danbrown.angels&demons-第24节

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y　have　been　dead　for　decades。〃
　Langdon　reached　in　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　the　fax　image　of　Leonardo　Vetra's　branded　body。　He　handed　it　to　Olivetti。　
　〃I　am　an　Illuminati　scholar；〃　Langdon　said　as　Olivetti　studied　the　picture。　〃I　am　having　a　difficult　time　accepting　that　the　Illuminati　are　still　active；　and　yet　the　appearance　of　this　brand　bined　with　the　fact　that　the　Illuminati　have　a　well…known　covenant　against　Vatican　City　has　changed　my　mind。〃
　〃A　puter…generated　hoax。〃　Olivetti　handed　the　fax　back　to　Langdon。　
　Langdon　stared；　incredulous。　〃Hoax？　Look　at　the　symmetry！　You　of　all　people　should　realize　the　authenticity　of…〃
　〃Authenticity　is　precisely　what　you　lack。　Perhaps　Ms。　Vetra　has　not　informed　you；　but　CERN　scientists　have　been　criticizing　Vatican　policies　for　decades。　They　regularly　petition　us　for　retraction　of　Creationist　theory；　formal　apologies　for　Galileo　and　Copernicus；　repeal　of　our　criticism　against　dangerous　or　immoral　research。　What　scenario　seems　more　likely　to　you…that　a　four…hundred…year…old　satanic　cult　has　resurfaced　with　an　advanced　weapon　of　mass　destruction；　or　that　some　prankster　at　CERN　is　trying　to　disrupt　a　sacred　Vatican　event　with　a　well…executed　fraud？〃
　〃That　photo；〃　Vittoria　said；　her　voice　like　boiling　lava；　〃is　of　my　father。　Murdered。　You　think　this　is　my　idea　of　a　joke？〃　
　〃I　don't　know；　Ms。　Vetra。　But　I　do　know　until　I　get　some　answers　that　make　sense；　there　is　no　way　I　will　raise　any　sort　of　alarm。　Vigilance　and　discretion　are　my　duty　。　。　。　such　that　spiritual　matters　can　take　place　here　with　clarity　of　mind。　Today　of　all　days。〃
　Langdon　said；　〃At　least　postpone　the　event。〃
　〃Postpone？〃　Olivetti's　jaw　dropped。　〃Such　arrogance！　A　conclave　is　not　some　American　baseball　game　you　call　on　account　of　rain。　This　is　a　sacred　event　with　a　strict　code　and　process。　Never　mind　that　one　billion　Catholics　in　the　world　are　waiting　for　a　leader。　Never　mind　that　the　world　media　is　outside。　The　protocols　for　this　event　are　holy…not　subject　to　modification。　Since　1179；　conclaves　have　survived　earthquakes；　famines；　and　even　the　plague。　Believe　me；　it　is　not　about　to　be　canceled　on　account　of　a　murdered　scientist　and　a　droplet　of　God　knows　what。〃
　〃Take　me　to　the　person　in　charge；〃　Vittoria　demanded。
　Olivetti　glared。　〃You've　got　him。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃Someone　in　the　clergy。〃　
　The　veins　on　Olivetti's　brow　began　to　show。　〃The　clergy　has　gone。　With　the　exception　of　the　Swiss　Guard；　the　only　ones　present　in　Vatican　City　at　this　time　are　the　College　of　Cardinals。　And　they　are　inside　the　Sistine　Chapel。〃
　〃How　about　the　chamberlain？〃　Langdon　stated　flatly。
　〃Who？〃
　〃The　late　Pope's　chamberlain。〃　Langdon　repeated　the　word　self…assuredly；　praying　his　memory　served　him。　He　recalled　reading　once　about　the　curious　arrangement　of　Vatican　authority　following　the　death　of　a　Pope。　If　Langdon　was　correct；　during　the　interim　between　Popes；　plete　autonomous　power　shifted　temporarily　to　the　late　Pope's　personal　assistant…his　chamberlain…a　secretarial　underling　who　oversaw　conclave　until　the　cardinals　chose　the　new　Holy　Father。　〃I　believe　the　chamberlain　is　the　man　in　charge　at　the　moment。〃
