danbrown.angels&demons-第76章

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　Then　the　guards　ran　to　the　wounded　camerlegno；　gathering　around　him。　As　they　huddled；　the　video　caught　the　face　of　a　dazed　Robert　Langdon；　kneeling　beside　the　wheelchair；　looking　at　the　brand。　Then；　the　entire　frame　began　lurching　wildly。　Kohler　had　regained　consciousness　and　was　detaching　the　tiny　camcorder　from　its　holder　under　the　arm　of　the　wheelchair。　Then　he　tried　to　hand　the　camcorder　to　Langdon。
　〃G…give　。　。　。〃　Kohler　gasped。　〃G…give　this　to　the　m…media。〃　
　Then　the　screen　went　blank。
　
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　The　camerlegno　began　to　feel　the　fog　of　wonder　and　adrenaline　dissipating。　As　the　Swiss　Guard　helped　him　down　the　Royal　Staircase　toward　the　Sistine　Chapel；　the　camerlegno　heard　singing　in　St。　Peter's　Square　and　he　knew　that　mountains　had　been　moved。
　Grazie　Dio。　
　He　had　prayed　for　strength；　and　God　had　given　it　to　him。　At　moments　when　he　had　doubted；　God　had　spoken。　Yours　is　a　Holy　mission；　God　had　said。　I　will　give　you　strength。　Even　with　God's　strength；　the　camerlegno　had　felt　fear；　questioning　the　righteousness　of　his　path。
　If　not　you；　God　had　challenged；　then　WHO？　
　If　not　now；　then　WHEN？　
　If　not　this　way；　then　HOW？　
　Jesus；　God　reminded　him；　had　saved　them　all　。　。　。　saved　them　from　their　own　apathy。　With　two　deeds；　Jesus　had　opened　their　eyes。　Horror　and　Hope。　The　crucifixion　and　the　resurrection。　He　had　changed　the　world。
　But　that　was　millennia　ago。　Time　had　eroded　the　miracle。　People　had　forgotten。　They　had　turned　to　false　idols…techno…deities　and　miracles　of　the　mind。　What　about　miracles　of　the　heart！　
　The　camerlegno　had　often　prayed　to　God　to　show　him　how　to　make　the　people　believe　again。　But　God　had　been　silent。　It　was　not　until　the　camerlegno's　moment　of　deepest　darkness　that　God　had　e　to　him。　Oh；　the　horror　of　that　night！　
　The　camerlegno　could　still　remember　lying　on　the　floor　in　tattered　nightclothes；　clawing　at　his　own　flesh；　trying　to　purge　his　soul　of　the　pain　brought　on　by　a　vile　truth　he　had　just　learned。　It　cannot　be！　he　had　screamed。　And　yet　he　knew　it　was。　The　deception　tore　at　him　like　the　fires　of　hell。　The　bishop　who　had　taken　him　in；　the　man　who　had　been　like　a　father　to　him；　the　clergyman　whom　the　camerlegno　had　stood　beside　while　he　rose　to　the　papacy　。　。　。　was　a　fraud。　A　mon　sinner。　Lying　to　the　world　about　a　deed　so　traitorous　at　its　core　that　the　camerlegno　doubted　even　God　could　forgive　it。　〃Your　vow！〃　the　camerlegno　had　screamed　at　the　Pope。　〃You　broke　your　vow　to　God！　You；　of　all　men！〃
　The　Pope　had　tried　to　explain　himself；　but　the　camerlegno　could　not　listen。　He　had　run　out；　staggering　blindly　through　the　hallways；　vomiting；　tearing　at　his　own　skin；　until　he　found　himself　bloody　and　alone；　lying　on　the　cold　earthen　floor　before　St。　Peter's　tomb。　Mother　Mary；　what　do　I　do？　It　was　in　that　moment　of　pain　and　betrayal；　as　the　camerlegno　lay　devastated　in　the　Necropolis；　praying　for　God　to　take　him　from　this　faithless　world；　that　God　had　e。
　The　voice　in　his　head　resounded　like　peals　of　thunder。　〃Did　you　vow　to　serve　your　God？〃　
　〃Yes！〃　the　camerlegno　cried　out。
　〃Would　you　die　for　your　God？〃　
　〃Yes！　Take　me　now！〃
　〃Would　you　die　for　your　church？〃　
　〃Yes！　Please　deliver　me！〃
　〃But　would　you　die　for　。　。　。　mankind？〃　
　It　was　in　the　silence　that　followed　that　the　camerlegno　felt　himself　falling　into　the　abyss。　He　tumbled　farther；　faster；　out　of　control。　And　yet　he　knew　the　answer。　He　had　always　known。　
　〃Yes！〃　he　shouted　into　the　madness。　〃I　would　die　for　man！　Like　your　son；　I　would　die　for　them！〃
　Hours　later；　the　camerlegno　still　lay　shivering　on　his　floor。　He　saw　his　mother's　face。　God　has　plans　for　you；　she　was　saying。　The　camerlegno　plunged　deeper　into　madness。　It　was　then　God　had　spoken　again。　This　time　with　silence。　But　the　camerlegno　understood。　Restore　their　faith。　
