danbrown.angels&demons-第77节

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　The　Church　of　Illumination。　Simple　and　pure。　He　had　arrived。
　Directly　in　front　of　him；　framed　in　the　opening　of　the　balcony；　stood　the　Hassassin。　He　was　bare　chested；　standing　over　Vittoria；　who　lay　bound　but　very　much　alive。　Langdon　felt　a　wave　of　relief　to　see　her。　For　an　instant；　their　eyes　met；　and　a　torrent　of　emotions　flowed…gratitude；　desperation；　and　regret。
　〃So　we　meet　yet　again；〃　the　Hassassin　said。　He　looked　at　the　bar　in　Langdon's　hand　and　laughed　out　loud。　〃And　this　time　you　e　for　me　with　that？〃
　〃Untie　her。〃
　The　Hassassin　put　the　knife　to　Vittoria's　throat。　〃I　will　kill　her。〃
　Langdon　had　no　doubt　the　Hassassin　was　capable　of　such　an　act。　He　forced　a　calm　into　his　voice。　〃I　imagine　she　would　wele　it　。　。　。　considering　the　alternative。〃
　The　Hassassin　smiled　at　the　insult。　〃You're　right。　She　has　much　to　offer。　It　would　be　a　waste。〃
　Langdon　stepped　forward；　grasping　the　rusted　bar；　and　aimed　the　splintered　end　directly　at　the　Hassassin。　The　cut　on　his　hand　bit　sharply。　〃Let　her　go。〃
　The　Hassassin　seemed　for　a　moment　to　be　considering　it。　Exhaling；　he　dropped　his　shoulders。　It　was　a　clear　motion　of　surrender；　and　yet　at　that　exact　instant　the　Hassassin's　arm　seemed　to　accelerate　unexpectedly。　There　was　a　blur　of　dark　muscle；　and　a　blade　suddenly　came　tearing　through　the　air　toward　Langdon's　chest。
　Whether　it　was　instinct　or　exhaustion　that　buckled　Langdon's　knees　at　that　moment；　he　didn't　know；　but　the　knife　sailed　past　his　left　ear　and　clattered　to　the　floor　behind　him。　The　Hassassin　seemed　unfazed。　He　smiled　at　Langdon；　who　was　kneeling　now；　holding　the　metal　bar。　The　killer　stepped　away　from　Vittoria　and　moved　toward　Langdon　like　a　stalking　lion。
　As　Langdon　scrambled　to　his　feet；　lifting　the　bar　again；　his　wet　turtleneck　and　pants　felt　suddenly　more　restrictive。　The　Hassassin；　half…clothed；　seemed　to　move　much　faster；　the　wound　on　his　foot　apparently　not　slowing　him　at　all。　Langdon　sensed　this　was　a　man　accustomed　to　pain。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　Langdon　wished　he　were　holding　a　very　big　gun。
　The　Hassassin　circled　slowly；　as　if　enjoying　himself；　always　just　out　of　reach；　moving　toward　the　knife　on　the　floor。　Langdon　cut　him　off。　Then　the　killer　moved　back　toward　Vittoria。　Again　Langdon　cut　him　off。
　〃There's　still　time；〃　Langdon　ventured。　〃Tell　me　where　the　canister　is。　The　Vatican　will　pay　more　than　the　Illuminati　ever　could。〃
　〃You　are　naпve。〃
　Langdon　jabbed　with　the　bar。　The　Hassassin　dodged。　He　navigated　around　a　bench；　holding　the　weapon　in　front　of　him；　trying　to　corner　the　Hassassin　in　the　oval　room。　This　damn　room　has　no　corners！　Oddly；　the　Hassassin　did　not　seem　interested　in　attacking　or　fleeing。　He　was　simply　playing　Langdon's　game。　Coolly　waiting。
　Waiting　for　what？　The　killer　kept　circling；　a　master　at　positioning　himself。　It　was　like　an　endless　game　of　chess。　The　weapon　in　Langdon's　hand　was　getting　heavy；　and　he　suddenly　sensed　he　knew　what　the　Hassassin　was　waiting　for。　He's　tiring　me　out。　It　was　working；　too。　Langdon　was　hit　by　a　surge　of　weariness；　the　adrenaline　alone　no　longer　enough　to　keep　him　alert。　He　knew　he　had　to　make　a　move。
