danbrown.angels&demons-第47节

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e　main　altar。　Stage　center。　Then　he　pointed　with　his　thumb　backward　over　his　shoulder。　
　They　both　turned　and　looked　where　he　was　pointing。
　It　seemed　the　Chigi　Chapel　was　located　in　the　third　of　four　recessed　alcoves　to　their　right。　The　good　news　was　that　Langdon　and　Vittoria　were　on　the　correct　side　of　the　church。　The　bad　news　was　that　they　were　at　the　wrong　end。　They　would　have　to　traverse　the　length　of　the　cathedral；　passing　three　other　chapels；　each　of　them；　like　the　Chigi　Chapel；　covered　with　translucent　plastic　shrouds。
　〃Wait；〃　Langdon　said。　〃I'll　go　first。〃
　〃Forget　it。〃
　〃I'm　the　one　who　screwed　up　at　the　Pantheon。〃
　She　turned。　〃But　I'm　the　one　with　the　gun。〃　
　In　her　eyes　Langdon　could　see　what　she　was　really　thinking　。　。　。　I'm　the　one　who　lost　my　father。　I'm　the　one　who　helped　build　a　weapon　of　mass　destruction。　This　guy's　kneecaps　are　mine。　。　。　
　Langdon　sensed　the　futility　and　let　her　go。　He　moved　beside　her；　cautiously；　down　the　east　side　of　the　basilica。　As　they　passed　the　first　shrouded　alcove；　Langdon　felt　taut；　like　a　contestant　on　some　surreal　game　show。　I'll　take　curtain　number　three；　he　thought。
　The　church　was　quiet；　the　thick　stone　walls　blocking　out　all　hints　of　the　outside　world。　As　they　hurried　past　one　chapel　after　the　other；　pale　humanoid　forms　wavered　like　ghosts　behind　the　rustling　plastic。　Carved　marble；　Langdon　told　himself；　hoping　he　was　right。　It　was　8：06　P。M。　Had　the　killer　been　punctual　and　slipped　out　before　Langdon　and　Vittoria　had　entered？　Or　was　he　still　here？　Langdon　was　unsure　which　scenario　he　preferred。
　They　passed　the　second　apse；　ominous　in　the　slowly　darkening　cathedral。　Night　seemed　to　be　falling　quickly　now；　accentuated　by　the　musty　tint　of　the　stained…glass　windows。　As　they　pressed　on；　the　plastic　curtain　beside　them　billowed　suddenly；　as　if　caught　in　a　draft。　Langdon　wondered　if　someone　somewhere　had　opened　a　door。
　Vittoria　slowed　as　the　third　niche　loomed　before　them。　She　held　the　gun　before　her；　motioning　with　her　head　to　the　stele　beside　the　apse。　Carved　in　the　granite　block　were　two　words：
　
　CAPELLA　CHIGI　
　
　Langdon　nodded。　Without　a　sound　they　moved　to　the　corner　of　the　opening；　positioning　themselves　behind　a　wide　pillar。　Vittoria　leveled　the　gun　around　a　corner　at　the　plastic。　Then　she　signaled　for　Langdon　to　pull　back　the　shroud。　
　A　good　time　to　start　praying；　he　thought。　Reluctantly；　he　reached　over　her　shoulder。　As　carefully　as　possible；　he　began　to　pull　the　plastic　aside。　It　moved　an　inch　and　then　crinkled　loudly。　They　both　froze。　Silence。　After　a　moment；　moving　in　slow　motion；　Vittoria　leaned　forward　and　peered　through　the　narrow　slit。　Langdon　looked　over　her　shoulder。
　For　a　moment；　neither　one　of　them　breathed。
　〃Empty；〃　Vittoria　finally　said；　lowering　the　gun。　〃We're　too　late。〃
　Langdon　did　not　hear。　He　was　in　awe；　transported　for　an　instant　to　another　world。　In　his　life；　he　had　never　imagined　a　chapel　that　looked　like　this。　Finished　entirely　in　chestnut　marble；　the　Chigi　Chapel　was　breathtaking。　Langdon's　trained　eye　devoured　it　in　gulps。　It　was　as　earthly　a　chapel　as　Langdon　could　fathom；　almost　as　if　Galileo　and　the　Illuminati　had　designed　it　themselves。
