danbrown.angels&demons-第55节

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at　has　to　do　with　fire？〃
　Silence。
　〃How　about　obelisks？〃　he　demanded。　〃Are　any　of　the　churches　located　near　obelisks？〃
　The　guard　began　checking　the　map。
　Vittoria　saw　a　glimmer　of　hope　in　Langdon's　eyes　and　realized　what　he　was　thinking。　He's　right！　The　first　two　markers　had　been　located　on　or　near　piazzas　that　contained　obelisks！　Maybe　obelisks　were　a　theme？　Soaring　pyramids　marking　the　Illuminati　path？　The　more　Vittoria　thought　about　it；　the　more　perfect　it　seemed　。　。　。　four　towering　beacons　rising　over　Rome　to　mark　the　altars　of　science。　
　〃It's　a　long　shot；〃　Langdon　said；　〃but　I　know　that　many　of　Rome's　obelisks　were　erected　or　moved　during　Bernini's　reign。　He　was　no　doubt　involved　in　their　placement。〃
　〃Or；〃　Vittoria　added；　〃Bernini　could　have　placed　his　markers　near　existing　obelisks。〃
　Langdon　nodded。　〃True。〃
　〃Bad　news；〃　the　guard　said。　〃No　obelisks　on　the　line。〃　He　traced　his　finger　across　the　map。　〃None　even　remotely　close。　Nothing。〃
　Langdon　sighed。
　Vittoria's　shoulders　slumped。　She'd　thought　it　was　a　promising　idea。　Apparently；　this　was　not　going　to　be　as　easy　as　they'd　hoped。　She　tried　to　stay　positive。　〃Robert；　think。　You　must　know　of　a　Bernini　statue　relating　to　fire。　Anything　at　all。〃
　〃Believe　me；　I've　been　thinking。　Bernini　was　incredibly　prolific。　Hundreds　of　works。　I　was　hoping　West　Ponente　would　point　to　a　single　church。　Something　that　would　ring　a　bell。〃
　〃Fuтco；〃　she　pressed。　〃Fire。　No　Bernini　titles　jump　out？〃
　Langdon　shrugged。　〃There's　his　famous　sketches　of　Fireworks；　but　they're　not　sculpture；　and　they're　in　Leipzig；　Germany。〃
　Vittoria　frowned。　〃And　you're　sure　the　breath　is　what　indicates　the　direction？〃
　〃You　saw　the　relief；　Vittoria。　The　design　was　totally　symmetrical。　The　only　indication　of　bearing　was　the　breath。〃
　Vittoria　knew　he　was　right。　
　〃Not　to　mention；〃　he　added；　〃because　the　West　Ponente　signifies　Air；　following　the　breath　seems　symbolically　appropriate。〃
　Vittoria　nodded。　So　we　follow　the　breath。　But　where？　
　Olivetti　came　over。　〃What　have　you　got？〃
　〃Too　many　churches；〃　the　soldier　said。　〃Two　dozen　or　so。　I　suppose　we　could　put　four　men　on　each　church…〃
　〃Forget　it；〃　Olivetti　said。　〃We　missed　this　guy　twice　when　we　knew　exactly　where　he　was　going　to　be。　A　mass　stakeout　means　leaving　Vatican　City　unprotected　and　canceling　the　search。〃
　〃We　need　a　reference　book；〃　Vittoria　said。　〃An　index　of　Bernini's　work。　If　we　can　scan　titles；　maybe　something　will　jump　out。〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Langdon　said。　〃If　it's　a　work　Bernini　created　specifically　for　the　Illuminati；　it　may　be　very　obscure。　It　probably　won't　be　listed　in　a　book。〃　
　Vittoria　refused　to　believe　it。　〃The　other　two　sculptures　were　fairly　well…known。　You'd　heard　of　them　both。〃
　Langdon　shrugged。　〃Yeah。〃　
　〃If　we　scan　titles　for　references　to　the　word　'fire；'　maybe　we'll　find　a　statue　that's　listed　as　being　in　the　right　direction。〃
　Langdon　seemed　convinced　it　was　worth　a　shot。　He　turned　to　Olivetti。　〃I　need　a　list　of　all　Bernini's　work。　You　guys　probably　don't　have　a　coffee…table　Bernini　book　around　here；　do　you？〃
