danbrown.angels&demons-第19节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　He　glanced　up；　looking　angered　and　then　almost　immediately　concerned。　Langdon's　eyes　met　his；　and　Vittoria's　too。　The　three　of　them　were　motionless　a　moment；　as　if　all　the　tension　between　them　had　been　erased　and　replaced　by　a　single；　unifying　foreboding。
　Kohler　took　his　cell　phone　from　the　armrest。　He　dialed　an　extension　and　fought　off　another　coughing　fit。　Vittoria　and　Langdon　waited。　
　〃This　is　。　。　。　Director　Kohler；〃　he　said；　wheezing。　〃Yes？　I　was　subterranean；　out　of　range。〃　He　listened；　his　gray　eyes　widening。　〃Who？　Yes；　patch　it　through。〃　There　was　a　pause。　〃Hello？　This　is　Maximilian　Kohler。　I　am　the　director　of　CERN。　With　whom　am　I　speaking？〃
　Vittoria　and　Langdon　watched　in　silence　as　Kohler　listened。
　〃It　would　be　unwise；〃　Kohler　finally　said；　〃to　speak　of　this　by　phone。　I　will　be　there　immediately。〃　He　was　coughing　again。　〃Meet　me　。　。　。　at　Leonardo　da　Vinci　Airport。　Forty　minutes。〃　Kohler's　breath　seemed　to　be　failing　him　now。　He　descended　into　a　fit　of　coughing　and　barely　managed　to　choke　out　the　words；　〃Locate　the　canister　immediately　。　。　。　I　am　ing。〃　Then　he　clicked　off　his　phone。
　Vittoria　ran　to　Kohler's　side；　but　Kohler　could　no　longer　speak。　Langdon　watched　as　Vittoria　pulled　out　her　cell　phone　and　paged　CERN's　infirmary。　Langdon　felt　like　a　ship　on　the　periphery　of　a　storm　。　。　。　tossed　but　detached。　
　Meet　me　at　Leonardo　da　Vinci　Airport。　Kohler's　words　echoed。
　The　uncertain　shadows　that　had　fogged　Langdon's　mind　all　morning；　in　a　single　instant；　solidified　into　a　vivid　image。　As　he　stood　there　in　the　swirl　of　confusion；　he　felt　a　door　inside　him　open　。　。　。　as　if　some　mystic　threshold　had　just　been　breached。　The　ambigram。　The　murdered　priest/scientist。　The　antimatter。　And　now　。　。　。　the　target。　Leonardo　da　Vinci　Airport　could　only　mean　one　thing。　In　a　moment　of　stark　realization；　Langdon　knew　he　had　just　crossed　over。　He　had　bee　a　believer。
　Five　kilotons。　Let　there　be　light。
　Two　paramedics　materialized；　racing　across　the　atrium　in　white　smocks。　They　knelt　by　Kohler；　putting　an　oxygen　mask　on　his　face。　Scientists　in　the　hall　stopped　and　stood　back。
　Kohler　took　two　long　pulls；　pushed　the　mask　aside；　and　still　gasping　for　air；　looked　up　at　Vittoria　and　Langdon。　〃Rome。〃
　〃Rome？〃　Vittoria　demanded。　〃The　antimatter　is　in　Rome？　Who　called？〃
　Kohler's　face　was　twisted；　his　gray　eyes　watering。　〃The　Swiss　。　。　。〃　He　choked　on　the　words；　and　the　paramedics　put　the　mask　back　over　his　face。　As　they　prepared　to　take　him　away；　Kohler　reached　up　and　grabbed　Langdon's　arm。　
　Langdon　nodded。　He　knew。
　〃Go　。　。　。〃　Kohler　wheezed　beneath　his　mask。　〃Go　。　。　。　call　me　。　。　。〃　Then　the　paramedics　were　rolling　him　away。
　Vittoria　stood　riveted　to　the　floor；　watching　him　go。　Then　she　turned　to　Langdon。　〃Rome？　But　。　。　。　what　was　that　about　the　Swiss？〃
　Langdon　put　a　hand　on　her　shoulder；　barely　whispering　the　words。　〃The　Swiss　Guard；〃　he　said。　〃The　sworn　sentinels　of　Vatican　City。〃
　
　31　

