danbrown.angels&demons-第79节

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　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　the　camerlegno。　A　final　Illuminati　act　of　domination。
　〃Nobody　in　Vatican　City　knows；〃　Langdon　said。　〃I　have　no　way　to　contact　them；　and　this　guy　is　arriving　any　minute。　I　have　to　warn　the　guards　before　they　let　him　in。〃
　〃But　you'll　never　get　through　the　crowd！〃
　Langdon's　voice　was　confident。　〃There's　a　way。　Trust　me。〃
　Vittoria　sensed　once　again　that　the　historian　knew　something　she　did　not。　〃I'm　ing。〃　
　〃No。　Why　risk　both…〃
　〃I　have　to　find　a　way　to　get　those　people　out　of　there！　They're　in　incredible　dange…〃
　Just　then；　the　balcony　they　were　standing　on　began　to　shake。　A　deafening　rumble　shook　the　whole　castle。　Then　a　white　light　from　the　direction　of　St。　Peter's　blinded　them。　Vittoria　had　only　one　thought。　Oh　my　God！　The　antimatter　annihilated　early！　
　But　instead　of　an　explosion；　a　huge　cheer　went　up　from　the　crowd。　Vittoria　squinted　into　the　light。　It　was　a　barrage　of　media　lights　from　the　square；　now　trained；　it　seemed；　on　them！　Everyone　was　turned　their　way；　hollering　and　pointing。　The　rumble　grew　louder。　The　air　in　the　square　seemed　suddenly　joyous。
　Langdon　looked　baffled。　〃What　the　devil…〃
　The　sky　overhead　roared。
　Emerging　from　behind　the　tower；　without　warning；　came　the　papal　helicopter。　It　thundered　fifty　feet　above　them；　on　a　beeline　for　Vatican　City。　As　it　passed　overhead；　radiant　in　the　media　lights；　the　castle　trembled。　The　lights　followed　the　helicopter　as　it　passed　by；　and　Langdon　and　Vittoria　were　suddenly　again　in　the　dark。
　Vittoria　had　the　uneasy　feeling　they　were　too　late　as　they　watched　the　mammoth　machine　slow　to　a　stop　over　St。　Peter's　Square。　Kicking　up　a　cloud　of　dust；　the　chopper　dropped　onto　the　open　portion　of　the　square　between　the　crowd　and　the　basilica；　touching　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　basilica's　staircase。
　〃Talk　about　an　entrance；〃　Vittoria　said。　Against　the　white　marble；　she　could　see　a　tiny　speck　of　a　person　emerge　from　the　Vatican　and　move　toward　the　chopper。　She　would　never　have　recognized　the　figure　except　for　the　bright　red　beret　on　his　head。　〃Red　carpet　greeting。　That's　Rocher。〃
　Langdon　pounded　his　fist　on　the　banister。　〃Somebody's　got　to　warn　them！〃　He　turned　to　go。
　Vittoria　caught　his　arm。　〃Wait！〃　She　had　just　seen　something　else；　something　her　eyes　refused　to　believe。　Fingers　trembling；　she　pointed　toward　the　chopper。　Even　from　this　distance；　there　was　no　mistaking。　Descending　the　gangplank　was　another　figure　。　。　。　a　figure　who　moved　so　uniquely　that　it　could　only　be　one　man。　Although　the　figure　was　seated；　he　accelerated　across　the　open　square　with　effortless　control　and　startling　speed。　
　A　king　on　an　electric　throne。
　It　was　Maximilian　Kohler。
　
　111

　Kohler　was　sickened　by　the　opulence　of　the　Hallway　of　the　Belvedere。　The　gold　leaf　in　the　ceiling　alone　probably　could　have　funded　a　year's　worth　of　cancer　research。　Rocher　led　Kohler　up　a　handicapped　ramp　on　a　circuitous　route　into　the　Apostolic　Palace。　
