danbrown.angels&demons-第26章

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ave　this　church。〃　
　Langdon　sensed　nothing　but　truth　in　the　man's　eyes。
　〃This　document；〃　the　camerlegno　said；　〃do　you　truly　believe　it　is　here？　And　that　it　can　help　us　locate　these　four　churches？〃
　〃I　would　not　have　made　countless　solicitations　for　access　if　I　were　not　convinced。　Italy　is　a　bit　far　to　e　on　a　lark　when　you　make　a　teacher's　salary。　The　document　you　have　is　an　ancient…〃
　〃Please；〃　the　camerlegno　interrupted。　〃Forgive　me。　My　mind　cannot　process　any　more　details　at　the　moment。　Do　you　know　where　the　secret　archives　are　located？〃
　Langdon　felt　a　rush　of　excitement。　〃Just　behind　the　Santa　Ana　Gate。〃
　〃Impressive。　Most　scholars　believe　it　is　through　the　secret　door　behind　St。　Peter's　Throne。〃
　〃No。　That　would　be　the　Archivio　della　Reverenda　di　Fabbrica　di　S。　Pietro。　A　mon　misconception。〃
　〃A　librarian　docent　acpanies　every　entrant　at　all　times。　Tonight；　the　docents　are　gone。　What　you　are　requesting　is　carte　blanche　access。　Not　even　our　cardinals　enter　alone。〃
　〃I　will　treat　your　treasures　with　the　utmost　respect　and　care。　Your　librarians　will　find　not　a　trace　that　I　was　there。〃
　Overhead　the　bells　of　St。　Peter's　began　to　toll。　The　camerlegno　checked　his　pocket　watch。　〃I　must　go。〃　He　paused　a　taut　moment　and　looked　up　at　Langdon。　〃I　will　have　a　Swiss　Guard　meet　you　at　the　archives。　I　am　giving　you　my　trust；　Mr。　Langdon。　Go　now。〃
　Langdon　was　speechless。
　The　young　priest　now　seemed　to　possess　an　eerie　poise。　Reaching　over；　he　squeezed　Langdon's　shoulder　with　surprising　strength。　〃I　want　you　to　find　what　you　are　looking　for。　And　find　it　quickly。〃　
　
　46

　The　Secret　Vatican　Archives　are　located　at　the　far　end　of　the　Borgia　Courtyard　directly　up　a　hill　from　the　Gate　of　Santa　Ana。　They　contain　over　20；000　volumes　and　are　rumored　to　hold　such　treasures　as　Leonardo　da　Vinci's　missing　diaries　and　even　unpublished　books　of　the　Holy　Bible。　
　Langdon　strode　powerfully　up　the　deserted　Via　della　Fondamenta　toward　the　archives；　his　mind　barely　able　to　accept　that　he　was　about　to　be　granted　access。　Vittoria　was　at　his　side；　keeping　pace　effortlessly。　Her　almond…scented　hair　tossed　lightly　in　the　breeze；　and　Langdon　breathed　it　in。　He　felt　his　thoughts　straying　and　reeled　himself　back。　
　Vittoria　said；　〃You　going　to　tell　me　what　we're　looking　for？〃
　〃A　little　book　written　by　a　guy　named　Galileo。〃
　She　sounded　surprised。　〃You　don't　mess　around。　What's　in　it？〃
　〃It　is　supposed　to　contain　something　called　il　segno。〃　
　〃The　sign？〃
　〃Sign；　clue；　signal　。　。　。　depends　on　your　translation。〃
　〃Sign　to　what？〃　
　Langdon　picked　up　the　pace。　〃A　secret　location。　Galileo's　Illuminati　needed　to　protect　themselves　from　the　Vatican；　so　they　founded　an　ultrasecret　Illuminati　meeting　place　here　in　Rome。　They　called　it　The　Church　of　Illumination。〃
　〃Pretty　bold　calling　a　satanic　lair　a　church。〃　
　Langdon　shook　his　head。　〃Galileo's　Illuminati　were　not　the　least　bit　satanic。　They　were　scientists　who　revered　enlightenment。　Their　meeting　place　was　simply　where　they　could　safely　congregate　and　discuss　topics　forbidden　by　the　Vatican。　Although　we　know　the　secret　lair　existed；　to　this　day　nobody　has　ever　located　it。〃
　〃Sounds　like　the　Illuminati　know　how　to　keep　a　secret。〃
　〃Absolutely。　In　fact；　they　never　revealed　the　location　of　their　hideaway　to　anyone　outside　the　brotherhood。　This　secrecy　protected　them；　but　it　also　posed　a　problem　when　it　came　to　recruiting　new　members。〃
　〃They　couldn't　grow　if　they　couldn't　advertise；〃　Vittoria　said；　her　legs　and　mind　keeping　perfect　pace。