　The　X…33　space　plane　roared　into　the　sky　and　arched　south　toward　Rome。　On　board；　Langdon　sat　in　silence。　The　last　fifteen　minutes　had　been　a　blur。　Now　that　he　had　finished　briefing　Vittoria　on　the　Illuminati　and　their　covenant　against　the　Vatican；　the　scope　of　this　situation　was　starting　to　sink　in。
　What　the　hell　am　I　doing？　Langdon　wondered。　I　should　have　gone　home　when　I　had　the　chance！　Deep　down；　though；　he　knew　he'd　never　had　the　chance。　
　Langdon's　better　judgment　had　screamed　at　him　to　return　to　Boston。　Nonetheless；　academic　astonishment　had　somehow　vetoed　prudence。　Everything　he　had　ever　believed　about　the　demise　of　the　Illuminati　was　suddenly　looking　like　a　brilliant　sham。　Part　of　him　craved　proof。　Confirmation。　There　was　also　a　question　of　conscience。　With　Kohler　ailing　and　Vittoria　on　her　own；　Langdon　knew　that　if　his　knowledge　of　the　Illuminati　could　assist　in　any　way；　he　had　a　moral　obligation　to　be　here。
　There　was　more；　though。　Although　Langdon　was　ashamed　to　admit　it；　his　initial　horror　on　hearing　about　the　antimatter's　location　was　not　only　the　danger　to　human　life　in　Vatican　City；　but　for　something　else　as　well。
　Art。
　The　world's　largest　art　collection　was　now　sitting　on　a　time　bomb。　The　Vatican　Museum　housed　over　60；000　priceless　pieces　in　1；407　rooms…Michelangelo；　da　Vinci；　Bernini；　Botticelli。　Langdon　wondered　if　all　of　the　art　could　possibly　be　evacuated　if　necessary。　He　knew　it　was　impossible。　Many　of　the　pieces　were　sculptures　weighing　tons。　Not　to　mention；　the　greatest　treasures　were　architectural…the　Sistine　Chapel；　St。　Peter's　Basilica；　Michelangelo's　famed　spiral　staircase　leading　to　the　Musиo　Vaticano…priceless　testaments　to　man's　creative　genius。　Langdon　wondered　how　much　time　was　left　on　the　canister。　
　〃Thanks　for　ing；〃　Vittoria　said；　her　voice　quiet。
　Langdon　emerged　from　his　daydream　and　looked　up。　Vittoria　was　sitting　across　the　aisle。　Even　in　the　stark　fluorescent　light　of　the　cabin；　there　was　an　aura　of　posure　about　her…an　almost　magnetic　radiance　of　wholeness。　Her　breathing　seemed　deeper　now；　as　if　a　spark　of　self…preservation　had　ignited　within　her　。　。　。　a　craving　for　justice　and　retribution；　fueled　by　a　daughter's　love。
　Vittoria　had　not　had　time　to　change　from　her　shorts　and　sleeveless　top；　and　her　tawny　legs　were　now　goose…bumped　in　the　cold　of　the　plane。　Instinctively　Langdon　removed　his　jacket　and　offered　it　to　her。
　〃American　chivalry？〃　She　accepted；　her　eyes　thanking　him　silently。
　The　plane　jostled　across　some　turbulence；　and　Langdon　felt　a　surge　of　danger。　The　windowless　cabin　felt　cramped　again；　and　he　tried　to　imagine　himself　in　an　open　field。　The　notion；　he　realized；　was　ironic。　He　had　been　in　an　open　field　when　it　had　happened。　Crushing　darkness。　He　pushed　the　memory　from　his　mind。　Ancient　history。
　Vittoria　was　watching　him。　〃Do　you　believe　in　God；　Mr。　Langdon？〃　
　The　question　startled　him。　The　earnestness　in　Vittoria's　voice　was　even　more　disarming　than　the　inquiry。　Do　I　believe　in　God？　He　had　hoped　for　a　lighter　topic　of　conversation　to　pass　the　trip。
