danbrown.angels&demons-第78节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


？　Langdon　felt　a　chill。　Ever　since　he　had　almost　suffocated　in　the　secret　archives；　Langdon　had　not　entirely　trusted　Rocher。
　The　Hassassin　jabbed　suddenly；　nicking　Langdon　in　the　side。
　Langdon　jumped　back；　his　temper　flaring。　〃Janus　will　never　get　out　alive！〃
　The　Hassassin　shrugged。　〃Some　causes　are　worth　dying　for。〃
　Langdon　sensed　the　killer　was　serious。　Janus　ing　to　Vatican　City　on　a　suicide　mission？　A　question　of　honor？　For　an　instant；　Langdon's　mind　took　in　the　entire　terrifying　cycle。　The　Illuminati　plot　had　e　full　circle。　The　priest　whom　the　Illuminati　had　inadvertently　brought　to　power　by　killing　the　Pope　had　emerged　as　a　worthy　adversary。　In　a　final　act　of　defiance；　the　Illuminati　leader　would　destroy　him。　
　Suddenly；　Langdon　felt　the　wall　behind　him　disappear。　There　was　a　rush　of　cool　air；　and　he　staggered　backward　into　the　night。　The　balcony！　He　now　realized　what　the　Hassassin　had　in　mind。　
　Langdon　immediately　sensed　the　precipice　behind　him…a　hundred…foot　drop　to　the　courtyard　below。　He　had　seen　it　on　his　way　in。　The　Hassassin　wasted　no　time。　With　a　violent　surge；　he　lunged。　The　spear　sliced　toward　Langdon's　midsection。　Langdon　skidded　back；　and　the　point　came　up　short；　catching　only　his　shirt。　Again　the　point　came　at　him。　Langdon　slid　farther　back；　feeling　the　banister　right　behind　him。　Certain　the　next　jab　would　kill　him；　Langdon　attempted　the　absurd。　Spinning　to　one　side；　he　reached　out　and　grabbed　the　shaft；　sending　a　jolt　of　pain　through　his　palm。　Langdon　held　on。
　The　Hassassin　seemed　unfazed。　They　strained　for　a　moment　against　one　another；　face　to　face；　the　Hassassin's　breath　fetid　in　Langdon's　nostrils。　The　bar　began　to　slip。　The　Hassassin　was　too　strong。　In　a　final　act　of　desperation；　Langdon　stretched　out　his　leg；　dangerously　off　balance　as　he　tried　to　ram　his　foot　down　on　the　Hassassin's　injured　toe。　But　the　man　was　a　professional　and　adjusted　to　protect　his　weakness。　
　Langdon　had　just　played　his　final　card。　And　he　knew　he　had　lost　the　hand。
　The　Hassassin's　arms　exploded　upward；　driving　Langdon　back　against　the　railing。　Langdon　sensed　nothing　but　empty　space　behind　him　as　the　railing　hit　just　beneath　his　buttocks。　The　Hassassin　held　the　bar　crosswise　and　drove　it　into　Langdon's　chest。　Langdon's　back　arched　over　the　chasm。　
　〃Ma'assalamah；〃　the　Hassassin　sneered。　〃Good…bye。〃
　With　a　merciless　glare；　the　Hassassin　gave　a　final　shove。　Langdon's　center　of　gravity　shifted；　and　his　feet　swung　up　off　the　floor。　With　only　one　hope　of　survival；　Langdon　grabbed　on　to　the　railing　as　he　went　over。　His　left　hand　slipped；　but　his　right　hand　held　on。　He　ended　up　hanging　upside　down　by　his　legs　and　one　hand　。　。　。　straining　to　hold　on。
　Looming　over　him；　the　Hassassin　raised　the　bar　overhead；　preparing　to　bring　it　crashing　down。　As　the　bar　began　to　accelerate；　Langdon　saw　a　vision。　Perhaps　it　was　the　imminence　of　death　or　simply　blind　fear；　but　in　that　moment；　he　sensed　a　sudden　aura　surrounding　the　Hassassin。　A　glowing　effulgence　seemed　to　swell　out　of　nothing　behind　him　。　。　。　like　an　ining　fireball。
