danbrown.angels&demons-第39章

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　Langdon's　eyes　were　transfixed　on　the　pyramids。　What　are　pyramids　doing　inside　a　Christian　chapel？　And　incredibly；　there　was　more。　Dead　center　of　each　pyramid；　embedded　in　their　anterior　faзades；　were　gold　medallions　。　。　。　medallions　like　few　Langdon　had　ever　seen　。　。　。　perfect　ellipses。　The　burnished　disks　glimmered　in　the　setting　sun　as　it　sifted　through　the　cupola。　Galileo's　ellipses？　Pyramids？　A　cupola　of　stars？　The　room　had　more　Illuminati　significance　than　any　room　Langdon　could　have　fabricated　in　his　mind。
　〃Robert；〃　Vittoria　blurted；　her　voice　cracking。　〃Look！〃
　Langdon　wheeled；　reality　returning　as　his　eyes　dropped　to　where　she　was　pointing。　〃Bloody　hell！〃　he　shouted；　jumping　backward。　
　Sneering　up　at　them　from　the　floor　was　the　image　of　a　skeleton…an　intricately　detailed；　marble　mosaic　depicting　〃death　in　flight。〃　The　skeleton　was　carrying　a　tablet　portraying　the　same　pyramid　and　stars　they　had　seen　outside。　It　was　not　the　image；　however；　that　had　turned　Langdon's　blood　cold。　It　was　the　fact　that　the　mosaic　was　mounted　on　a　circular　stone…a　cupermento…that　had　been　lifted　out　of　the　floor　like　a　manhole　cover　and　was　now　sitting　off　to　one　side　of　a　dark　opening　in　the　floor。　
　〃Demon's　hole；〃　Langdon　gasped。　He　had　been　so　taken　with　the　ceiling　he　had　not　even　seen　it。　Tentatively　he　moved　toward　the　pit。　The　stench　ing　up　was　overwhelming。　
　Vittoria　put　a　hand　over　her　mouth。　〃Che　puzzo。〃　
　〃Effluvium；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Vapors　from　decaying　bone。〃　He　breathed　through　his　sleeve　as　he　leaned　out　over　the　hole；　peering　down。　Blackness。　〃I　can't　see　a　thing。〃
　〃You　think　anybody's　down　there？〃
　〃No　way　to　know。〃
　Vittoria　motioned　to　the　far　side　of　the　hole　where　a　rotting；　wooden　ladder　descended　into　the　depths。
　Langdon　shook　his　head。　〃Like　hell。〃　
　〃Maybe　there's　a　flashlight　outside　in　those　tools。〃　She　sounded　eager　for　an　excuse　to　escape　the　smell。　〃I'll　look。〃
　〃Careful！〃　Langdon　warned。　〃We　don't　know　for　sure　that　the　Hassassin…〃
　But　Vittoria　was　already　gone。
　One　strong…willed　woman；　Langdon　thought。
　As　he　turned　back　to　the　pit；　he　felt　light…headed　from　the　fumes。　Holding　his　breath；　he　dropped　his　head　below　the　rim　and　peered　deep　into　the　darkness。　Slowly；　as　his　eyes　adjusted；　he　began　to　see　faint　shapes　below。　The　pit　appeared　to　open　into　a　small　chamber。　Demon's　hole。　He　wondered　how　many　generations　of　Chigis　had　been　unceremoniously　dumped　in。　Langdon　closed　his　eyes　and　waited；　forcing　his　pupils　to　dilate　so　he　could　see　better　in　the　dark。　When　he　opened　his　eyes　again；　a　pale　muted　figure　hovered　below　in　the　darkness。　Langdon　shivered　but　fought　the　instinct　to　pull　out。　Am　I　seeing　things？　Is　that　a　body？　The　figure　faded。　Langdon　closed　his　eyes　again　and　waited；　longer　this　time；　so　his　eyes　would　pick　up　the　faintest　light。
　Dizziness　started　to　set　in；　and　his　thoughts　wandered　in　the　blackness。　Just　a　few　more　seconds。　He　wasn't　sure　if　it　was　breathing　the　fumes　or　holding　his　head　at　a　low　inclination；　but　Langdon　was　definitely　starting　to　feel　squeamish。　When　he　finally　opened　his　eyes　again；　the　image　before　him　was　totally　inexplicable。
　He　was　now　staring　at　a　crypt　bathed　in　an　eerie　bluish　light。　A　faint　hissing　sound　reverberated　in　his　ears。　Light　flickered　on　the　steep　walls　of　the　shaft。　Suddenly；　a　long　shadow　materialized　over　him。　Startled；　Langdon　scrambled　up。
　〃Look　out！〃　someone　exclaimed　behind　him。
　Before　Langdon　could　turn；　he　felt　a　sharp　pain　on　the　back　of　his　neck。　He　spun　to　see　Vittoria　twisting　a　lit　blowtorch　away　from　him；　the　hissing　flame　throwing　blue　light　around　the　chapel。
　Langdon　grabbed　his　neck。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃　