　〃Coffee…table　book？〃　Olivetti　seemed　unfamiliar　with　the　term。
　〃Never　mind。　Any　list。　How　about　the　Vatican　Museum？　They　must　have　Bernini　references。〃
　The　guard　with　the　scar　frowned。　〃Power　in　the　museum　is　out；　and　the　records　room　is　enormous。　Without　the　staff　there　to　help…〃
　〃The　Bernini　work　in　question；〃　Olivetti　interrupted。　〃Would　it　have　been　created　while　Bernini　was　employed　here　at　the　Vatican？〃
　〃Almost　definitely；〃　Langdon　said。　〃He　was　here　almost　his　entire　career。　And　certainly　during　the　time　period　of　the　Galileo　conflict。〃
　Olivetti　nodded。　〃Then　there's　another　reference。〃
　Vittoria　felt　a　flicker　of　optimism。　〃Where？〃
　The　mander　did　not　reply。　He　took　his　guard　aside　and　spoke　in　hushed　tones。　The　guard　seemed　uncertain　but　nodded　obediently。　When　Olivetti　was　finished　talking；　the　guard　turned　to　Langdon。　
　〃This　way　please；　Mr。　Langdon。　It's　nine…fifteen。　We'll　have　to　hurry。〃
　Langdon　and　the　guard　headed　for　the　door。　
　Vittoria　started　after　them。　〃I'll　help。〃
　Olivetti　caught　her　by　the　arm。　〃No；　Ms。　Vetra。　I　need　a　word　with　you。〃　His　grasp　was　authoritative。
　Langdon　and　the　guard　left。　Olivetti's　face　was　wooden　as　he　took　Vittoria　aside。　But　whatever　it　was　Olivetti　had　intended　to　say　to　her；　he　never　got　the　chance。　His　walkie…talkie　crackled　loudly。　〃mandante？〃　
　Everyone　in　the　room　turned。
　The　voice　on　the　transmitter　was　grim。　〃I　think　you　better　turn　on　the　television。〃
　
　80

　When　Langdon　had　left　the　Vatican　Secret　Archives　only　two　hours　ago；　he　had　never　imagined　he　would　see　them　again。　Now；　winded　from　having　jogged　the　entire　way　with　his　Swiss　Guard　escort；　Langdon　found　himself　back　at　the　archives　once　again。
　His　escort；　the　guard　with　the　scar；　now　led　Langdon　through　the　rows　of　translucent　cubicles。　The　silence　of　the　archives　felt　somehow　more　forbidding　now；　and　Langdon　was　thankful　when　the　guard　broke　it。
　〃Over　here；　I　think；〃　he　said；　escorting　Langdon　to　the　back　of　the　chamber　where　a　series　of　smaller　vaults　lined　the　wall。　The　guard　scanned　the　titles　on　the　vaults　and　motioned　to　one　of　them。　〃Yes；　here　it　is。　Right　where　the　mander　said　it　would　be。〃
　Langdon　read　the　title。　ATTIVI　VATICANI。　Vatican　assets？　He　scanned　the　list　of　contents。　Real　estate　。　。　。　currency　。　。　。　Vatican　Bank　。　。　。　antiquities　。　。　。　The　list　went　on。
　〃Paperwork　of　all　Vatican　assets；〃　the　guard　said。
　Langdon　looked　at　the　cubicle。　Jesus。　Even　in　the　dark；　he　could　tell　it　was　packed。
　〃My　mander　said　that　whatever　Bernini　created　while　under　Vatican　patronage　would　be　listed　here　as　an　asset。〃
　Langdon　nodded；　realizing　the　mander's　instincts　just　might　pay　off。　In　Bernini's　day；　everything　an　artist　created　while　under　the　patronage　of　the　Pope　became；　by　law；　property　of　the　Vatican。　It　was　more　like　feudalism　than　patronage；　but　top　artists　lived　well　and　seldom　plained。　〃Including　works　placed　in　churches　outside　Vatican　City？〃
　The　soldier　gave　him　an　odd　look。　〃Of　course。　All　Catholic　churches　in　Rome　are　property　of　the　Vatican。〃