　〃No　elevator？〃　Kohler　demanded。
　〃No　power。〃　Rocher　motioned　to　the　candles　burning　around　them　in　the　darkened　building。　〃Part　of　our　search　tactic。〃
　〃Tactics　which　no　doubt　failed。〃
　Rocher　nodded。
　Kohler　broke　into　another　coughing　fit　and　knew　it　might　be　one　of　his　last。　It　was　not　an　entirely　unwele　thought。
　When　they　reached　the　top　floor　and　started　down　the　hallway　toward　the　Pope's　office；　four　Swiss　Guards　ran　toward　them；　looking　troubled。　〃Captain；　what　are　you　doing　up　here？　I　thought　this　man　had　information　that…〃
　〃He　will　only　speak　to　the　camerlegno。〃
　The　guards　recoiled；　looking　suspicious。　
　〃Tell　the　camerlegno；〃　Rocher　said　forcefully；　〃that　the　director　of　CERN；　Maximilian　Kohler；　is　here　to　see　him。　Immediately。〃
　〃Yes；　sir！〃　One　of　the　guards　ran　off　in　the　direction　of　the　camerlegno's　office。　The　others　stood　their　ground。　They　studied　Rocher；　looking　uneasy。　〃Just　one　moment；　captain。　We　will　announce　your　guest。〃
　Kohler；　however；　did　not　stop。　He　turned　sharply　and　maneuvered　his　chair　around　the　sentinels。　
　The　guards　spun　and　broke　into　a　jog　beside　him。　〃Fermati！　Sir！　Stop！〃
　Kohler　felt　repugnance　for　them。　Not　even　the　most　elite　security　force　in　the　world　was　immune　to　the　pity　everyone　felt　for　cripples。　Had　Kohler　been　a　healthy　man；　the　guards　would　have　tackled　him。　Cripples　are　powerless；　Kohler　thought。　Or　so　the　world　believes。
　Kohler　knew　he　had　very　little　time　to　acplish　what　he　had　e　for。　He　also　knew　he　might　die　here　tonight。　He　was　surprised　how　little　he　cared。　Death　was　a　price　he　was　ready　to　pay。　He　had　endured　too　much　in　his　life　to　have　his　work　destroyed　by　someone　like　Camerlegno　Ventresca。
　〃Signore！〃　the　guards　shouted；　running　ahead　and　forming　a　line　across　the　hallway。　〃You　must　stop！〃　One　of　them　pulled　a　sidearm　and　aimed　it　at　Kohler。
　Kohler　stopped。
　Rocher　stepped　in；　looking　contrite。　〃Mr。　Kohler；　please。　It　will　only　be　a　moment。　No　one　enters　the　Office　of　the　Pope　unannounced。〃
　Kohler　could　see　in　Rocher's　eyes　that　he　had　no　choice　but　to　wait。　Fine；　Kohler　thought。　We　wait。　
　The　guards；　cruelly　it　seemed；　had　stopped　Kohler　next　to　a　full…length　gilded　mirror。　The　sight　of　his　own　twisted　form　repulsed　Kohler。　The　ancient　rage　brimmed　yet　again　to　the　surface。　It　empowered　him。　He　was　among　the　enemy　now。　These　were　the　people　who　had　robbed　him　of　his　dignity。　These　were　the　people。　Because　of　them　he　had　never　felt　the　touch　of　a　woman　。　。　。　had　never　stood　tall　to　accept　an　award。　What　truth　do　these　people　possess？　What　proof；　damn　it！　A　book　of　ancient　fables？　Promises　of　miracles　to　e？　Science　creates　miracles　every　day！　
　Kohler　stared　a　moment　into　his　own　stony　eyes。　Tonight　I　may　die　at　the　hands　of　religion；　he　thought。　But　it　will　not　be　the　first　time。
　For　a　moment；　he　was　eleven　years　old　again；　lying　in　his　bed　in　his　parents'　Frankfurt　mansion。　The　sheets　beneath　him　were　Europe's　finest　linen；　but　they　were　soaked　with　sweat。　Young　Max　felt　like　he　was　on　fire；　the　pain　wracking　his　body　unimaginable。　Kneeling　beside　his　bed；　where　they　had　been　for　two　days；　were　his　mother　and　father。　They　were　praying。　
