danbrown.angels&demons-第4节

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　The　car　shot　off　again；　accelerating　another　200　yards　around　a　sweeping　rotary　that　led　to　the　facility's　main　entrance。　Looming　before　them　was　a　rectangular；　ultramodern　structure　of　glass　and　steel。　Langdon　was　amazed　by　the　building's　striking　transparent　design。　He　had　always　had　a　fond　love　of　architecture。
　〃The　Glass　Cathedral；〃　the　escort　offered。
　〃A　church？〃
　〃Hell；　no。　A　church　is　the　one　thing　we　don't　have。　Physics　is　the　religion　around　here。　Use　the　Lord's　name　in　vain　all　you　like；〃　he　laughed；　〃just　don't　slander　any　quarks　or　mesons。〃
　Langdon　sat　bewildered　as　the　driver　swung　the　car　around　and　brought　it　to　a　stop　in　front　of　the　glass　building。　Quarks　and　mesons？　No　border　control？　Mach　15　jets？　Who　the　hell　ARE　these　guys？　The　engraved　granite　slab　in　front　of　the　building　bore　the　answer：　
　
　（CERN）　Conseil　Europйen　pour　la　Recherche　Nuclйaire　
　
　〃Nuclear　Research？〃　Langdon　asked；　fairly　certain　his　translation　was　correct。
　The　driver　did　not　answer。　He　was　leaning　forward；　busily　adjusting　the　car's　cassette　player。　〃This　is　your　stop。　The　director　will　meet　you　at　this　entrance。〃
　Langdon　noted　a　man　in　a　wheelchair　exiting　the　building。　He　looked　to　be　in　his　early　sixties。　Gaunt　and　totally　bald　with　a　sternly　set　jaw；　he　wore　a　white　lab　coat　and　dress　shoes　propped　firmly　on　the　wheelchair's　footrest。　Even　at　a　distance　his　eyes　looked　lifeless…like　two　gray　stones。
　〃Is　that　him？〃　Langdon　asked。
　The　driver　looked　up。　〃Well；　I'll　be。〃　He　turned　and　gave　Langdon　an　ominous　smile。　〃Speak　of　the　devil。〃
　Uncertain　what　to　expect；　Langdon　stepped　from　the　vehicle。　
　The　man　in　the　wheelchair　accelerated　toward　Langdon　and　offered　a　clammy　hand。　〃Mr。　Langdon？　We　spoke　on　the　phone。　My　name　is　Maximilian　Kohler。〃
　
　7

　Maximilian　Kohler；　director　general　of　CERN；　was　known　behind　his　back　as　Kцnig…King。　It　was　a　title　more　of　fear　than　reverence　for　the　figure　who　ruled　over　his　dominion　from　a　wheelchair　throne。　Although　few　knew　him　personally；　the　horrific　story　of　how　he　had　been　crippled　was　lore　at　CERN；　and　there　were　few　there　who　blamed　him　for　his　bitterness　。　。　。　nor　for　his　sworn　dedication　to　pure　science。　
　Langdon　had　only　been　in　Kohler's　presence　a　few　moments　and　already　sensed　the　director　was　a　man　who　kept　his　distance。　Langdon　found　himself　practically　jogging　to　keep　up　with　Kohler's　electric　wheelchair　as　it　sped　silently　toward　the　main　entrance。　The　wheelchair　was　like　none　Langdon　had　ever　seen…equipped　with　a　bank　of　electronics　including　a　multiline　phone；　a　paging　system；　puter　screen；　even　a　small；　detachable　video　camera。　King　Kohler's　mobile　mand　center。
　Langdon　followed　through　a　mechanical　door　into　CERN's　voluminous　main　lobby。　
　The　Glass　Cathedral；　Langdon　mused；　gazing　upward　toward　heaven。
　Overhead；　the　bluish　glass　roof　shimmered　in　the　afternoon　sun；　casting　rays　of　geometric　patterns　in　the　air　and　giving　the　room　a　sense　of　grandeur。　Angular　shadows　fell　like　veins　across　the　white　tiled　walls　and　down　to　the　marble　floors。　The　air　smelled　clean；　sterile。　A　handful　of　scientists　moved　briskly　about；　their　footsteps　echoing　in　the　resonant　space。