　If　not　me　。　。　。　then　who？　
　If　not　now　。　。　。　then　when？　
　
　As　the　guards　unbolted　the　door　of　the　Sistine　Chapel；　Camerlegno　Carlo　Ventresca　felt　the　power　moving　in　his　veins　。　。　。　exactly　as　it　had　when　he　was　a　boy。　God　had　chosen　him。　Long　ago。
　His　will　be　done。　
　The　camerlegno　felt　reborn。　The　Swiss　Guard　had　bandaged　his　chest；　bathed　him；　and　dressed　him　in　a　fresh　white　linen　robe。　They　had　also　given　him　an　injection　of　morphine　for　the　burn。　The　camerlegno　wished　they　had　not　given　him　painkillers。　Jesus　endured　his　pain　for　three　days　on　the　cross！　He　could　already　feel　the　drug　uprooting　his　senses　。　。　。　a　dizzying　undertow。　
　As　he　walked　into　the　chapel；　he　was　not　at　all　surprised　to　see　the　cardinals　staring　at　him　in　wonder。　They　are　in　awe　of　God；　he　reminded　himself。　Not　of　me；　but　how　God　works　THROUGH　me。　As　he　moved　up　the　center　aisle；　he　saw　bewilderment　in　every　face。　And　yet；　with　each　new　face　he　passed；　he　sensed　something　else　in　their　eyes。　What　was　it？　The　camerlegno　had　tried　to　imagine　how　they　would　receive　him　tonight。　Joyfully？　Reverently？　He　tried　to　read　their　eyes　and　saw　neither　emotion。
　It　was　then　the　camerlegno　looked　at　the　altar　and　saw　Robert　Langdon。
　
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　Camerlegno　Carlo　Ventresca　stood　in　the　aisle　of　the　Sistine　Chapel。　The　cardinals　were　all　standing　near　the　front　of　the　church；　turned；　staring　at　him。　Robert　Langdon　was　on　the　altar　beside　a　television　that　was　on　endless　loop；　playing　a　scene　the　camerlegno　recognized　but　could　not　imagine　how　it　had　e　to　be。　Vittoria　Vetra　stood　beside　him；　her　face　drawn。　
　The　camerlegno　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　hoping　the　morphine　was　making　him　hallucinate　and　that　when　he　opened　them　the　scene　might　be　different。　But　it　was　not。　
　They　knew。
　Oddly；　he　felt　no　fear。　Show　me　the　way；　Father。　Give　me　the　words　that　I　can　make　them　see　Your　vision。　
　But　the　camerlegno　heard　no　reply。
　Father；　We　have　e　too　far　together　to　fail　now。　
　Silence。
　They　do　not　understand　what　We　have　done。　
　The　camerlegno　did　not　know　whose　voice　he　heard　in　his　own　mind；　but　the　message　was　stark。
　And　the　truth　shall　set　you　free　。　。　。　
　
　And　so　it　was　that　Camerlegno　Carlo　Ventresca　held　his　head　high　as　he　walked　toward　the　front　of　the　Sistine　Chapel。　As　he　moved　toward　the　cardinals；　not　even　the　diffused　light　of　the　candles　could　soften　the　eyes　boring　into　him。　Explain　yourself；　the　faces　said。　Make　sense　of　this　madness。　Tell　us　our　fears　are　wrong！　
　Truth；　the　camerlegno　told　himself。　Only　truth。　There　were　too　many　secrets　in　these　walls　。　。　。　one　so　dark　it　had　driven　him　to　madness。　But　from　the　madness　had　e　the　light。　
　〃If　you　could　give　your　own　soul　to　save　millions；〃　the　camerlegno　said；　as　he　moved　down　the　aisle；　〃would　you？〃
　The　faces　in　the　chapel　simply　stared。　No　one　moved。　No　one　spoke。　Beyond　the　walls；　the　joyous　strains　of　song　could　be　heard　in　the　square。　
　The　camerlegno　walked　toward　them。　〃Which　is　the　greater　sin？　Killing　one's　enemy？　Or　standing　idle　while　your　true　love　is　strangled？〃　They　are　singing　in　St。　Peter's　Square！　The　camerlegno　stopped　for　a　moment　and　gazed　up　at　the　ceiling　of　the　Sistine。　Michelangelo's　God　was　staring　down　from　the　darkened　vault　。　。　。　and　He　seemed　pleased。　
　〃I　could　no　longer　stand　by；〃　the　camerlegno　said。　Still；　as　he　drew　nearer；　he　saw　no　flicker　of　understanding　in　anyone's　eyes。　Didn't　they　see　the　radiant　simplicity　of　his　deeds？　Didn't　they　see　the　utter　necessity！
　It　had　been　so　pure。
　The　Illuminati。　Science　and　Satan　as　one。
　Resurrect　the　ancient　fear。　Then　crush　it。　
　Horror　and　Hope。　Make　them　believe　again。　