　〃Il　camerlegno？〃　Olivetti　scowled。　〃The　camerlegno　is　only　a　priest　here。　He　is　not　even　canonized。　He　is　the　late　Pope's　hand　servant。〃
　〃But　he　is　here。　And　you　answer　to　him。〃
　Olivetti　crossed　his　arms。　〃Mr。　Langdon；　it　is　true　that　Vatican　rule　dictates　the　camerlegno　assume　chief　executive　office　during　conclave；　but　it　is　only　because　his　lack　of　eligibility　for　the　papacy　ensures　an　unbiased　election。　It　is　as　if　your　president　died；　and　one　of　his　aides　temporarily　sat　in　the　oval　office。　The　camerlegno　is　young；　and　his　understanding　of　security；　or　anything　else　for　that　matter；　is　extremely　limited。　For　all　intents　and　purposes；　I　am　in　charge　here。〃
　〃Take　us　to　him；〃　Vittoria　said。
　〃Impossible。　Conclave　begins　in　forty　minutes。　The　camerlegno　is　in　the　Office　of　the　Pope　preparing。　I　have　no　intention　of　disturbing　him　with　matters　of　security。〃　
　Vittoria　opened　her　mouth　to　respond　but　was　interrupted　by　a　knocking　at　the　door。　Olivetti　opened　it。　
　A　guard　in　full　regalia　stood　outside；　pointing　to　his　watch。　〃ЙЙ　l'ora；　andante。〃　
　Olivetti　checked　his　own　watch　and　nodded。　He　turned　back　to　Langdon　and　Vittoria　like　a　judge　pondering　their　fate。　〃Follow　me。〃　He　led　them　out　of　the　monitoring　room　across　the　security　center　to　a　small　clear　cubicle　against　the　rear　wall。　〃My　office。〃　Olivetti　ushered　them　inside。　The　room　was　unspecial…a　cluttered　desk；　file　cabinets；　folding　chairs；　a　water　cooler。　〃I　will　be　back　in　ten　minutes。　I　suggest　you　use　the　time　to　decide　how　you　would　like　to　proceed。〃
　Vittoria　wheeled。　〃You　can't　just　leave！　That　canister　is…〃
　〃I　do　not　have　time　for　this；〃　Olivetti　seethed。　〃Perhaps　I　should　detain　you　until　after　the　conclave　when　I　do　have　time。〃
　〃Signore；〃　the　guard　urged；　pointing　to　his　watch　again。　〃Spazzare　di　capella。〃　
　Olivetti　nodded　and　started　to　leave。
　〃Spazzare　di　capella？〃　Vittoria　demanded。　〃You're　leaving　to　sweep　the　chapel？〃
　Olivetti　turned；　his　eyes　boring　through　her。　〃We　sweep　for　electronic　bugs；　Miss　Vetra…a　matter　of　discretion。〃　He　motioned　to　her　legs。　〃Not　something　I　would　expect　you　to　understand。〃　
　With　that　he　slammed　the　door；　rattling　the　heavy　glass。　In　one　fluid　motion　he　produced　a　key；　inserted　it；　and　twisted。　A　heavy　deadbolt　slid　into　place。
　〃Idiтta！〃　Vittoria　yelled。　〃You　can't　keep　us　in　here！〃
　Through　the　glass；　Langdon　could　see　Olivetti　say　something　to　the　guard。　The　sentinel　nodded。　As　Olivetti　strode　out　of　the　room；　the　guard　spun　and　faced　them　on　the　other　side　of　the　glass；　arms　crossed；　a　large　sidearm　visible　on　his　hip。　
　Perfect；　Langdon　thought。　Just　bloody　perfect。
　
　37

　Vittoria　glared　at　the　Swiss　Guard　standing　outside　Olivetti's　locked　door。　The　sentinel　glared　back；　his　colorful　costume　belying　his　decidedly　ominous　air。
　〃Che　fiasco；〃　Vittoria　thought。　Held　hostage　by　an　armed　man　in　pajamas。