　Halfway　through　his　swing；　the　Hassassin　dropped　the　bar　and　screamed　in　agony。
　The　iron　bar　clattered　past　Langdon　out　into　the　night。　The　Hassassin　spun　away　from　him；　and　Langdon　saw　a　blistering　torch　burn　on　the　killer's　back。　Langdon　pulled　himself　up　to　see　Vittoria；　eyes　flaring；　now　facing　the　Hassassin。　
　Vittoria　waved　a　torch　in　front　of　her；　the　vengeance　in　her　face　resplendent　in　the　flames。　How　she　had　escaped；　Langdon　did　not　know　or　care。　He　began　scrambling　back　up　over　the　banister。
　The　battle　would　be　short。　The　Hassassin　was　a　deadly　match。　Screaming　with　rage；　the　killer　lunged　for　her。　She　tried　to　dodge；　but　the　man　was　on　her；　holding　the　torch　and　about　to　wrestle　it　away。　Langdon　did　not　wait。　Leaping　off　the　banister；　Langdon　jabbed　his　clenched　fist　into　the　blistered　burn　on　the　Hassassin's　back。　
　The　scream　seemed　to　echo　all　the　way　to　the　Vatican。　
　The　Hassassin　froze　a　moment；　his　back　arched　in　anguish。　He　let　go　of　the　torch；　and　Vittoria　thrust　it　hard　into　his　face。　There　was　a　hiss　of　flesh　as　his　left　eye　sizzled。　He　screamed　again；　raising　his　hands　to　his　face。
　〃Eye　for　an　eye；〃　Vittoria　hissed。　This　time　she　swung　the　torch　like　a　bat；　and　when　it　connected；　the　Hassassin　stumbled　back　against　the　railing。　Langdon　and　Vittoria　went　for　him　at　the　same　instant；　both　heaving　and　pushing。　The　Hassassin's　body　sailed　backward　over　the　banister　into　the　night。　There　was　no　scream。　The　only　sound　was　the　crack　of　his　spine　as　he　landed　spread…eagle　on　a　pile　of　cannonballs　far　below。
　Langdon　turned　and　stared　at　Vittoria　in　bewilderment。　Slackened　ropes　hung　off　her　midsection　and　shoulders。　Her　eyes　blazed　like　an　inferno。　
　〃Houdini　knew　yoga。〃
　
　109

　Meanwhile；　in　St。　Peter's　Square；　the　wall　of　Swiss　Guards　yelled　orders　and　fanned　outward；　trying　to　push　the　crowds　back　to　a　safer　distance。　It　was　no　use。　The　crowd　was　too　dense　and　seemed　far　more　interested　in　the　Vatican's　impending　doom　than　in　their　own　safety。　The　towering　media　screens　in　the　square　were　now　transmitting　a　live　countdown　of　the　antimatter　canister…a　direct　feed　from　the　Swiss　Guard　security　monitor…pliments　of　the　camerlegno。　Unfortunately；　the　image　of　the　canister　counting　down　was　doing　nothing　to　repel　the　crowds。　The　people　in　the　square　apparently　looked　at　the　tiny　droplet　of　liquid　suspended　in　the　canister　and　decided　it　was　not　as　menacing　as　they　had　thought。　They　could　also　see　the　countdown　clock　now…a　little　under　forty…five　minutes　until　detonation。　Plenty　of　time　to　stay　and　watch。
　Nonetheless；　the　Swiss　Guards　unanimously　agreed　that　the　camerlegno's　bold　decision　to　address　the　world　with　the　truth　and　then　provide　the　media　with　actual　visuals　of　Illuminati　treachery　had　been　a　savvy　maneuver。　The　Illuminati　had　no　doubt　expected　the　Vatican　to　be　their　usual　reticent　selves　in　the　face　of　adversity。　Not　tonight。　Camerlegno　Carlo　Ventresca　had　proven　himself　a　manding　foe。　
　
