danbrown.angels&demons-第29节

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he　was　getting　a　bit　old　to　be　a　serious　candidate。　At　seventy…nine　years　old　he　had　crossed　the　unspoken　threshold　beyond　which　the　college　no　longer　trusted　one's　health　to　withstand　the　rigorous　schedule　of　the　papacy。　A　Pope　usually　worked　fourteen…hour　days；　seven　days　a　week；　and　died　of　exhaustion　in　an　average　of　6。3　years。　The　inside　joke　was　that　accepting　the　papacy　was　a　cardinal's　〃fastest　route　to　heaven。〃
　Mortati；　many　believed；　could　have　been　Pope　in　his　younger　days　had　he　not　been　so　broad…minded。　When　it　came　to　pursuing　the　papacy；　there　was　a　Holy　Trinity…Conservative。　Conservative。　Conservative。
　Mortati　had　always　found　it　pleasantly　ironic　that　the　late　Pope；　God　rest　his　soul；　had　revealed　himself　as　surprisingly　liberal　once　he　had　taken　office。　Perhaps　sensing　the　modern　world　progressing　away　from　the　church；　the　Pope　had　made　overtures；　softening　the　church's　position　on　the　sciences；　even　donating　money　to　selective　scientific　causes。　Sadly；　it　had　been　political　suicide。　Conservative　Catholics　declared　the　Pope　〃senile；〃　while　scientific　purists　accused　him　of　trying　to　spread　the　church's　influence　where　it　did　not　belong。
　〃So　where　are　they？〃　
　Mortati　turned。
　One　of　the　cardinals　was　tapping　him　nervously　on　the　shoulder。　〃You　know　where　they　are；　don't　you？〃　
　Mortati　tried　not　to　show　too　much　concern。　〃Perhaps　still　with　the　camerlegno。〃
　〃At　this　hour？　That　would　be　highly　unorthodox！〃　The　cardinal　frowned　mistrustingly。　〃Perhaps　the　camerlegno　lost　track　of　time？〃
　Mortati　sincerely　doubted　it；　but　he　said　nothing。　He　was　well　aware　that　most　cardinals　did　not　much　care　for　the　camerlegno；　feeling　he　was　too　young　to　serve　the　Pope　so　closely。　Mortati　suspected　much　of　the　cardinals'　dislike　was　jealousy；　and　Mortati　actually　admired　the　young　man；　secretly　applauding　the　late　Pope's　selection　for　chamberlain。　Mortati　saw　only　conviction　when　he　looked　in　the　camerlegno's　eyes；　and　unlike　many　of　the　cardinals；　the　camerlegno　put　church　and　faith　before　petty　politics。　He　was　truly　a　man　of　God。　
　Throughout　his　tenure；　the　camerlegno's　steadfast　devotion　had　bee　legendary。　Many　attributed　it　to　the　miraculous　event　in　his　childhood　。　。　。　an　event　that　would　have　left　a　permanent　impression　on　any　man's　heart。　The　miracle　and　wonder　of　it；　Mortati　thought；　often　wishing　his　own　childhood　had　presented　an　event　that　fostered　that　kind　of　doubtless　faith。　
　Unfortunately　for　the　church；　Mortati　knew；　the　camerlegno　would　never　bee　Pope　in　his　elder　years。　Attaining　the　papacy　required　a　certain　amount　of　political　ambition；　something　the　young　camerlegno　apparently　lacked；　he　had　refused　his　Pope's　offers　for　higher　clerical　stations　many　times；　saying　he　preferred　to　serve　the　church　as　a　simple　man。
　〃What　next？〃　The　cardinal　tapped　Mortati；　waiting。　
　Mortati　looked　up。　〃I'm　sorry？〃
　〃They're　late！　What　shall　we　do！〃
　〃What　can　we　do？〃　Mortati　replied。　〃We　wait。　And　have　faith。〃