　Tonight；　the　power　of　the　Illuminati　had　been　unleashed　anew　。　。　。　and　with　glorious　consequence。　The　apathy　had　evaporated。　The　fear　had　shot　out　across　the　world　like　a　bolt　of　lightning；　uniting　the　people。　And　then　God's　majesty　had　vanquished　the　darkness。
　I　could　not　stand　idly　by！　
　The　inspiration　had　been　God's　own…appearing　like　a　beacon　in　the　camerlegno's　night　of　agony。　Oh；　this　faithless　world！　Someone　must　deliver　them。　You。　If　not　you；　who？　You　have　been　saved　for　a　reason。　Show　them　the　old　demons。　Remind　them　of　their　fear。　Apathy　is　death。　Without　darkness；　there　is　no　light。　Without　evil；　there　is　no　good。　Make　them　choose。　Dark　or　light。　Where　is　the　fear？　Where　are　the　heroes？　If　not　now；　when？　
　The　camerlegno　walked　up　the　center　aisle　directly　toward　the　crowd　of　standing　cardinals。　He　felt　like　Moses　as　the　sea　of　red　sashes　and　caps　parted　before　him；　allowing　him　to　pass。　On　the　altar；　Robert　Langdon　switched　off　the　television；　took　Vittoria's　hand；　and　relinquished　the　altar。　The　fact　that　Robert　Langdon　had　survived；　the　camerlegno　knew；　could　only　have　been　God's　will。　God　had　saved　Robert　Langdon。　The　camerlegno　wondered　why。
　The　voice　that　broke　the　silence　was　the　voice　of　the　only　woman　in　the　Sistine　Chapel。　〃You　killed　my　father？〃　she　said；　stepping　forward。
　When　the　camerlegno　turned　to　Vittoria　Vetra；　the　look　on　her　face　was　one　he　could　not　quite　understand…pain　yes；　but　anger？　Certainly　she　must　understand。　Her　father's　genius　was　deadly。　He　had　to　be　stopped。　For　the　good　of　Mankind。
　〃He　was　doing　God's　work；〃　Vittoria　said。
　〃God's　work　is　not　done　in　a　lab。　It　is　done　in　the　heart。〃
　〃My　father's　heart　was　pure！　And　his　research　proved…〃
　〃His　research　proved　yet　again　that　man's　mind　is　progressing　faster　than　his　soul！〃　The　camerlegno's　voice　was　sharper　than　he　had　expected。　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃If　a　man　as　spiritual　as　your　father　could　create　a　weapon　like　the　one　we　saw　tonight；　imagine　what　an　ordinary　man　will　do　with　his　technology。〃
　〃A　man　like　you？〃　
　The　camerlegno　took　a　deep　breath。　Did　she　not　see？　Man's　morality　was　not　advancing　as　fast　as　man's　science。　Mankind　was　not　spiritually　evolved　enough　for　the　powers　he　possessed。　We　have　never　created　a　weapon　we　have　not　used！　And　yet　he　knew　that　antimatter　was　nothing…another　weapon　in　man's　already　burgeoning　arsenal。　Man　could　already　destroy。　Man　learned　to　kill　long　ago。　And　his　mother's　blood　rained　down。　Leonardo　Vetra's　genius　was　dangerous　for　another　reason。
　〃For　centuries；〃　the　camerlegno　said；　〃the　church　has　stood　by　while　science　picked　away　at　religion　bit　by　bit。　Debunking　miracles。　Training　the　mind　to　overe　the　heart。　Condemning　religion　as　the　opiate　of　the　masses。　They　denounce　God　as　a　hallucination…a　delusional　crutch　for　those　too　weak　to　accept　that　life　is　meaningless。　I　could　not　stand　by　while　science　presumed　to　harness　the　power　of　God　himself！　Proof；　you　say？　Yes；　proof　of　science's　ignorance！　What　is　wrong　with　the　admission　that　something　exists　beyond　our　understanding？　The　day　science　substantiates　God　in　a　lab　is　the　day　people　stop　needing　faith！〃
　〃You　mean　the　day　they　stop　needing　the　church；〃　Vittoria　challenged；　moving　toward　him。　〃Doubt　is　your　last　shred　of　control。　It　is　doubt　that　brings　souls　to　you。　Our　need　to　know　that　life　has　meaning。　Man's　insecurity　and　need　for　an　enlightened　soul　assuring　him　everything　is　part　of　a　master　plan。　But　the　church　is　not　the　only　enlightened　soul　on　the　planet！　We　all　seek　God　in　different　ways。　What　are　you　afraid　of？　That　God　will　show　himself　somewhere　other　than　inside　these　walls？　That　people　will　find　him　in　their　own　lives　and　leave　your　antiquated　rituals　behind？　Religions　evolve！　The　mind　finds　answers；　the　heart　g