　Langdon　looked　at　the　list　in　his　hand。　It　contained　the　names　of　the　twenty　or　so　churches　that　were　located　on　a　direct　line　with　West　Ponente's　breath。　The　third　altar　of　science　was　one　of　them；　and　Langdon　hoped　he　had　time　to　figure　out　which　it　was。　Under　other　circumstances；　he　would　gladly　have　explored　each　church　in　person。　Today；　however；　he　had　about　twenty　minutes　to　find　what　he　was　looking　for…the　one　church　containing　a　Bernini　tribute　to　fire。　
　Langdon　walked　to　the　vault's　electronic　revolving　door。　The　guard　did　not　follow。　Langdon　sensed　an　uncertain　hesitation。　He　smiled。　〃The　air's　fine。　Thin；　but　breathable。〃
　〃My　orders　are　to　escort　you　here　and　then　return　immediately　to　the　security　center。〃
　〃You're　leaving？〃　
　〃Yes。　The　Swiss　Guard　are　not　allowed　inside　the　archives。　I　am　breaching　protocol　by　escorting　you　this　far。　The　mander　reminded　me　of　that。〃
　〃Breaching　protocol？〃　Do　you　have　any　idea　what　is　going　on　here　tonight？　〃Whose　side　is　your　damn　mander　on！〃
　All　friendliness　disappeared　from　the　guard's　face。　The　scar　under　his　eye　twitched。　The　guard　stared；　looking　suddenly　a　lot　like　Olivetti　himself。　
　〃I　apologize；〃　Langdon　said；　regretting　the　ment。　〃It's　just　。　。　。　I　could　use　some　help。〃
　The　guard　did　not　blink。　〃I　am　trained　to　follow　orders。　Not　debate　them。　When　you　find　what　you　are　looking　for；　contact　the　mander　immediately。〃　
　Langdon　was　flustered。　〃But　where　will　he　be？〃
　The　guard　removed　his　walkie…talkie　and　set　it　on　a　nearby　table。　〃Channel　one。〃　Then　he　disappeared　into　the　dark。
　
　81

　The　television　in　the　Office　of　the　Pope　was　an　oversized　Hitachi　hidden　in　a　recessed　cabinet　opposite　his　desk。　The　doors　to　the　cabinet　were　now　open；　and　everyone　gathered　around。　Vittoria　moved　in　close。　As　the　screen　warmed　up；　a　young　female　reporter　came　into　view。　She　was　a　doe…eyed　brunette。　
　〃For　MSNBC　news；〃　she　announced；　〃this　is　Kelly　Horan…Jones；　live　from　Vatican　City。〃　The　image　behind　her　was　a　night　shot　of　St。　Peter's　Basilica　with　all　its　lights　blazing。　
　〃You're　not　live；〃　Rocher　snapped。　〃That's　stock　footage！　The　lights　in　the　basilica　are　out。〃　
　Olivetti　silenced　him　with　a　hiss。
　The　reporter　continued；　sounding　tense。　〃Shocking　developments　in　the　Vatican　elections　this　evening。　We　have　reports　that　two　members　of　the　College　of　Cardinals　have　been　brutally　murdered　in　Rome。〃
　Olivetti　swore　under　his　breath。　
　As　the　reporter　continued；　a　guard　appeared　at　the　door；　breathless。　〃mander；　the　central　switchboard　reports　every　line　lit。　They're　requesting　our　official　position　on…〃
　〃Disconnect　it；〃　Olivetti　said；　never　taking　his　eyes　from　the　TV。　
　The　guard　looked　uncertain。　〃But；　mander…〃
　〃Go！〃
　The　guard　ran　off。
　Vittoria　sensed　the　camerlegno　had　wanted　to　say　something　but　had　stopped　himself。　Instead；　the　man　stared　long　and　hard　at　Olivetti　before　turning　back　to　the　television。
　MSNBC　was　now　running　tape。　The　Swiss　Guards　carried　the　body　of　Cardinal　Ebner　down　the　stairs　outside　Santa　Maria　del　Popolo　and　lif