　Looking　entirely　unsatisfied　with　Mortati's　response；　the　cardinal　shrunk　back　into　the　shadows。
　Mortati　stood　a　moment；　dabbing　his　temples　and　trying　to　clear　his　mind。　Indeed；　what　shall　we　do？　He　gazed　past　the　altar　up　to　Michelangelo's　renowned　fresco；　〃The　Last　Judgment。〃　The　painting　did　nothing　to　soothe　his　anxiety。　It　was　a　horrifying；　fifty…foot…tall　depiction　of　Jesus　Christ　separating　mankind　into　the　righteous　and　sinners；　casting　the　sinners　into　hell。　There　was　flayed　flesh；　burning　bodies；　and　even　one　of　Michelangelo's　rivals　sitting　in　hell　wearing　ass's　ears。　Guy　de　Maupassant　had　once　written　that　the　painting　looked　like　something　painted　for　a　carnival　wrestling　booth　by　an　ignorant　coal　heaver。　
　Cardinal　Mortati　had　to　agree。
　
　43

　Langdon　stood　motionless　at　the　Pope's　bulletproof　window　and　gazed　down　at　the　bustle　of　media　trailers　in　St。　Peter's　Square。　The　eerie　phone　conversation　had　left　him　feeling　turgid　。　。　。　distended　somehow。　Not　himself。
　The　Illuminati；　like　a　serpent　from　the　forgotten　depths　of　history；　had　risen　and　wrapped　themselves　around　an　ancient　foe。　No　demands。　No　negotiation。　Just　retribution。　Demonically　simple。　Squeezing。　A　revenge　400　years　in　the　making。　It　seemed　that　after　centuries　of　persecution；　science　had　bitten　back。　
　The　camerlegno　stood　at　his　desk；　staring　blankly　at　the　phone。　Olivetti　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence。　〃Carlo；〃　he　said；　using　the　camerlegno's　first　name　and　sounding　more　like　a　weary　friend　than　an　officer。　〃For　twenty…six　years；　I　have　sworn　my　life　to　the　protection　of　this　office。　It　seems　tonight　I　am　dishonored。〃
　The　camerlegno　shook　his　head。　〃You　and　I　serve　God　in　different　capacities；　but　service　always　brings　honor。〃
　〃These　events　。　。　。　I　can't　imagine　how　。　。　。　this　situation　。　。　。〃　Olivetti　looked　overwhelmed。　
　〃You　realize　we　have　only　one　possible　course　of　action。　I　have　a　responsibility　for　the　safety　of　the　College　of　Cardinals。〃
　〃I　fear　that　responsibility　was　mine；　signore。〃
　〃Then　your　men　will　oversee　the　immediate　evacuation。〃
　〃Signore？〃
　〃Other　options　can　be　exercised　later…a　search　for　this　device；　a　manhunt　for　the　missing　cardinals　and　their　captors。　But　first　the　cardinals　must　be　taken　to　safety。　The　sanctity　of　human　life　weighs　above　all。　Those　men　are　the　foundation　of　this　church。〃
　〃You　suggest　we　cancel　conclave　right　now？〃
　〃Do　I　have　a　choice？〃
　〃What　about　your　charge　to　bring　a　new　Pope？〃
　The　young　chamberlain　sighed　and　turned　to　the　window；　his　eyes　drifting　out　onto　the　sprawl　of　Rome　below。　〃His　Holiness　once　told　me　that　a　Pope　is　a　man　torn　between　two　worlds　。　。　。　the　real　world　and　the　divine。　He　warned　that　any　church　that　ignored　reality　would　not　survive　to　enjoy　the　divine。〃　His　voice　sounded　suddenly　wise　for　its　years。　〃The　real　world　is　upon　us　tonight。　We　would　be　vain　to　ignore　it。　Pride　and　precedent　cannot　overshadow　reason。〃
　Olivetti　nodded；　looking　impressed。　〃I　have　underestimated　you；　signore。〃
　The　camerlegno　did　not　seem　to　hear。　His　gaze　was　distant　on　the　window。
