danbrown.angels&demons-第62章

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　hundred…thousand…dollar　telescoping　extension。　Not　a　ladder！〃
　〃You　want　ratings？　I've　got　information　that　will　make　your　day。〃　Langdon　was　desperate。　
　〃Information　worth　two　hundred　grand？〃
　Langdon　told　him　what　he　would　reveal　in　exchange　for　the　favor。
　Ninety　seconds　later；　Robert　Langdon　was　gripping　the　top　of　the　satellite　arm　wavering　in　the　breeze　fifty　feet　off　the　ground。　Leaning　out；　he　grabbed　the　top　of　the　first　bulwark；　dragged　himself　onto　the　wall；　and　dropped　onto　the　castle's　lower　bastion。　
　〃Now　keep　your　bargain！〃　the　Aussie　called　up。　〃Where　is　he？〃
　Langdon　felt　guilt…ridden　for　revealing　this　information；　but　a　deal　was　a　deal。　Besides；　the　Hassassin　would　probably　call　the　press　anyway。　〃Piazza　Navona；〃　Langdon　shouted。　〃He's　in　the　fountain。〃
　The　Aussie　lowered　his　satellite　dish　and　peeled　out　after　the　scoop　of　his　career。
　
　In　a　stone　chamber　high　above　the　city；　the　Hassassin　removed　his　soaking　boots　and　bandaged　his　wounded　toe。　There　was　pain；　but　not　so　much　that　he　couldn't　enjoy　himself。
　He　turned　to　his　prize。
　She　was　in　the　corner　of　the　room；　on　her　back　on　a　rudimentary　divan；　hands　tied　behind　her；　mouth　gagged。　The　Hassassin　moved　toward　her。　She　was　awake　now。　This　pleased　him。　Surprisingly；　in　her　eyes；　he　saw　fire　instead　of　fear。
　The　fear　will　e。　
　
　107

　Robert　Langdon　dashed　around　the　outer　bulwark　of　the　castle；　grateful　for　the　glow　of　the　floodlights。　As　he　circled　the　wall；　the　courtyard　beneath　him　looked　like　a　museum　of　ancient　warfare…catapults；　stacks　of　marble　cannonballs；　and　an　arsenal　of　fearful　contraptions。　Parts　of　the　castle　were　open　to　tourists　during　the　day；　and　the　courtyard　had　been　partially　restored　to　its　original　state。
　Langdon's　eyes　crossed　the　courtyard　to　the　central　core　of　the　fortress。　The　circular　citadel　shot　skyward　107　feet　to　the　bronze　angel　above。　The　balcony　at　the　top　still　glowed　from　within。　Langdon　wanted　to　call　out　but　knew　better。　He　would　have　to　find　a　way　in。　
　He　checked　his　watch。　
　11：12　P。M。　
　Dashing　down　the　stone　ramp　that　hugged　the　inside　of　the　wall；　Langdon　descended　to　the　courtyard。　Back　on　ground　level；　he　ran　through　shadows；　clockwise　around　the　fort。　He　passed　three　porticos；　but　all　of　them　were　permanently　sealed。　How　did　the　Hassassin　get　in？　Langdon　pushed　on。　He　passed　two　modern　entrances；　but　they　were　padlocked　from　the　outside。　Not　here。　He　kept　running。
　Langdon　had　circled　almost　the　entire　building　when　he　saw　a　gravel　drive　cutting　across　the　courtyard　in　front　of　him。　At　one　end；　on　the　outer　wall　of　the　castle；　he　saw　the　back　of　the　gated　drawbridge　leading　back　outside。　At　the　other　end；　the　drive　disappeared　into　the　fortress。　The　drive　seemed　to　enter　a　kind　of　tunnel…a　gaping　entry　in　the　central　core。　Il　traforo！　Langdon　had　read　about　this　castle's　traforo；　a　giant　spiral　ramp　that　circled　up　inside　the　fort；　used　by　manders　on　horseback　to　ride　from　top　to　bottom　rapidly。　The　Hassassin　drove　up！　The　gate　blocking　the　tunnel　was　raised；　ushering　Langdon　in。　He　felt　almost　exuberant　as　he　ran　toward　the　tunnel。　But　as　he　reached　the　opening；　his　excitement　disappeared。　
　The　tunnel　spiraled　down。　
　The　wrong　way。　This　section　of　the　traforo　apparently　descended　to　the　dungeons；　not　to　the　top。　
　Standing　at　the　mouth　of　a　dark　bore　that　seemed　to　twist　endlessly　deeper　into　the　earth；　Langdon　hesitated；　looking　up　again　at　the　balcony。　He　could　swear　he　saw　motion　up　there。　Decide！　With　no　other　options；　he　dashed　down　into　the　tunnel。
　
　High　overhead；　the　Hassassin　stood　over　his　prey。　He　ran　a　hand　across　her　arm。　Her　skin　was　like　cream。　The　anticipation　of　exploring　her　bodily　treasures　was　inebriating。　How　many　ways　could　he　violate　her？