　The　Hassassin　seemed　to　read　Langdon's　mind；　shifting　again；　as　if　intentionally　leading　Langdon　toward　a　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　Langdon　could　tell　there　was　something　on　the　table。　Something　glinted　in　the　torchlight。　A　weapon？　Langdon　kept　his　eyes　focused　on　the　Hassassin　and　maneuvered　himself　closer　to　the　table。　When　the　Hassassin　cast　a　long；　guileless　glance　at　the　table；　Langdon　tried　to　fight　the　obvious　bait。　But　instinct　overruled。　He　stole　a　glance。　The　damage　was　done。　
　It　was　not　a　weapon　at　all。　The　sight　momentarily　riveted　him。
　On　the　table　lay　a　rudimentary　copper　chest；　crusted　with　ancient　patina。　The　chest　was　a　pentagon。　The　lid　lay　open。　Arranged　inside　in　five　padded　partments　were　five　brands。　The　brands　were　forged　of　iron…large　embossing　tools　with　stout　handles　of　wood。　Langdon　had　no　doubt　what　they　said。
　ILLUMINATI；　EARTH；　AIR；　FIRE；　WATER。
　Langdon　snapped　his　head　back　up；　fearing　the　Hassassin　would　lunge。　He　did　not。　The　killer　was　waiting；　almost　as　if　he　were　refreshed　by　the　game。　Langdon　fought　to　recover　his　focus；　locking　eyes　again　with　his　quarry；　thrusting　with　the　pipe。　But　the　image　of　the　box　hung　in　his　mind。　Although　the　brands　themselves　were　mesmerizing…artifacts　few　Illuminati　scholars　even　believed　existed…Langdon　suddenly　realized　there　had　been　something　else　about　the　box　that　had　ignited　a　wave　of　foreboding　within。　As　the　Hassassin　maneuvered　again；　Langdon　stole　another　glance　downward。
　My　God！　
　In　the　chest；　the　five　brands　sat　in　partments　around　the　outer　edge。　But　in　the　center；　there　was　another　partment。　This　partition　was　empty；　but　it　clearly　was　intended　to　hold　another　brand　。　。　。　a　brand　much　larger　than　the　others；　and　perfectly　square。
　The　attack　was　a　blur。
　The　Hassassin　swooped　toward　him　like　a　bird　of　prey。　Langdon；　his　concentration　having　been　masterfully　diverted；　tried　to　counter；　but　the　pipe　felt　like　a　tree　trunk　in　his　hands。　His　parry　was　too　slow。　The　Hassassin　dodged。　As　Langdon　tried　to　retract　the　bar；　the　Hassassin's　hands　shot　out　and　grabbed　it。　The　man's　grip　was　strong；　his　injured　arm　seeming　no　longer　to　affect　him。　Violently；　the　two　men　struggled。　Langdon　felt　the　bar　ripped　away；　and　a　searing　pain　shot　through　his　palm。　An　instant　later；　Langdon　was　staring　into　the　splintered　point　of　the　weapon。　The　hunter　had　bee　the　hunted。
　Langdon　felt　like　he'd　been　hit　by　a　cyclone。　The　Hassassin　circled；　smiling　now；　backing　Langdon　against　the　wall。　〃What　is　your　American　adаgio？〃　he　chided。　〃Something　about　curiosity　and　the　cat？〃　
　Langdon　could　barely　focus。　He　cursed　his　carelessness　as　the　Hassassin　moved　in。　Nothing　was　making　sense。　A　sixth　Illuminati　brand？　In　frustration　he　blurted；　〃I've　never　read　anything　about　a　sixth　Illuminati　brand！〃　
　〃I　think　you　probably　have。〃　The　killer　chuckled　as　he　herded　Langdon　around　the　oval　wall。　
