　had　not　been　charged；　and　the　battery…meter　registered　close　to　empty。　Langdon　drove　without　headlights　to　conserve　power。　
　He　also　preferred　no　one　see　him　ing。
　
　At　the　back　of　the　Sistin