　The　Hassassin　knew　he　deserved　this　woman。　He　had　served　Janus　well。　She　was　a　spoil　of　war；　and　when　he　was　finished　with　her；　he　would　pull　her　from　the　divan　and　force　her　to　her　knees。　She　would　service　him　again。　The　ultimate　submission。　Then；　at　the　moment　of　his　own　climax；　he　would　slit　her　throat。
　Ghayat　assa'adah；　they　called　it。　The　ultimate　pleasure。
　Afterward；　basking　in　his　glory；　he　would　stand　on　the　balcony　and　savor　the　culmination　of　the　Illuminati　triumph　。　。　。　a　revenge　desired　by　so　many　for　so　long。　
　
　The　tunnel　grew　darker。　Langdon　descended。
　After　one　plete　turn　into　the　earth；　the　light　was　all　but　gone。　The　tunnel　leveled　out；　and　Langdon　slowed；　sensing　by　the　echo　of　his　footfalls　that　he　had　just　entered　a　larger　chamber。　Before　him　in　the　murkiness；　he　thought　he　saw　glimmers　of　light　。　。　。　fuzzy　reflections　in　the　ambient　gleam。　He　moved　forward；　reaching　out　his　hand。　He　found　smooth　surfaces。　Chrome　and　glass。　It　was　a　vehicle。　He　groped　the　surface；　found　a　door；　and　opened　it。
　The　vehicle's　interior　dome…light　flashed　on。　He　stepped　back　and　recognized　the　black　van　immediately。　Feeling　a　surge　of　loathing；　he　stared　a　moment；　then　he　dove　in；　rooting　around　in　hopes　of　finding　a　weapon　to　replace　the　one　he'd　lost　in　the　fountain。　He　found　none。　He　did；　however；　find　Vittoria's　cell　phone。　It　was　shattered　and　useless。　The　sight　of　it　filled　Langdon　with　fear。　He　prayed　he　was　not　too　late。
　He　reached　up　and　turned　on　the　van's　headlights。　The　room　around　him　blazed　into　existence；　harsh　shadows　in　a　simple　chamber。　Langdon　guessed　the　room　was　once　used　for　horses　and　ammunition。　It　was　also　a　dead　end。
　No　exit。　I　came　the　wrong　way！　
　At　the　end　of　his　rope；　Langdon　jumped　from　the　van　and　scanned　the　walls　around　him。　No　doorways。　No　gates。　He　thought　of　the　angel　over　the　tunnel　entrance　and　wondered　if　it　had　been　a　coincidence。　No！　He　thought　of　the　killer's　words　at　the　fountain。　She　is　in　the　Church　of　Illumination　。　。　。　awaiting　my　return。　Langdon　had　e　too　far　to　fail　now。　His　heart　was　pounding。　Frustration　and　hatred　were　starting　to　cripple　his　senses。
　When　he　saw　the　blood　on　the　floor；　Langdon's　first　thought　was　for　Vittoria。　But　as　his　eyes　followed　the　stains；　he　realized　they　were　bloody　footprints。　The　strides　were　long。　The　splotches　of　blood　were　only　on　the　left　foot。　The　Hassassin！　
　Langdon　followed　the　footprints　toward　the　corner　of　the　room；　his　sprawling　shadow　growing　fainter。　He　felt　more　and　more　puzzled　with　every　step。　The　bloody　prints　looked　as　though　they　walked　directly　into　the　corner　of　the　room　and　then　disappeared。　
　When　Langdon　arrived　in　the　corner；　he　could　not　believe　his　eyes。　The　granite　block　in　the　floor　here　was　not　a　square　like　the　others。　He　was　looking　at　another　signpost。　The　block　was　carved　into　a　perfect　pentagram；　arranged　with　the　tip　pointing　into　the　corner。　Ingeniously　concealed　by　overlapping　walls；　a　narrow　slit　in　the　stone　served　as　an　exit。　Langdon　slid　through。　He　was　in　a　passage。　In　front　of　him　were　the　remains　of　a　wooden　barrier　that　had　once　been　blocking　this　tunnel。
　Beyond　it　there　was　light。
　Langdon　was　running　now。　He　clambered　over　the　wood　and　headed　for　the　light。　The　passage　quickly　opened　into　another；　larger　chamber。　Here　a　single　torch　flickered　on　the　wall。　Langdon　was　in　a　section　of　the　castle　that　had　no　electricity　。　。　。　a　section　no　tourists　would　ever　see。　The　room　would　have　been　frightful　in　daylight；　but　the　torch　made　it　even　more　gruesome。
　Il　prigione。　
　There　were　a　dozen　tiny　jail　cells；　the　iron　bars　on　most　eroded　away。　One　of　the　larger　cells；　however；　remained　intact；　and　on　the　floor　Langdon　saw　something　that　almost　stopped　his　heart。　Black　robes　and　red　sashes　on　the　floor。　This　is　where　he　held　the　cardinals！　