　〃Exactly。　Word　of　Galileo's　brotherhood　started　to　spread　in　the　1630s；　and　scientists　from　around　the　world　made　secret　pilgrimages　to　Rome　hoping　to　join　the　Illuminati　。　。　。　eager　for　a　chance　to　look　through　Galileo's　telescope　and　hear　the　master's　ideas。　Unfortunately；　though；　because　of　the　Illuminati's　secrecy；　scientists　arriving　in　Rome　never　knew　where　to　go　for　the　meetings　or　to　whom　they　could　safely　speak。　The　Illuminati　wanted　new　blood；　but　they　could　not　afford　to　risk　their　secrecy　by　making　their　whereabouts　known。〃
　Vittoria　frowned。　〃Sounds　like　a　situazione　senza　soluzione。〃　
　〃Exactly。　A　catch…22；　as　we　would　say。〃
　〃So　what　did　they　do？〃
　〃They　were　scientists。　They　examined　the　problem　and　found　a　solution。　A　brilliant　one；　actually。　The　Illuminati　created　a　kind　of　ingenious　map　directing　scientists　to　their　sanctuary。〃
　Vittoria　looked　suddenly　skeptical　and　slowed。　〃A　map？　Sounds　careless。　If　a　copy　fell　into　the　wrong　hands　。　。　。〃
　〃It　couldn't；〃　Langdon　said。　〃No　copies　existed　anywhere。　It　was　not　the　kind　of　map　that　fit　on　paper。　It　was　enormous。　A　blazed　trail　of　sorts　across　the　city。〃
　Vittoria　slowed　even　further。　〃Arrows　painted　on　sidewalks？〃
　〃In　a　sense；　yes；　but　much　more　subtle。　The　map　consisted　of　a　series　of　carefully　concealed　symbolic　markers　placed　in　public　locations　around　the　city。　One　marker　led　to　the　next　。　。　。　and　the　next　。　。　。　a　trail　。　。　。　eventually　leading　to　the　Illuminati　lair。〃
　Vittoria　eyed　him　askance。　〃Sounds　like　a　treasure　hunt。〃　
　Langdon　chuckled。　〃In　a　manner　of　speaking；　it　is。　The　Illuminati　called　their　string　of　markers　'The　Path　of　Illumination；'　and　anyone　who　wanted　to　join　the　brotherhood　had　to　follow　it　all　the　way　to　the　end。　A　kind　of　test。〃
　〃But　if　the　Vatican　wanted　to　find　the　Illuminati；〃　Vittoria　argued；　〃couldn't　they　simply　follow　the　markers？〃
　〃No。　The　path　was　hidden。　A　puzzle；　constructed　in　such　a　way　that　only　certain　people　would　have　the　ability　to　track　the　markers　and　figure　out　where　the　Illuminati　church　was　hidden。　The　Illuminati　intended　it　as　a　kind　of　initiation；　functioning　not　only　as　a　security　measure　but　also　as　a　screening　process　to　ensure　that　only　the　brightest　scientists　arrived　at　their　door。〃
　〃I　don't　buy　it。　In　the　1600s　the　clergy　were　some　of　the　most　educated　men　in　the　world。　If　these　markers　were　in　public　locations；　certainly　there　existed　members　of　the　Vatican　who　could　have　figured　it　out。〃
　〃Sure；〃　Langdon　said；　〃if　they　had　known　about　the　markers。　But　they　didn't。　And　they　never　noticed　them　because　the　Illuminati　designed　them　in　such　a　way　that　clerics　would　never　suspect　what　they　were。　They　used　a　method　known　in　symbology　as　dissimulation。〃　
　〃Camouflage。〃　
　Langdon　was　impressed。　〃You　know　the　term。〃
　〃Dissimulacione；〃　she　said。　〃Nature's　best　defense。　Try　spotting　a　trumpet　fish　floating　vertically　in　seagrass。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Langdon　said。　〃The　Illuminati　used　the　same　concept。　They　created　markers　that　faded　into　the　backdrop　of　ancient　Rome。　They　couldn't　use　ambigrams　or　scientific　symbology　because　it　would　be　far　too　conspicuous；　so　they　called　on　an　Illuminati　artist…the　same　anonymous　prodigy　who　had　created　their　ambigrammatic　symbol　'Illuminati'…and　they　missioned　him　to　carve　four　sculptures。〃
　〃Illuminati　sculptures？〃　
　〃Yes；　sculptures　with　two　strict　guidelines。　First；　the　sculptures　had　to　look　like　the　rest　of　the　artwork　in　Rome　。　。　。　artwork　that　the　Vatican　would　never　suspect　belonged　to　the　Illuminati。〃
　〃Religious　art。〃
　Langdon　nodded；　feeling　a　tinge　of　excitement；　talking　faster　now。　〃And　the　second　guideline　was　that　the　four　sculptures　had　to　have　very　specific　themes。　Each　piece　needed　to　be　a　subtle　tribute　to　one　of　the　four　elements　of　science。〃
　〃Four　elements？〃　Vittoria　said。　〃There　are　over　a　hundred。〃
　〃Not　in　the　1600s；〃　Langdon　reminded　her。　〃Early　alchemists　believed　the　entire　universe　was　made　up　of　only　four　substances：　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water。〃