　〃This　way；　please；　Mr。　Langdon。〃　His　voice　sounded　almost　puterized。　His　accent　was　rigid　and　precise；　like　his　stern　features。　Kohler　coughed　and　wiped　his　mouth　on　a　white　handkerchief　as　he　fixed　his　dead　gray　eyes　on　Langdon。　〃Please　hurry。〃　His　wheelchair　seemed　to　leap　across　the　tiled　floor。
　Langdon　followed　past　what　seemed　to　be　countless　hallways　branching　off　the　main　atrium。　Every　hallway　was　alive　with　activity。　The　scientists　who　saw　Kohler　seemed　to　stare　in　surprise；　eyeing　Langdon　as　if　wondering　who　he　must　be　to　mand　such　pany。
　〃I'm　embarrassed　to　admit；〃　Langdon　ventured；　trying　to　make　conversation；　〃that　I've　never　heard　of　CERN。〃
　〃Not　surprising；〃　Kohler　replied；　his　clipped　response　sounding　harshly　efficient。　〃Most　Americans　do　not　see　Europe　as　the　world　leader　in　scientific　research。　They　see　us　as　nothing　but　a　quaint　shopping　district…an　odd　perception　if　you　consider　the　nationalities　of　men　like　Einstein；　Galileo；　and　Newton。〃
　Langdon　was　unsure　how　to　respond。　He　pulled　the　fax　from　his　pocket。　〃This　man　in　the　photograph；　can　you…〃
　Kohler　cut　him　off　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃Please。　Not　here。　I　am　taking　you　to　him　now。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃Perhaps　I　should　take　that。〃
　Langdon　handed　over　the　fax　and　fell　silently　into　step。
　Kohler　took　a　sharp　left　and　entered　a　wide　hallway　adorned　with　awards　and　mendations。　A　particularly　large　plaque　dominated　the　entry。　Langdon　slowed　to　read　the　engraved　bronze　as　they　passed。
　
　ARS　ELECTRONICA　AWARD　
　For　Cultural　Innovation　in　the　Digital　Age　Awarded　to　Tim　Berners　Lee　and　CERN　for　the　invention　of　the　WORLDWIDE　WEB
　
　Well　I'll　be　damned；　Langdon　thought；　reading　the　text。　This　guy　wasn't　kidding。　Langdon　had　always　thought　of　the　Web　as　an　American　invention。　Then　again；　his　knowledge　was　limited　to　the　site　for　his　own　book　and　the　occasional　on…line　exploration　of　the　Louvre　or　El　Prado　on　his　old　Macintosh。
　〃The　Web；〃　Kohler　said；　coughing　again　and　wiping　his　mouth；　〃began　here　as　a　network　of　in…house　puter　sites。　It　enabled　scientists　from　different　departments　to　share　daily　findings　with　one　another。　Of　course；　the　entire　world　is　under　the　impression　the　Web　is　U。S。　technology。〃
　Langdon　followed　down　the　hall。　〃Why　not　set　the　record　straight？〃
　Kohler　shrugged；　apparently　disinterested。　〃A　petty　misconception　over　a　petty　technology。　CERN　is　far　greater　than　a　global　connection　of　puters。　Our　scientists　produce　miracles　almost　daily。〃
　Langdon　gave　Kohler　a　questioning　look。　〃Miracles？〃　The　word　〃miracle〃　was　certainly　not　part　of　the　vocabulary　around　Harvard's　Fairchild　Science　Building。　Miracles　were　left　for　the　School　of　Divinity。　
　〃You　sound　skeptical；〃　Kohler　said。　〃I　thought　you　were　a　religious　symbologist。　Do　you　not　believe　in　miracles？〃
　〃I'm　undecided　on　miracles；〃　Langdon　said。　Particularly　those　that　take　place　in　science　labs。