　Near　the　cell　was　an　iron　doorway　in　the　wall。　The　door　was　ajar　and　beyond　it　Langdon　could　see　some　sort　of　passage。　He　ran　toward　it。　But　Langdon　stopped　before　he　got　there。　The　trail　of　blood　did　not　enter　the　passage。　When　Langdon　saw　the　words　carved　over　the　archway；　he　knew　why。
　Il　Passetto。
　He　was　stunned。　He　had　heard　of　this　tunnel　many　times；　never　knowing　where　exactly　the　entrance　was。　Il　Passetto…The　Little　Passage…was　a　slender；　three…quarter…mile　tunnel　built　between　Castle　St。　Angelo　and　the　Vatican。　It　had　been　used　by　various　Popes　to　escape　to　safety　during　sieges　of　the　Vatican　。　。　。　as　well　as　by　a　few　less　pious　Popes　to　secretly　visit　mistresses　or　oversee　the　torture　of　their　enemies。　Nowadays　both　ends　of　the　tunnel　were　supposedly　sealed　with　impenetrable　locks　whose　keys　were　kept　in　some　Vatican　vault。　Langdon　suddenly　feared　he　knew　how　the　Illuminati　had　been　moving　in　and　out　of　the　Vatican。　He　found　himself　wondering　who　on　the　inside　had　betrayed　the　church　and　coughed　up　the　keys。　Olivetti？　One　of　the　Swiss　Guard？　None　of　it　mattered　anymore。　
　The　blood　on　the　floor　led　to　the　opposite　end　of　the　prison。　Langdon　followed。　Here；　a　rusty　gate　hung　draped　with　chains。　The　lock　had　been　removed　and　the　gate　stood　ajar。　Beyond　the　gate　was　a　steep　ascension　of　spiral　stairs。　The　floor　here　was　also　marked　with　a　pentagramal　block。　Langdon　stared　at　the　block；　trembling；　wondering　if　Bernini　himself　had　held　the　chisel　that　had　shaped　these　chunks。　Overhead；　the　archway　was　adorned　with　a　tiny　carved　cherub。　This　was　it。
　The　trail　of　blood　curved　up　the　stairs。
　Before　ascending；　Langdon　knew　he　needed　a　weapon；　any　weapon。　He　found　a　four…foot　section　of　iron　bar　near　one　of　the　cells。　It　had　a　sharp；　splintered　end。　Although　absurdly　heavy；　it　was　the　best　he　could　do。　He　hoped　the　element　of　surprise；　bined　with　the　Hassassin's　wound；　would　be　enough　to　tip　the　scales　in　his　advantage。　Most　of　all；　though；　he　hoped　he　was　not　too　late。　
　The　staircase's　spiral　treads　were　worn　and　twisted　steeply　upward。　Langdon　ascended；　listening　for　sounds。　None。　As　he　climbed；　the　light　from　the　prison　area　faded　away。　He　ascended　into　the　total　darkness；　keeping　one　hand　on　the　wall。　Higher。　In　the　blackness；　Langdon　sensed　the　ghost　of　Galileo；　climbing　these　very　stairs；　eager　to　share　his　visions　of　heaven　with　other　men　of　science　and　faith。　
　Langdon　was　still　in　a　state　of　shock　over　the　location　of　the　lair。　The　Illuminati　meeting　hall　was　in　a　building　owned　by　the　Vatican。　No　doubt　while　the　Vatican　guards　were　out　searching　basements　and　homes　of　well…known　scientists；　the　Illuminati　were　meeting　here　。　。　。　right　under　the　Vatican's　nose。　It　suddenly　seemed　so　perfect。　Bernini；　as　head　architect　of　renovations　here；　would　have　had　unlimited　access　to　this　structure　。　。　。　remodeling　it　to　his　own　specifications　with　no　questions　asked。　How　many　secret　entries　had　Bernini　added？　How　many　subtle　embellishments　pointing　the　way？
　The　Church　of　Illumination。　Langdon　knew　he　was　close。
　As　the　stairs　began　narrowing；　Langdon　felt　the　passage　closing　around　him。　The　shadows　of　history　were　whispering　in　the　dark；　but　he　moved　on。　When　he　saw　the　horizontal　shaft　of　light　before　him；　he　realized　he　was　standing　a　few　steps　beneath　a　landing；　where　the　glow　of　torchlight　spilled　out　beneath　the　threshold　of　a　door　in　front　of　him。　Silently　he　moved　up。
　Langdon　had　no　idea　where　in　the　castle　he　was　right　now；　but　he　knew　he　had　climbed　far　enough　to　be　near　the　peak。　He　pictured　the　mammoth　angel　atop　the　castle　and　suspected　it　was　directly　overhead。　
　Watch