　Overhead；　the　domed　cupola　shone　with　a　field　of　illuminated　stars　and　the　seven　astronomical　planets。　Below　that　the　twelve　signs　of　the　zodiac…pagan；　earthly　symbols　rooted　in　astronomy。　The　zodiac　was　also　tied　directly　to　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　Water　。　。　。　the　quadrants　representing　power；　intellect；　ardor；　emotion。　Earth　is　for　power；　Langdon　recalled。
　Farther　down　the　wall；　Langdon　saw　tributes　to　the　Earth's　four　temporal　seasons…primavera；　estate；　autunno；　invйrno。　But　far　more　incredible　than　any　of　this　were　the　two　huge　structures　dominating　the　room。　Langdon　stared　at　them　in　silent　wonder。It　can't　be；　he　thought。　It　just　can't　be！　But　it　was。　On　either　side　of　the　chapel；　in　perfect　symmetry；　were　two　ten…foot…high　marble　pyramids。　
　〃I　don't　see　a　cardinal；〃　Vittoria　whispered。　〃Or　an　assassin。〃　She　pulled　aside　the　plastic　and　stepped　in。
　Langdon's　eyes　were　transfixed　on　the　pyramids。　What　are　pyramids　doing　inside　a　Christian　chapel？　And　incredibly；　there　was　more。　Dead　center　of　each　pyramid；　embedded　in　their　anterior　faзades；　were　gold　medallions　。　。　。　medallions　like　few　Langdon　had　ever　seen　。　。　。　perfect　ellipses。　The　burnished　disks　glimmered　in　the　setting　sun　as　it　sifted　through　the　cupola。　Galileo's　ellipses？　Pyramids？　A　cupola　of　stars？　The　room　had　more　Illuminati　significance　than　any　room　Langdon　could　have　fabricated　in　his　mind。
　〃Robert；〃　Vittoria　blurted；　her　voice　cracking。　〃Look！〃
　Langdon　wheeled；　reality　returning　as　his　eyes　dropped　to　where　she　was　pointing。　〃Bloody　hell！〃　he　shouted；　jumping　backward。　
　Sneering　up　at　them　from　the　floor　was　the　image　of　a　skeleton…an　intricately　detailed；　marble　mosaic　depicting　〃death　in　flight。〃　The　skeleton　was　carrying　a　tablet　portraying　the　same　pyramid　and　stars　they　had　seen　outside。　It　was　not　the　image；　however；　that　had　turned　Langdon's　blood　cold。　It　was　the　fact　that　the　mosaic　was　mounted　on　a　circular　stone…a　cupermento…that　had　been　lifted　out　of　the　floor　like　a　manhole　cover　and　was　now　sitting　off　to　one　side　of　a　dark　opening　in　the　floor。　
　〃Demon's　hole；〃　Langdon　gasped。　He　had　been　so　taken　with　the　ceiling　he　had　not　even　seen　it。　Tentatively　he　moved　toward　the　pit。　The　stench　ing　up　was　overwhelming。　
　Vittoria　put　a　hand　over　her　mouth。　〃Che　puzzo。〃　
　〃Effluvium；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Vapors　from　decaying　bone。〃　He　breathed　through　his　sleeve　as　he　leaned　out　over　the　hole；　peering　down。　Blackness。　〃I　can't　see　a　thing。〃
　〃You　think　anybody's　down　there？〃
　〃No　way　to　know。〃
　Vittoria　motioned　to　the　far　side　of　the　hole　where　a　rotting；　wooden　ladder　descended　into　the　depths。
　Langdon　shook　his　head。　〃Like　hell。〃　
　〃Maybe　there's　a　flashlight　outside　in　those　tools。〃　She　sounded　eager　for　an　excuse　to　escape　the　smell。　〃I'll　look。〃
　〃Careful！〃　Langdon　warned。　〃We　don't　know　for　sure　that　the　Hassassin…〃
　But　Vittoria　was　already　gone。
　One　strong…willed　woman；　Langdon　thought。