　〃Perhaps　miracle　is　the　wrong　word。　I　was　simply　trying　to　speak　your　language。〃
　〃My　language？〃　Langdon　was　suddenly　unfortable。　〃Not　to　disappoint　you；　sir；　but　I　study　religious　symbology…I'm　an　academic；　not　a　priest。〃
　Kohler　slowed　suddenly　and　turned；　his　gaze　softening　a　bit。　〃Of　course。　How　simple　of　me。　One　does　not　need　to　have　cancer　to　analyze　its　symptoms。〃
　Langdon　had　never　heard　it　put　quite　that　way。
　As　they　moved　down　the　hallway；　Kohler　gave　an　accepting　nod。　〃I　suspect　you　and　I　will　understand　each　other　perfectly；　Mr。　Langdon。〃
　Somehow　Langdon　doubted　it。　
　
　As　the　pair　hurried　on；　Langdon　began　to　sense　a　deep　rumbling　up　ahead。　The　noise　got　more　and　more　pronounced　with　every　step；　reverberating　through　the　walls。　It　seemed　to　be　ing　from　the　end　of　the　hallway　in　front　of　them。
　〃What's　that？〃　Langdon　finally　asked；　having　to　yell。　He　felt　like　they　were　approaching　an　active　volcano。
　〃Free　Fall　Tube；〃　Kohler　replied；　his　hollow　voice　cutting　the　air　effortlessly。　He　offered　no　other　explanation。
　Langdon　didn't　ask。　He　was　exhausted；　and　Maximilian　Kohler　seemed　disinterested　in　winning　any　hospitality　awards。　Langdon　reminded　himself　why　he　was　here。　Illuminati。　He　assumed　somewhere　in　this　colossal　facility　was　a　body　。　。　。　a　body　branded　with　a　symbol　he　had　just　flown　3；000　miles　to　see。
　As　they　approached　the　end　of　the　hall；　the　rumble　became　almost　deafening；　vibrating　up　through　Langdon's　soles。　They　rounded　the　bend；　and　a　viewing　gallery　appeared　on　the　right。　Four　thick…paned　portals　were　embedded　in　a　curved　wall；　like　windows　in　a　submarine。　Langdon　stopped　and　looked　through　one　of　the　holes。
　Professor　Robert　Langdon　had　seen　some　strange　things　in　his　life；　but　this　was　the　strangest。　He　blinked　a　few　times；　wondering　if　he　was　hallucinating。　He　was　staring　into　an　enormous　circular　chamber。　Inside　the　chamber；　floating　as　though　weightless；　were　people。　Three　of　them。　One　waved　and　did　a　somersault　in　midair。
　My　God；　he　thought。　I'm　in　the　land　of　Oz。
　The　floor　of　the　room　was　a　mesh　grid；　like　a　giant　sheet　of　chicken　wire。　Visible　beneath　the　grid　was　the　metallic　blur　of　a　huge　propeller。
　〃Free　fall　tube；〃　Kohler　said；　stopping　to　wait　for　him。　〃Indoor　skydiving。　For　stress　relief。　It's　a　vertical　wind　tunnel。〃
　Langdon　looked　on　in　amazement。　One　of　the　free　fallers；　an　obese　woman；　maneuvered　toward　the　window。　She　was　being　buffeted　by　the　air　currents　but　grinned　and　flashed　Langdon　the　thumbs…up　sign。　Langdon　smiled　weakly　and　returned　the　gesture；　wondering　if　she　knew　it　was　the　ancient　phallic　symbol　for　masculine　virility。
　The　heavyset　woman；　Langdon　noticed；　was　the　only　one　wearing　what　appeared　to　be　a　miniature　parachute。　The　swathe　of　fabric　billowed　over　her　like　a　toy。　〃What's　her　little　chute　for？〃　Langdon　asked　Kohler。　〃It　can't　be　more　than　a　yard　in　diameter。〃
　〃Friction；〃　Kohler　said。　〃Decreases　her　aerodynamics　so　the　fan　can　lift　her。〃　He　started　down　the　corridor　again。　〃One　square　yard　of　drag　will　slow　a　falling　body　almost　twenty　percent。〃
　Langdon　nodded　blankly。
　He　never