　Inside　the　Sistine　Chapel；　Cardinal　Mortati　was　getting　restless。　It　was　past　11：15　P。M。　Many　of　the　cardinals　were　continuing　to　pray；　but　others　had　clustered　around　the　exit；　clearly　unsettled　by　the　hour。　Some　of　the　cardinals　began　pounding　on　the　door　with　their　fists。
　Outside　the　door　Lieutenant　Chartrand　heard　the　pounding　and　didn't　know　what　to　do。　He　checked　his　watch。　It　was　time。　Captain　Rocher　had　given　strict　orders　that　the　cardinals　were　not　to　be　let　out　until　he　gave　the　word。　The　pounding　on　the　door　became　more　intense；　and　Chartrand　felt　uneasy。　He　wondered　if　the　captain　had　simply　forgotten。　The　captain　had　been　acting　very　erratic　since　his　mysterious　phone　call。　
　Chartrand　pulled　out　his　walkie…talkie。　〃Captain？　Chartrand　here。　It　is　past　time。　Should　I　open　the　Sistine？〃
　〃That　door　stays　shut。　I　believe　I　already　gave　you　that　order。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　I　just…〃
　〃Our　guest　is　arriving　shortly。　Take　a　few　men　upstairs；　and　guard　the　door　of　the　Pope's　office。　The　camerlegno　is　not　to　go　anywhere。〃　
　〃I'm　sorry；　sir？〃
　〃What　is　it　that　you　don't　understand；　Lieutenant？〃
　〃Nothing；　sir。　I　am　on　my　way。〃
　
　Upstairs　in　the　Office　of　the　Pope；　the　camerlegno　stared　in　quiet　meditation　at　the　fire。　Give　me　strength；　God。　Bring　us　a　miracle。　He　poked　at　the　coals；　wondering　if　he　would　survive　the　night。
　
　110

　Eleven…twenty…three　P。M。　
　Vittoria　stood　trembling　on　the　balcony　of　Castle　St。　Angelo；　staring　out　across　Rome；　her　eyes　moist　with　tears。　She　wanted　badly　to　embrace　Robert　Langdon；　but　she　could　not。　Her　body　felt　anesthetized。　Readjusting。　Taking　stock。　The　man　who　had　killed　her　father　lay　far　below；　dead；　and　she　had　almost　been　a　victim　as　well。　
　When　Langdon's　hand　touched　her　shoulder；　the　infusion　of　warmth　seemed　to　magically　shatter　the　ice。　Her　body　shuddered　back　to　life。　The　fog　lifted；　and　she　turned。　Robert　looked　like　hell…wet　and　matted…he　had　obviously　been　through　purgatory　to　e　rescue　her。　
　〃Thank　you　。　。　。〃　she　whispered。
　Langdon　gave　an　exhausted　smile　and　reminded　her　that　it　was　she　who　deserved　thanks…her　ability　to　practically　dislocate　her　shoulders　had　just　saved　them　both。　Vittoria　wiped　her　eyes。　She　could　have　stood　there　forever　with　him；　but　the　reprieve　was　short…lived。　
　〃We　need　to　get　out　of　here；〃　Langdon　said。
　Vittoria's　mind　was　elsewhere。　She　was　staring　out　toward　the　Vatican。　The　world's　smallest　country　looked　unsettlingly　close；　glowing　white　under　a　barrage　of　media　lights。　To　her　shock；　much　of　St。　Peter's　Square　was　still　packed　with　people！　The　Swiss　Guard　had　apparently　been　able　to　clear　only　about　a　hundred　and　fifty　feet　back…the　area　directly　in　front　of　the　basilica…less　than　one…third　of　the　square。　The　shell　of　congestion　enpassing　the　square　was　pacted　now；　those　at　the　safer　distances　pressing　for　a　closer　look；　trapping　the　others　inside。　They　are　too　close！　Vittoria　thought。　Much　too　close！　
　〃I'm　going　back　in；〃　Langdon　said　flatly。
　Vittoria　turned；　incredulous。　〃Into　the　Vatican？〃　
　Langdon　told　her　about　the　Samaritan；　and　how　it　was　a　ploy。　The　Illuminati　leader；　a　man　named　Janus；　was　actually　ing　himself　to　brand　th