　〃I　was　giving　you　some　light；〃　she　said。　〃You　backed　right　into　me。〃　
　Langdon　glared　at　the　portable　blowtorch　in　her　hand。　
　〃Best　I　could　do；〃　she　said。　〃No　flashlights。〃
　Langdon　rubbed　his　neck。　〃I　didn't　hear　you　e　in。〃
　Vittoria　handed　him　the　torch；　wincing　again　at　the　stench　of　the　crypt。　〃You　think　those　fumes　are　bustible？〃
　〃Let's　hope　not。〃
　He　took　the　torch　and　moved　slowly　toward　the　hole。　Cautiously；　he　advanced　to　the　rim　and　pointed　the　flame　down　into　the　hole；　lighting　the　side　wall。　As　he　directed　the　light；　his　eyes　traced　the　outline　of　the　wall　downward。　The　crypt　was　circular　and　about　twenty　feet　across。　Thirty　feet　down；　the　glow　found　the　floor。　The　ground　was　dark　and　mottled。　Earthy。　Then　Langdon　saw　the　body。
　His　instinct　was　to　recoil。　〃He's　here；〃　Langdon　said；　forcing　himself　not　to　turn　away。　The　figure　was　a　pallid　outline　against　the　earthen　floor。　〃I　think　he's　been　stripped　naked。〃　Langdon　flashed　on　the　nude　corpse　of　Leonardo　Vetra。
　〃Is　it　one　of　the　cardinals？〃
　Langdon　had　no　idea；　but　he　couldn't　imagine　who　the　hell　else　it　would　be。　He　stared　down　at　the　pale　blob。　Unmoving。　Lifeless。　And　yet　。　。　。　Langdon　hesitated。　There　was　something　very　strange　about　the　way　the　figure　was　positioned。　He　seemed　to　be　。　。　。　
　Langdon　called　out。　〃Hello？〃
　〃You　think　he's　alive？〃　
　There　was　no　response　from　below。
　〃He's　not　moving；〃　Langdon　said。　〃But　he　looks　。　。　。〃　No；　impossible。　
　〃He　looks　what？〃　Vittoria　was　peering　over　the　edge　now　too。
　Langdon　squinted　into　the　darkness。　〃He　looks　like　he's　standing　up。〃
　Vittoria　held　her　breath　and　lowered　her　face　over　the　edge　for　a　better　look。　After　a　moment；　she　pulled　back。　〃You're　right。　He's　standing　up！　Maybe　he's　alive　and　needs　help！〃　She　called　into　the　hole。　〃Hello？！　Mi　puу　sentire？〃　
　There　was　no　echo　off　the　mossy　interior。　Only　silence。
　Vittoria　headed　for　the　rickety　ladder。　〃I'm　going　down。〃
　Langdon　caught　her　arm。　〃No。　It's　dangerous。　I'll　go。〃
　This　time　Vittoria　didn't　argue。
　
　66

　Chinita　Macri　was　mad。　She　sat　in　the　passenger's　seat　of　the　BBC　van　as　it　idled　at　a　corner　on　Via　Tomacelli。　Gunther　Glick　was　checking　his　map　of　Rome；　apparently　lost。　As　she　had　feared；　his　mystery　caller　had　phoned　back；　this　time　with　information。
　〃Piazza　del　Popolo；〃　Glick　insisted。　〃That's　what　we're　looking　for。　There's　a　church　there。　And　inside　is　proof。〃
　〃Proof。〃　Chinita　stopped　polishing　the　lens　in　her　hand　and　turned　to　him。　〃Proof　that　a　cardinal　has　been　murdered？〃
　〃That's　what　he　said。〃
　〃You　believe　everything　you　hear？〃　Chinita　wished；　as　she　often　did；　that　she　was　the　one　in　charge。　Videographers；　however；　were　at　the　whim　of　the　crazy　reporters　for　whom　they　shot　footage。　If　Gunther　Glick　wanted　to　follow　a　feeble　phone　tip；　Macri　was　his　dog　on　a　leash。　
　She　looked　at　him；　sitting　there　in　the　driver's　seat；　his　jaw　set　intently。　The　man's　parents；　she　decided；　must　have　been　frustrated　edians　to　have　given　him　a　name　like　Gunther　Glick。　No　wonder　the　guy　felt　like　he　had　something　to　prove。　Nonetheless；　despite　his　unfortunate　appellative　and　annoying　eagerness　to　make　a　mark；　Glick　was　sweet　。　。　。　charming　in　a　pasty；　Briddish；　unstrung　sort　of　way。　Like　Hugh　Grant　on　lithium。
　〃Shouldn't　we　be　back　at　St。　Peter's？〃　Macri　said　as　patiently　as　possible。　〃We　can　check　this　mystery　church　out　later。　Conclave　started　an　hour　ago。　What　if　the　cardinals　e　to　a　decision　while　we're　gone？〃
　Glick　did　not　seem　to　hear。　〃I　think　we　go　to　the　right；　here。〃　He　tilted　the　map　and　studied　it　again。　〃Yes；　if　I　take　a　right　。　。　。　and　then　an　immediate　left。〃　He　began　to　pull　out　onto　the　narrow　street　before　them。