　The　early　cross；　Langdon　knew；　was　the　most　mon　symbol　of　the　four　elements…four　arms　representing　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water。　Beyond　that；　though；　there　existed　literally　dozens　of　symbolic　occurrences　of　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water　throughout　history…the　Pythagorean　cycles　of　life；　the　Chinese　Hong…Fan；　the　Jungian　male　and　female　rudiments；　the　quadrants　of　the　Zodiac；　even　the　Muslims　revered　the　four　ancient　elements　。　。　。　although　in　Islam　they　were　known　as　〃squares；　clouds；　lightning；　and　waves。〃　For　Langdon；　though；　it　was　a　more　modern　usage　that　always　gave　him　chills…the　Mason's　four　mystic　grades　of　Absolute　Initiation：　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water。
　Vittoria　seemed　mystified。　〃So　this　Illuminati　artist　created　four　pieces　of　art　that　looked　religious；　but　were　actually　tributes　to　Earth；　Air；　Fire；　and　Water？〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Langdon　said；　quickly　turning　up　Via　Sentinel　toward　the　archives。　〃The　pieces　blended　into　the　sea　of　religious　artwork　all　over　Rome。　By　donating　the　artwork　anonymously　to　specific　churches　and　then　using　their　political　influence；　the　brotherhood　facilitated　placement　of　these　four　pieces　in　carefully　chosen　churches　in　Rome。　Each　piece　of　course　was　a　marker　。　。　。　subtly　pointing　to　the　next　church　。　。　。　where　the　next　marker　awaited。　It　functioned　as　a　trail　of　clues　disguised　as　religious　art。　If　an　Illuminati　candidate　could　find　the　first　church　and　the　marker　for　Earth；　he　could　follow　it　to　Air　。　。　。　and　then　to　Fire　。　。　。　and　then　to　Water　。　。　。　and　finally　to　the　Church　of　Illumination。〃　
　Vittoria　was　looking　less　and　less　clear。　〃And　this　has　something　to　do　with　catching　the　Illuminati　assassin？〃
　Langdon　smiled　as　he　played　his　ace。　〃Oh；　yes。　The　Illuminati　called　these　four　churches　by　a　very　special　name。　The　Altars　of　Science。〃　
　Vittoria　frowned。　〃I'm　sorry；　that　means　noth…〃　She　stopped　short。　〃L'altare　di　scienza？〃　she　exclaimed。　〃The　Illuminati　assassin。　He　warned　that　the　cardinals　would　be　virgin　sacrifices　on　the　altars　of　science！〃
　Langdon　gave　her　a　smile。　〃Four　cardinals。　Four　churches。　The　four　altars　of　science。〃
　She　looked　stunned。　〃You're　saying　the　four　churches　where　the　cardinals　will　be　sacrificed　are　the　same　four　churches　that　mark　the　ancient　Path　of　Illumination？〃
　〃I　believe　so；　yes。〃
　〃But　why　would　the　killer　have　given　us　that　clue？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Langdon　replied。　〃Very　few　historians　know　about　these　sculptures。　Even　fewer　believe　they　exist。　And　their　locations　have　remained　secret　for　four　hundred　years。　No　doubt　the　Illuminati　trusted　the　secret　for　another　five　hours。　Besides；　the　Illuminati　don't　need　their　Path　of　Illumination　anymore。　Their　secret　lair　is　probably　long　gone　anyway。　They　live　in　the　modern　world。　They　meet　in　bank　boardrooms；　eating　clubs；　private　golf　courses。　Tonight　they　want　to　make　their　secrets　public。　This　is　their　moment。　Their　grand　unveiling。〃
　Langdon　feared　the　Illuminati　unveiling　would　have　a　special　symmetry　to　it　that　he　had　not　yet　mentioned。　The　four　brands。　The　killer　had　sworn　each　cardinal　would　be　branded　with　a　different　symbol。　Proof　the　ancient　legends　are　true；　the　killer　had　said。　The　legend　of　the　four　ambigrammatic　brands　was　as　old　as　the　Illuminati　itself：　earth；　air；　fire；　water…four　words　crafted　in　perfect　symmetry。　Just　like　the　word　Illuminati。　Each　cardinal　was　to　be　branded　with　one　of　the　ancient　elements　of　science。　The　rumor　that　the　four　brands　were　in　English　rather　than　Italian　remained　a　point　of　debate　among　historians。　English　seemed　a　random　deviation　from　their　natural　tongue　。　。　。　and　the　Illuminati　did　nothing　randomly。　
　Langdon　turned　up　the　brick　pathway　before　the　archive　building。　Ghastly　images