danbrown.angels&demons-第41节

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i　turned　back　to　the　guard。　There　was　reluctance　in　his　voice。　〃I'll　want　separate　approaches。　Cars　to　Piazza　della　Rotunda；　Via　delgi　Orfani；　Piazza　Sant'Ignacio；　and　Sant'Eustachio。　No　closer　than　two　blocks。　Once　you're　parked；　gear　up　and　await　my　orders。　Three　minutes。〃
　〃Very　good；　sir。〃　The　soldier　returned　to　his　car。
　Langdon　gave　Vittoria　an　impressed　nod。　She　smiled　back；　and　for　an　instant　Langdon　felt　an　unexpected　connection　。　。　。　a　thread　of　magnetism　between　them。　
　The　mander　turned　in　his　seat　and　locked　eyes　with　Langdon。　〃Mr。　Langdon；　this　had　better　not　blow　up　in　our　faces。〃
　Langdon　smiled　uneasily。　How　could　it？　
　
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　The　director　of　CERN；　Maximilian　Kohler；　opened　his　eyes　to　the　cool　rush　of　cromolyn　and　leukotriene　in　his　body；　dilating　his　bronchial　tubes　and　pulmonary　capillaries。　He　was　breathing　normally　again。　He　found　himself　lying　in　a　private　room　in　the　CERN　infirmary；　his　wheelchair　beside　the　bed。
　He　took　stock；　examining　the　paper　robe　they　had　put　him　in。　His　clothing　was　folded　on　the　chair　beside　the　bed。　Outside　he　could　hear　a　nurse　making　the　rounds。　He　lay　there　a　long　minute　listening。　Then；　as　quietly　as　possible；　he　pulled　himself　to　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　retrieved　his　clothing。　Struggling　with　his　dead　legs；　he　dressed　himself。　Then　he　dragged　his　body　onto　his　wheelchair。　
　Muffling　a　cough；　he　wheeled　himself　to　the　door。　He　moved　manually；　careful　not　to　engage　the　motor。　When　he　arrived　at　the　door　he　peered　out。　The　hall　was　empty。　
　Silently；　Maximilian　Kohler　slipped　out　of　the　infirmary。
　
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　Seven…forty…six　and　thirty　。　。　。　mark。〃　Even　speaking　into　his　walkie…talkie；　Olivetti's　voice　never　seemed　to　rise　above　a　whisper。
　Langdon　felt　himself　sweating　now　in　his　Harris　tweed　in　the　backseat　of　the　Alpha　Romeo；　which　was　idling　in　Piazza　de　la　Concorde；　three　blocks　from　the　Pantheon。　Vittoria　sat　beside　him；　looking　engrossed　by　Olivetti；　who　was　transmitting　his　final　orders。
　〃Deployment　will　be　an　eight…point　hem；〃　the　mander　said。　〃Full　perimeter　with　a　bias　on　the　entry。　Target　may　know　you　visually；　so　you　will　be　pas…visible。　Nonmortal　force　only。　We'll　need　someone　to　spot　the　roof。　Target　is　primary。　Asset　secondary。〃
　Jesus；　Langdon　thought；　chilled　by　the　efficiency　with　which　Olivetti　had　just　told　his　men　the　cardinal　was　expendable。　Asset　secondary。
　〃I　repeat。　Nonmortal　procurement。　We　need　the　target　alive。　Go。〃　Olivetti　snapped　off　his　walkie…talkie。
　Vittoria　looked　stunned；　almost　angry。　〃mander；　isn't　anyone　going　inside？〃　
　Olivetti　turned。　〃Inside？〃
　〃Inside　the　Pantheon！　Where　this　is　supposed　to　happen？〃
　〃Attento；〃　Olivetti　said；　his　eyes　fossilizing。　〃If　my　ranks　have　been　infiltrated；　my　men　may　be　known　by　sight。　Your　colleague　has　just　finished　warning　me　that　this　will　be　our　sole　chance　to　catch　the　target。　I　have　no　intention　of　scaring　anyone　off　by　marching　my　men　inside。〃
　〃But　what　if　the　killer　is　already　inside？〃