　Langdon　had　fallen　silent；　and　Vittoria　hoped　he　was　using　that　Harvard　brain　of　his　to　think　them　out　of　this。　She　sensed；　however；　from　the　look　on　his　face；　that　he　was　more　in　shock　than　in　thought。　She　regretted　getting　him　so　involved。　
　Vittoria's　first　instinct　was　to　pull　out　her　cell　phone　and　call　Kohler；　but　she　knew　it　was　foolish。　First；　the　guard　would　probably　walk　in　and　take　her　phone。　Second；　if　Kohler's　episode　ran　its　usual　course；　he　was　probably　still　incapacitated。　Not　that　it　mattered　。　。　。　Olivetti　seemed　unlikely　to　take　anybody's　word　on　anything　at　the　moment。
　Remember！　she　told　herself。　Remember　the　solution　to　this　test！　
　Remembrance　was　a　Buddhist　philosopher's　trick。　Rather　than　asking　her　mind　to　search　for　a　solution　to　a　potentially　impossible　challenge；　Vittoria　asked　her　mind　simply　to　remember　it。　The　presupposition　that　one　once　knew　the　answer　created　the　mindset　that　the　answer　must　exist　。　。　。　thus　eliminating　the　crippling　conception　of　hopelessness。　Vittoria　often　used　the　process　to　solve　scientific　quandaries　。　。　。　those　that　most　people　thought　had　no　solution。
　At　the　moment；　however；　her　remembrance　trick　was　drawing　a　major　blank。　So　she　measured　her　options　。　。　。　her　needs。　She　needed　to　warn　someone。　Someone　at　the　Vatican　needed　to　take　her　seriously。　But　who？　The　camerlegno？　How？　She　was　in　a　glass　box　with　one　exit。　
　Tools；　she　told　herself。　There　are　always　tools。　Reevaluate　your　environment。　
　Instinctively　she　lowered　her　shoulders；　relaxed　her　eyes；　and　took　three　deep　breaths　into　her　lungs。　She　sensed　her　heart　rate　slow　and　her　muscles　soften。　The　chaotic　panic　in　her　mind　dissolved。　Okay；　she　thought；　let　your　mind　be　free。　What　makes　this　situation　positive？　What　are　my　assets？　
　The　analytical　mind　of　Vittoria　Vetra；　once　calmed；　was　a　powerful　force。　Within　seconds　she　realized　their　incarceration　was　actually　their　key　to　escape。
　〃I'm　making　a　phone　call；〃　she　said　suddenly。
　Langdon　looked　up。　〃I　was　about　to　suggest　you　call　Kohler；　but…〃
　〃Not　Kohler。　Someone　else。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃The　camerlegno。〃
　Langdon　looked　totally　lost。　〃You're　calling　the　chamberlain？　How？〃
　〃Olivetti　said　the　camerlegno　was　in　the　Pope's　office。〃
　〃Okay。　You　know　the　Pope's　private　number？〃
　〃No。　But　I'm　not　calling　on　my　phone。〃　She　nodded　to　a　high…tech　phone　system　on　Olivetti's　desk。　It　was　riddled　with　speed　dial　buttons。　〃The　head　of　security　must　have　a　direct　line　to　the　Pope's　office。〃
　〃He　also　has　a　weight　lifter　with　a　gun　planted　six　feet　away。〃
　〃And　we're　locked　in。〃
　〃I　was　actually　aware　of　that。〃
　〃I　mean　the　guard　is　locked　out。　This　is　Olivetti's　private　office。　I　doubt　anyone　else　has　a　key。〃
　Langdon　looked　out　at　the　guard。　〃This　is　pretty　thin　glass；　and　that's　a　pretty　big　gun。〃
　〃What's　he　going　to　do；　shoot　me　for　using　the　phone？〃
　〃Who　the　hell　knows！　This　is　a　pretty　strange　place；　and　the　way　things　are　going…〃
　〃Either　that；〃　Vittoria　said；　〃or　we　can　spend　the　next　five　hours　and　forty…eight　minutes　in　Vatican　Prison。　At　least　we'll　have　a　front…row　seat　when　the　antimatter　goes　off。〃
　Langdon　paled。　〃But　the　guard　will　get　O