　〃Look　out！〃　Macri　yelled。　She　was　a　video　technician；　and　her　eyes　were　sharp。　Fortunately；　Glick　was　pretty　fast　too。　He　slammed　on　the　brakes　and　avoided　entering　the　intersection　just　as　a　line　of　four　Alpha　Romeos　appeared　out　of　nowhere　and　tore　by　in　a　blur。　Once　past；　the　cars　skidded；　decelerating；　and　cut　sharply　left　one　block　ahead；　taking　the　exact　route　Glick　had　intended　to　take。　
　〃Maniacs！〃　Macri　shouted。
　Glick　looked　shaken。　〃Did　you　see　that？〃
　〃Yeah；　I　saw　that！　They　almost　killed　us！〃
　〃No；　I　mean　the　cars；〃　Glick　said；　his　voice　suddenly　excited。　〃They　were　all　the　same。〃
　〃So　they　were　maniacs　with　no　imagination。〃
　〃The　cars　were　also　full。〃
　〃So　what？〃
　〃Four　identical　cars；　all　with　four　passengers？〃
　〃You　ever　heard　of　carpooling？〃
　〃In　Italy？〃　Glick　checked　the　intersection。　〃They　haven't　even　heard　of　unleaded　gas。〃　He　hit　the　accelerator　and　peeled　out　after　the　cars。　
　Macri　was　thrown　back　in　her　seat。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃
　Glick　accelerated　down　the　street　and　hung　a　left　after　the　Alpha　Romeos。　〃Something　tells　me　you　and　I　are　not　the　only　ones　going　to　church　right　now。〃
　
　67

　The　descent　was　slow。
　Langdon　dropped　rung　by　rung　down　the　creaking　ladder　。　。　。　deeper　and　deeper　beneath　the　floor　of　the　Chigi　Chapel。　Into　the　Demon's　hole；　he　thought。　He　was　facing　the　side　wall；　his　back　to　the　chamber；　and　he　wondered　how　many　more　dark；　cramped　spaces　one　day　could　provide。　The　ladder　groaned　with　every　step；　and　the　pungent　smell　of　rotting　flesh　and　dampness　was　almost　asphyxiating。　Langdon　wondered　where　the　hell　Olivetti　was。
　Vittoria's　outline　was　still　visible　above；　holding　the　blowtorch　inside　the　hole；　lighting　Langdon's　way。　As　he　lowered　himself　deeper　into　the　darkness；　the　bluish　glow　from　above　got　fainter。　The　only　thing　that　got　stronger　was　the　stench。
　Twelve　rungs　down；　it　happened。　Langdon's　foot　hit　a　spot　that　was　slippery　with　decay；　and　he　faltered。　Lunging　forward；　he　caught　the　ladder　with　his　forearms　to　avoid　plummeting　to　the　bottom。　Cursing　the　bruises　now　throbbing　on　his　arms；　he　dragged　his　body　back　onto　the　ladder　and　began　his　descent　again。　
　Three　rungs　deeper；　he　almost　fell　again；　but　this　time　it　was　not　a　rung　that　caused　the　mishap。　It　was　a　bolt　of　fear。　He　had　descended　past　a　hollowed　niche　in　the　wall　before　him　and　suddenly　found　himself　face　to　face　with　a　collection　of　skulls。　As　he　caught　his　breath　and　looked　around　him；　he　realized　the　wall　at　this　level　was　honeybed　with　shelflike　openings…burial　niches…all　filled　with　skeletons。　In　the　phosphorescent　light；　it　made　for　an　eerie　collage　of　empty　sockets　and　decaying　rib　cages　flickering　around　him。
　Skeletons　by　firelight；　he　grimaced　wryly；　realizing　he　had　quite　coincidentally　endured　a　similar　evening　just　last　month。　An　evening　of　bones　and　flames。　The　New　York　Museum　of　Archeology's　candlelight　benefit　dinner…salmon　flambй　in　the　shadow　of　a　brontosaurus　skeleton。　He　had　attended　at　the　invitation　of　Rebecca　Strauss…one…time　fashion　model　now　art　critic　from　the　Times；　a　whirlwind　of　black　velvet；　cigarettes；　and　not…so…subtly　enhanced　breasts。　She'd　called　him　twice　since。　Langdon　had　not　returned　her　calls。　Most　ungentlemanly；　he　chided；　wondering　how　long　Rebecca　Strauss　would　last　in　a　stink…pit　like　this。
　Langdon　was　relieved　to　feel　the　final　rung　give　way　to　the　spongy　earth　at　the　bottom。　The　ground　beneath　his　shoes　felt　damp。　Assuring　himself　the　walls　were　not　going　to　close　in　on　him；　he　turned　into　the　crypt。　It　was　circular；　about　twenty　feet　across。　Breathing　through　his　sleeve　again；　Langdon　turned　his　eyes　to　the　body。　In　the　gloom；　the　image　was　hazy。　A　white；　fleshy　outline。　Facing　the　other　direction。　Motionless。　Silent。
　Advancing　through　the　murkiness　of　the　crypt；　Langdon　tried　to　make　se