　Langdon　was　lost。　He　most　certainly　had　not。　There　were　five　Illuminati　brands。　He　backed　up；　searching　the　room　for　any　weapon　at　all。
　〃A　perfect　union　of　the　ancient　elements；〃　the　Hassassin　said。　〃The　final　brand　is　the　most　brilliant　of　all。　I'm　afraid　you　will　never　see　it；　though。〃
　Langdon　sensed　he　would　not　be　seeing　much　of　anything　in　a　moment。　He　kept　backing　up；　searching　the　room　for　an　option。　〃And　you've　seen　this　final　brand？〃　Langdon　demanded；　trying　to　buy　time。
　〃Someday　perhaps　they　will　honor　me。　As　I　prove　myself。〃　He　jabbed　at　Langdon；　as　if　enjoying　a　game。
　Langdon　slid　backward　again。　He　had　the　feeling　the　Hassassin　was　directing　him　around　the　wall　toward　some　unseen　destination。　Where？　Langdon　could　not　afford　to　look　behind　him。　〃The　brand？〃　he　demanded。　〃Where　is　it？〃　
　〃Not　here。　Janus　is　apparently　the　only　one　who　holds　it。〃
　〃Janus？〃　Langdon　did　not　recognize　the　name。
　〃The　Illuminati　leader。　He　is　arriving　shortly。〃
　〃The　Illuminati　leader　is　ing　here？〃　
　〃To　perform　the　final　branding。〃
　Langdon　shot　a　frightened　glance　to　Vittoria。　She　looked　strangely　calm；　her　eyes　closed　to　the　world　around　her；　her　lungs　pulling　slowly　。　。　。　deeply。　Was　she　the　final　victim？　Was　he？　
　〃Such　conceit；〃　the　Hassassin　sneered；　watching　Langdon's　eyes。　〃The　two　of　you　are　nothing。　You　will　die；　of　course；　that　is　for　certain。　But　the　final　victim　of　whom　I　speak　is　a　truly　dangerous　enemy。〃
　Langdon　tried　to　make　sense　of　the　Hassassin's　words。　A　dangerous　enemy？　The　top　cardinals　were　all　dead。　The　Pope　was　dead。　The　Illuminati　had　wiped　them　all　out。　Langdon　found　the　answer　in　the　vacuum　of　the　Hassassin's　eyes。　
　The　camerlegno。
　Camerlegno　Ventresca　was　the　one　man　who　had　been　a　beacon　of　hope　for　the　world　through　this　entire　tribulation。　The　camerlegno　had　done　more　to　condemn　the　Illuminati　tonight　than　decades　of　conspiracy　theorists。　Apparently　he　would　pay　the　price。　He　was　the　Illuminati's　final　target。
　〃You'll　never　get　to　him；〃　Langdon　challenged。
　〃Not　I；〃　the　Hassassin　replied；　forcing　Langdon　farther　back　around　the　wall。　〃That　honor　is　reserved　for　Janus　himself。〃
　〃The　Illuminati　leader　himself　intends　to　brand　the　camerlegno？〃
　〃Power　has　its　privileges。〃
　〃But　no　one　could　possibly　get　into　Vatican　City　right　now！〃
　The　Hassassin　looked　smug。　〃Not　unless　he　had　an　appointment。〃　
　Langdon　was　confused。　The　only　person　expected　at　the　Vatican　right　now　was　the　person　the　press　was　calling　the　11th　Hour　Samaritan…the　person　Rocher　said　had　information　that　could　save…
　Langdon　stopped　short。　Good　God！　
　The　Hassassin　smirked；　clearly　enjoying　Langdon's　sickening　cognition。　〃I　too　wondered　how　Janus　would　gain　entrance。　Then　in　the　van　I　heard　the　radio…a　report　about　an　11th　hour　Samaritan。〃　He　smiled。　〃The　Vatican　will　wele　Janus　with　open　arms。〃
　Langdon　almost　stumbled　backward。　Janus　is　the　Samaritan！　It　was　an　unthinkable　deception。　The　Illuminati　leader　would　get　a　royal　escort　directly　to　the　camerlegno's　chambers。　But　how　did　Janus　fool　Rocher？　Or　was　Rocher　somehow　involved？　Langdon　felt　a　chill。　Ever　since　he　had　almost　suffocated　in　the　secret　archives；