　As　he　turned　back　to　the　pit；　he　felt　light…headed　from　the　fumes。　Holding　his　breath；　he　dropped　his　head　below　the　rim　and　peered　deep　into　the　darkness。　Slowly；　as　his　eyes　adjusted；　he　began　to　see　faint　shapes　below。　The　pit　appeared　to　open　into　a　small　chamber。　Demon's　hole。　He　wondered　how　many　generations　of　Chigis　had　been　unceremoniously　dumped　in。　Langdon　closed　his　eyes　and　waited；　forcing　his　pupils　to　dilate　so　he　could　see　better　in　the　dark。　When　he　opened　his　eyes　again；　a　pale　muted　figure　hovered　below　in　the　darkness。　Langdon　shivered　but　fought　the　instinct　to　pull　out。　Am　I　seeing　things？　Is　that　a　body？　The　figure　faded。　Langdon　closed　his　eyes　again　and　waited；　longer　this　time；　so　his　eyes　would　pick　up　the　faintest　light。
　Dizziness　started　to　set　in；　and　his　thoughts　wandered　in　the　blackness。　Just　a　few　more　seconds。　He　wasn't　sure　if　it　was　breathing　the　fumes　or　holding　his　head　at　a　low　inclination；　but　Langdon　was　definitely　starting　to　feel　squeamish。　When　he　finally　opened　his　eyes　again；　the　image　before　him　was　totally　inexplicable。
　He　was　now　staring　at　a　crypt　bathed　in　an　eerie　bluish　light。　A　faint　hissing　sound　reverberated　in　his　ears。　Light　flickered　on　the　steep　walls　of　the　shaft。　Suddenly；　a　long　shadow　materialized　over　him。　Startled；　Langdon　scrambled　up。
　〃Look　out！〃　someone　exclaimed　behind　him。
　Before　Langdon　could　turn；　he　felt　a　sharp　pain　on　the　back　of　his　neck。　He　spun　to　see　Vittoria　twisting　a　lit　blowtorch　away　from　him；　the　hissing　flame　throwing　blue　light　around　the　chapel。
　Langdon　grabbed　his　neck。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃　
　〃I　was　giving　you　some　light；〃　she　said。　〃You　backed　right　into　me。〃　
　Langdon　glared　at　the　portable　blowtorch　in　her　hand。　
　〃Best　I　could　do；〃　she　said。　〃No　flashlights。〃
　Langdon　rubbed　his　neck。　〃I　didn't　hear　you　e　in。〃
　Vittoria　handed　him　the　torch；　wincing　again　at　the　stench　of　the　crypt。　〃You　think　those　fumes　are　bustible？〃
　〃Let's　hope　not。〃
　He　took　the　torch　and　moved　slowly　toward　the　hole。　Cautiously；　he　advanced　to　the　rim　and　pointed　the　flame　down　into　the　hole；　lighting　the　side　wall。　As　he　directed　the　light；　his　eyes　traced　the　outline　of　the　wall　downward。　The　crypt　was　circular　and　about　twenty　feet　across。　Thirty　feet　down；　the　glow　found　the　floor。　The　ground　was　dark　and　mottled。　Earthy。　Then　Langdon　saw　the　body。
　His　instinct　was　to　recoil。　〃He's　here；〃　Langdon　said；　forcing　himself　not　to　turn　away。　The　figure　was　a　pallid　outline　against　the　earthen　floor。　〃I　think　he's　been　stripped　naked。〃　Langdon　flashed　on　the　nude　corpse　of　Leonardo　Vetra。
　〃Is　it　one　of　the　cardinals？〃
　Langdon　had　no　idea；　but　he　couldn't　imagine　who　the　hell　else　it　would　be。　He　stared　down　at　the　pale　blob。　Unmoving。　Lifeless。　And　yet　。　。　。　Langdon　hesitated。　There　was　something　very　strange　about　the　way　the　figure　was　positioned。　He　seemed　to　be　。　。　。　
　Langdon　called　out。　〃Hello？〃
　〃You　think　he's　alive？〃　
　There　was　no　response　from　below。
　〃He's　not　moving；〃　Langdon　said。　〃But　he　looks　。　。　。〃　No；　impossible。　
　〃He　looks　what