　〃I　will　speak　openly；　signore。　The　real　world　is　my　world。　I　immerse　myself　in　its　ugliness　every　day　such　that　others　are　unencumbered　to　seek　something　more　pure。　Let　me　advise　you　on　the　present　situation。　It　is　what　I　am　trained　for。　Your　instincts；　though　worthy　。　。　。　could　be　disastrous。〃
　The　camerlegno　turned。
　Olivetti　sighed。　〃The　evacuation　of　the　College　of　Cardinals　from　the　Sistine　Chapel　is　the　worst　possible　thing　you　could　do　right　now。〃
　The　camerlegno　did　not　look　indignant；　only　at　a　loss。　〃What　do　you　suggest？〃
　〃Say　nothing　to　the　cardinals。　Seal　conclave。　It　will　buy　us　time　to　try　other　options。〃
　The　camerlegno　looked　troubled。　〃Are　you　suggesting　I　lock　the　entire　College　of　Cardinals　on　top　of　a　time　bomb？〃
　〃Yes；　signore。　For　now。　Later；　if　need　be；　we　can　arrange　evacuation。〃
　The　camerlegno　shook　his　head。　〃Postponing　the　ceremony　before　it　starts　is　grounds　alone　for　an　inquiry；　but　after　the　doors　are　sealed　nothing　intervenes。　Conclave　procedure　obligates…〃
　〃Real　world；　signore。　You're　in　it　tonight。　Listen　closely。〃　Olivetti　spoke　now　with　the　efficient　rattle　of　a　field　officer。　〃Marching　one　hundred　sixty…five　cardinals　unprepared　and　unprotected　into　Rome　would　be　reckless。　It　would　cause　confusion　and　panic　in　some　very　old　men；　and　frankly；　one　fatal　stroke　this　month　is　enough。〃
　One　fatal　stroke。　The　mander's　words　recalled　the　headlines　Langdon　had　read　over　dinner　with　some　students　in　the　Harvard　mons：　POPE　SUFFERS　STROKE。　DIES　IN　SLEEP。
　〃In　addition；〃　Olivetti　said；　〃the　Sistine　Chapel　is　a　fortress。　Although　we　don't　advertise　the　fact；　the　structure　is　heavily　reinforced　and　can　repel　any　attack　short　of　missiles。　As　preparation　we　searched　every　inch　of　the　chapel　this　afternoon；　scanning　for　bugs　and　other　surveillance　equipment。　The　chapel　is　clean；　a　safe　haven；　and　I　am　confident　the　antimatter　is　not　inside。　There　is　no　safer　place　those　men　can　be　right　now。　We　can　always　discuss　emergency　evacuation　later　if　it　es　to　that。〃
　Langdon　was　impressed。　Olivetti's　cold；　smart　logic　reminded　him　of　Kohler。
　〃mander；〃　Vittoria　said；　her　voice　tense；　〃there　are　other　concerns。　Nobody　has　ever　created　this　much　antimatter。　The　blast　radius；　I　can　only　estimate。　Some　of　surrounding　Rome　may　be　in　danger。　If　the　canister　is　in　one　of　your　central　buildings　or　underground；　the　effect　outside　these　walls　may　be　minimal；　but　if　the　canister　is　near　the　perimeter　。　。　。　in　this　building　for　example　。　。　。〃　She　glanced　warily　out　the　window　at　the　crowd　in　St。　Peter's　Square。
　〃I　am　well　aware　of　my　responsibilities　to　the　outside　world；〃　Olivetti　replied；　〃and　it　makes　this　situation　no　more　grave。　The　protection　of　this　sanctuary　has　been　my　sole　charge　for　over　two　decades。　I　have　no　intention　of　allowing　this　weapon　to　detonate。〃
　Camerlegno　Ventresca　looked　up。　〃You　think　you　can　find　it？〃
　〃Let　me　discuss　our　options　with　some　of　my　surveillance　specialists。　There　is　a　possibility；　if　we　kill　power　to　Vatican　City；　that　we　can　eliminate　the　background　RF　and　create　a　clean　enough　environment　to　get　a　reading　on　that　canister's　magnetic　field。〃
　Vittoria