　Olivetti　checked　his　watch。　〃The　target　was　specific。　Eight　o'clock。　We　have　fifteen　minutes。〃
　〃He　said　he　would　kill　the　cardinal　at　eight　o'clock。　But　he　may　already　have　gotten　the　victim　inside　somehow。　What　if　your　men　see　the　target　e　out　but　don't　know　who　he　is？　Someone　needs　to　make　sure　the　inside　is　clean。〃
　〃Too　risky　at　this　point。〃
　〃Not　if　the　person　going　in　was　unrecognizable。〃
　〃Disguising　operatives　is　time　consuming　and…〃
　〃I　meant　me；〃　Vittoria　said。
　Langdon　turned　and　stared　at　her。
　Olivetti　shook　his　head。　〃Absolutely　not。〃
　〃He　killed　my　father。〃
　〃Exactly；　so　he　may　know　who　you　are。〃
　〃You　heard　him　on　the　phone。　He　had　no　idea　Leonardo　Vetra　even　had　a　daughter。　He　sure　as　hell　doesn't　know　what　I　look　like。　I　could　walk　in　like　a　tourist。　If　I　see　anything　suspicious；　I　could　walk　into　the　square　and　signal　your　men　to　move　in。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　I　cannot　allow　that。〃
　〃andante？〃　Olivetti's　receiver　crackled。　〃We've　got　a　situation　from　the　north　point。　The　fountain　is　blocking　our　line　of　sight。　We　can't　see　the　entrance　unless　we　move　into　plain　view　on　the　piazza。　What's　your　call？　Do　you　want　us　blind　or　vulnerable？〃
　Vittoria　apparently　had　endured　enough。　〃That's　it。　I'm　going。〃　She　opened　her　door　and　got　out。
　Olivetti　dropped　his　walkie…talkie　and　jumped　out　of　the　car；　circling　in　front　of　Vittoria。
　Langdon　got　out　too。　What　the　hell　is　she　doing！　
　Olivetti　blocked　Vittoria's　way。　〃Ms。　Vetra；　your　instincts　are　good；　but　I　cannot　let　a　civilian　interfere。〃
　〃Interfere？　You're　flying　blind。　Let　me　help。〃
　〃I　would　love　to　have　a　recon　point　inside；　but　。　。　。〃
　〃But　what？〃　Vittoria　demanded。　〃But　I'm　a　woman？〃　
　Olivetti　said　nothing。
　〃That　had　better　not　be　what　you　were　going　to　say；　mander；　because　you　know　damn　well　this　is　a　good　idea；　and　if　you　let　some　archaic　macho　bullshit…〃
　〃Let　us　do　our　job。〃
　〃Let　me　help。〃
　〃Too　dangerous。　We　would　have　no　lines　of　munication　with　you。　I　can't　let　you　carry　a　walkie…talkie；　it　would　give　you　away。〃
　Vittoria　reached　in　her　shirt　pocket　and　produced　her　cell　phone。　〃Plenty　of　tourists　carry　phones。〃
　Olivetti　frowned。
　Vittoria　unsnapped　the　phone　and　mimicked　a　call。　〃Hi；　honey；　I'm　standing　in　the　Pantheon。　You　should　see　this　place！〃　She　snapped　the　phone　shut　and　glared　at　Olivetti。　〃Who　the　hell　is　going　to　know？　It　is　a　no…risk　situation。　Let　me　be　your　eyes！〃　She　motioned　to　the　cell　phone　on　Olivetti's　belt。　〃What's　your　number？〃
　Olivetti　did　not　reply。
　The　driver　had　been　looking　on　and　seemed　to　have　some　thoughts　of　his　own。　He　got　out　of　the　car　and　took　the　mander　aside。　They　spoke　in　hushed　tones　for　ten　seconds。　Finally　Olivetti　nodded　and　returned。　〃Program　this　number。〃　He　began　dictating　digits。
　Vittoria　programmed　her　phone。
　〃Now　call　the　number。〃
　Vittoria　pressed　the　auto　dial。　The　phone　on　Olivetti's　belt　began　ringing。　He　picked　it　up　and　spoke　into　the　receiver。　〃Go　into　the　building；　Ms。　Vetra；　look　around；　exit　the　building；　then　call　and　tell　me　what　you　see。〃
　Vittoria　snapped　the　phone　shut。　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃
　Langdon　felt　a　sudden；　unexpected　surge　of　protective　instinct。　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　he　said　to　Olivetti。　〃You're　sending　her　in　there　alone。〃　
　Vittoria　scowled　at　him。　〃Robert；　I'll　be　fine。〃
　The　Swiss　Guard　driver　was　talking　to　Olivetti　again。
　〃It's　dangerous；〃　Langdon　said　to　Vittoria。
　〃He's　right；〃　Olivetti　said。　〃Even　my　best　men　don't　work　alone。　My　lieutenant　has　just　pointed　out　that　the　masquerade　will　be　more　convincing　with　both　of　you　anyway。〃
　Both　of　us？　Langdon　hesitated。　Actually；　what　I　meant…
　〃Both　of　you　entering　together；〃　Olivetti　said；　〃will　look　like　a　couple　on　holiday。　You　can　also　back　each　other　up。　I'm　more　fortable　with　that。〃
　Vittoria　shrugged。　〃Fine；　but　we'll　need　to　go　fast。〃
　Langdon　groaned。　Nice　move；　cowboy。
　Olivetti　pointed　down　the　street。　〃First　street　you　hit　will　be　Via　degli　Orfani。　Go　left。　It　takes　you　directly　to　the　Pantheon。　Two…minute　walk；　tops。　I'll　be　here；　directing　my　men　and　waiting　for　your　call。　I'd　like　you　to　have　protection。〃　He　pulled　out　his　pistol。　〃Do　either　of　you　know　how　to　use　a　gun？〃　
　Langdon's　heart　skipped。　We　don't　need　a　gun！　
　Vittoria　held　her　hand　out。　〃I　can　tag　a　breaching　porpoise　from　forty　meters　off　the　bow　of　a　rocking　ship。〃
　〃Good。〃　Olivetti　handed　the　gun　to　her。　〃You'll　have　to　conceal　it。〃　
　Vittoria　glanced　down　at　her　shorts。　Then　she　looked　at　Langdon。
　Oh　no　you　don't！　Langdon　thought；　but　Vittoria　was　too　fast。　She　opened　his　jacket；　and　inserted　the　weapon　into　one　of　his　breast　pockets。　It　felt　like　a　rock　dropping　into　his　coat；　his　only　consolation　being　that　Diagramma　was　in　the　other　pocket。
　〃We　look　harmless；〃　Vittoria　said。　〃We're　leaving。〃　She　took　Langdon's　arm　and　headed　down　the　street。　
　The　driver　called　out；　〃Arm　in　arm　is　good。　Remember；　you're　tourists。　Newlyweds　even。　Perhaps　if　you　held　hands？〃
　As　they　turned　the　corner　Langdon　could　have　sworn　he　saw　on　Vittoria's　face　the　hint　of　a　smile。　
　
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　The　Swiss　Guard　〃staging　room〃　is　located　adjacent　to　the　Corpo　di　Vigilanza　barracks　and　is　used　primarily　for　planning　the　security　surrounding　papal　appearances　and　public　Vatican　events。　Today；　however；　it　was　being　used　for　something　else。
　The　man　addressing　the　assembled　task　force　was　the　second…in…mand　of　the　Swiss　Guard；　Captain　Elias　Rocher。　Rocher　was　a　barrel…chested　man　with　soft；　puttylike　features。　He　wore　the　traditional　blue　captain's　uniform　with　his　own　personal　flair…a　red　beret　cocked　sideways　on　his　head。　His　voice　was　surprisingly　crystalline　for　such　a　large　man；　and　when　he　spoke；　his　tone　had　the　clarity　of　a　musical　instrument。　Despite　the　precision　of　his　inflection；　Rocher's　eyes　were　cloudy　like　those　of　some　nocturnal　mammal。　His　men　called　him　〃orso〃…grizzly　bear。　They　sometimes　joked　that　Rocher　was　〃the　bear　who　walked　in　the　viper's　shadow。〃　mander　Olivetti　was　the　viper。　Rocher　was　just　as　deadly　as　the　viper；　but　at　least　you　could　see　him　ing。
　Rocher's　men　stood　at　sharp　attention；　nobody　moving　a　muscle；　although　the　information　they　had　just　received　had　increased　their　aggregate　blood　pres