　A　spiritual　conundrum；　Langdon　thought。　That's　what　my　friends　call　me。　Although　he　studied　religion　for　years；　Langdon　was　not　a　religious　man。　He　respected　the　power　of　faith；　the　benevolence　of　churches；　the　strength　religion　gave　so　many　people　。　。　。　and　yet；　for　him；　the　intellectual　suspension　of　disbelief　that　was　imperative　if　one　were　truly　going　to　〃believe〃　had　always　proved　too　big　an　obstacle　for　his　academic　mind。　〃I　want　to　believe；〃　he　heard　himself　say。
　Vittoria's　reply　carried　no　judgment　or　challenge。　〃So　why　don't　you？〃　
　He　chuckled。　〃Well；　it's　not　that　easy。　Having　faith　requires　leaps　of　faith；　cerebral　acceptance　of　miracles…immaculate　conceptions　and　divine　interventions。　And　then　there　are　the　codes　of　conduct。　The　Bible；　the　Koran；　Buddhist　scripture　。　。　。　they　all　carry　similar　requirements…and　similar　penalties。　They　claim　that　if　I　don't　live　by　a　specific　code　I　will　go　to　hell。　I　can't　imagine　a　God　who　would　rule　that　way。〃
　〃I　hope　you　don't　let　your　students　dodge　questions　that　shamelessly。〃
　The　ment　caught　him　off　guard。　〃What？〃
　〃Mr。　Langdon；　I　did　not　ask　if　you　believe　what　man　says　about　God。　I　asked　if　you　believed　in　God。　There　is　a　difference。　Holy　scripture　is　stories　。　。　。　legends　and　history　of　man's　quest　to　understand　his　own　need　for　meaning。　I　am　not　asking　you　to　pass　judgment　on　literature。　I　am　asking　if　you　believe　in　God。　When　you　lie　out　under　the　stars；　do　you　sense　the　divine？　Do　you　feel　in　your　gut　that　you　are　staring　up　at　the　work　of　God's　hand？〃
　Langdon　took　a　long　moment　to　consider　it。　
　〃I'm　prying；〃　Vittoria　apologized。
　〃No；　I　just　。　。　。〃
　〃Certainly　you　must　debate　issues　of　faith　with　your　classes。〃
　〃Endlessly。〃
　〃And　you　play　devil's　advocate；　I　imagine。　Always　fueling　the　debate。〃
　Langdon　smiled。　〃You　must　be　a　teacher　too。〃
　〃No；　but　I　learned　from　a　master。　My　father　could　argue　two　sides　of　a　Mцbius　Strip。〃
　Langdon　laughed；　picturing　the　artful　crafting　of　a　Mцbius　Strip…a　twisted　ring　of　paper；　which　technically　possessed　only　one　side。　Langdon　had　first　seen　the　single…sided　shape　in　the　artwork　of　M。　C。　Escher。　〃May　I　ask　you　a　question；　Ms。　Vetra？〃
　〃Call　me　Vittoria。　Ms。　Vetra　makes　me　feel　old。〃
　He　sighed　inwardly；　suddenly　sensing　his　own　age。　〃Vittoria；　I'm　Robert。〃　
　〃You　had　a　question。〃
　〃Yes。　As　a　scientist　and　the　daughter　of　a　Catholic　priest；　what　do　you　think　of　religion？〃
　Vittoria　paused；　brushing　a　lock　of　hair　from　her　eyes。　〃Religion　is　like　language　or　dress。　We　gravitate　toward　the　practices　with　which　we　were　raised。　In　the　end；　though；　we　are　all　proclaiming　the　same　thing。　That　life　has　meaning。　That　we　are　grateful　for　the　power　that　created　us。〃
　Langdon　was　intrigued。　〃So　you're　saying　that　whether　you　are　a　Christian　or　a　Muslim　simply　depends　on　where　you　were　born？〃
　〃Isn't　it　obvious？　Look　at　the　diffusion　of　religion　around　the　globe。〃
　〃So　faith　is　random？〃
　〃Hardly。　Faith　is　universal。　Our　specific　methods　for　understanding　it　are　arbitrary。　Some　of　us　pray　to　Jesus；　some　of　us　go　to　Mecca；　some　of　us　study　subatomic　particles。　In　the　end　we　are　all　just　searching　for　truth；　that　which　is　greater　than　ourselves。〃
　Langdon