　In　the　shadows　stood　three　of　Frankfurt's　best　doctors。
　〃I　urge　you　to　reconsider！〃　one　of　the　doctors　said。　〃Look　at　the　boy！　His　fever　is　increasing。　He　is　in　terrible　pain。　And　danger！〃
　But　Max　knew　his　mother's　reply　before　she　even　said　it。　〃Gott　wird　ihn　beschuetzen。〃　
　Yes；　Max　thought。　God　will　protect　me。　The　conviction　in　his　mother's　voice　gave　him　strength。　God　will　protect　me。
　An　hour　later；　Max　felt　like　his　whole　body　was　being　crushed　beneath　a　car。　He　could　not　even　breathe　to　cry。
　〃Your　son　is　in　great　suffering；〃　another　doctor　said。　〃Let　me　at　least　ease　his　pain。　I　have　in　my　bag　a　simple　injection　of…〃
　〃Ruhe；　bitte！〃　Max's　father　silenced　the　doctor　without　ever　opening　his　eyes。　He　simply　kept　praying。　
　〃Father；　please！〃　Max　wanted　to　scream。　〃Let　them　stop　the　pain！〃　But　his　words　were　lost　in　a　spasm　of　coughing。
　An　hour　later；　the　pain　had　worsened。
　〃Your　son　could　bee　paralyzed；〃　one　of　the　doctors　scolded。　〃Or　even　die！　We　have　medicines　that　will　help！〃　
　Frau　and　Herr　Kohler　would　not　allow　it。　They　did　not　believe　in　medicine。　Who　were　they　to　interfere　with　God's　master　plan？　They　prayed　harder。　After　all；　God　had　blessed　them　with　this　boy；　why　would　God　take　the　child　away？　His　mother　whispered　to　Max　to　be　strong。　She　explained　that　God　was　testing　him　。　。　。　like　the　Bible　story　of　Abraham　。　。　。　a　test　of　his　faith。　
　Max　tried　to　have　faith；　but　the　pain　was　excruciating。
　〃I　cannot　watch　this！〃　one　of　the　doctors　finally　said；　running　from　the　room。
　By　dawn；　Max　was　barely　conscious。　Every　muscle　in　his　body　spasmed　in　agony。　Where　is　Jesus？　he　wondered。　Doesn't　he　love　me？　Max　felt　the　life　slipping　from　his　body。　
　His　mother　had　fallen　asleep　at　the　bedside；　her　hands　still　clasped　over　him。　Max's　father　stood　across　the　room　at　the　window　staring　out　at　the　dawn。　He　seemed　to　be　in　a　trance。　Max　could　hear　the　low　mumble　of　his　ceaseless　prayers　for　mercy。
　It　was　then　that　Max　sensed　the　figure　hovering　over　him。　An　angel？　Max　could　barely　see。　His　eyes　were　swollen　shut。　The　figure　whispered　in　his　ear；　but　it　was　not　the　voice　of　an　angel。　Max　recognized　it　as　one　of　the　doctors　。　。　。　the　one　who　had　sat　in　the　corner　for　two　days；　never　leaving；　begging　Max's　parents　to　let　him　administer　some　new　drug　from　England。　
　〃I　will　never　forgive　myself；〃　the　doctor　whispered；　〃if　I　do　not　do　this。〃　Then　the　doctor　gently　took　Max's　frail　arm。　〃I　wish　I　had　done　it　sooner。〃
　Max　felt　a　tiny　prick　in　his　arm…barely　discernible　through　the　pain。　
　Then　the　doctor　quietly　packed　his　things。　Before　he　left；　he　put　a　hand　on　Max's　forehead。　〃This　will　save　your　life。　I　have　great　faith　in　the　power　of　medicine。〃
　Within　minutes；　Max　felt　as　if　some　sort　of　magic　spirit　were　flowing　through　his　veins。　The　warmth　spread　through　his　body　numbing　his　pain。　Finally；　for　the　first　time　in　days；　Max　slept。
　When　the　fever　broke；　h