danbrown.angels&demons-第80章

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　Mortati　was　alone　as　he　crossed　the　Borgia　Courtyard　toward　the　Sistine　Chapel。　A　damp　breeze　tossed　his　robe。　A　fellow　cardinal　emerged　from　the　Apostolic　Palace　and　strode　beside　him。
　〃May　I　have　the　honor　of　escorting　you　to　conclave；　signore？〃
　〃The　honor　is　mine。〃
　〃Signore；〃　the　cardinal　said；　looking　troubled。　〃The　college　owes　you　an　apology　for　last　night。　We　were　blinded　by…〃　
　〃Please；〃　Mortati　replied。　〃Our　minds　sometimes　see　what　our　hearts　wish　were　true。〃
　The　cardinal　was　silent　a　long　time。　Finally　he　spoke。　〃Have　you　been　told？　You　are　no　longer　our　Great　Elector。〃
　Mortati　smiled。　〃Yes。　I　thank　God　for　small　blessings。〃
　〃The　college　insisted　you　be　eligible。〃
　〃It　seems　charity　is　not　dead　in　the　church。〃
　〃You　are　a　wise　man。　You　would　lead　us　well。〃
　〃I　am　an　old　man。　I　would　lead　you　briefly。〃
　They　both　laughed。
　As　they　reached　the　end　of　the　Borgia　Courtyard；　the　cardinal　hesitated。　He　turned　to　Mortati　with　a　troubled　mystification；　as　if　the　precarious　awe　of　the　night　before　had　slipped　back　into　his　heart。
　〃Were　you　aware；〃　the　cardinal　whispered；　〃that　we　found　no　remains　on　the　balcony？〃
　Mortati　smiled。　〃Perhaps　the　rain　washed　them　away。〃
　The　man　looked　to　the　stormy　heavens。　〃Yes；　perhaps　。　。　。〃
　
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　The　midmorning　sky　still　hung　heavy　with　clouds　as　the　Sistine　Chapel's　chimney　gave　up　its　first　faint　puffs　of　white　smoke。　The　pearly　wisps　curled　upward　toward　the　firmament　and　slowly　dissipated。
　Far　below；　in　St。　Peter's　Square；　reporter　Gunther　Glick　watched　in　reflective　silence。　The　final　chapter　。　。　。　
　Chinita　Macri　approached　him　from　behind　and　hoisted　her　camera　onto　her　shoulder。　〃It's　time；〃　she　said。　
　Glick　nodded　dolefully。　He　turned　toward　her；　smoothed　his　hair；　and　took　a　deep　breath。　My　last　transmission；　he　thought。　A　small　crowd　had　gathered　around　them　to　watch。
　〃Live　in　sixty　seconds；〃　Macri　announced。
　Glick　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　the　roof　of　the　Sistine　Chapel　behind　him。　〃Can　you　get　the　smoke？〃　
　Macri　patiently　nodded。　〃I　know　how　to　frame　a　shot；　Gunther。〃
　Glick　felt　dumb。　Of　course　she　did。　Macri's　performance　behind　the　camera　last　night　had　probably　won　her　the　Pulitzer。　His　performance；　on　the　other　hand　。　。　。　he　didn't　want　to　think　about　it。　He　was　sure　the　BBC　would　let　him　go；　no　doubt　they　would　have　legal　troubles　from　numerous　powerful　entities　。　。　。　CERN　and　George　Bush　among　them。
　〃You　look　good；〃　Chinita　patronized；　looking　out　from　behind　her　camera　now　with　a　hint　of　concern。　〃I　wonder　if　I　might　offer　you　。　。　。〃　She　hesitated；　holding　her　tongue。
　〃Some　advice？〃　
　Macri　sighed。　〃I　was　only　going　to　say　that　there's　no　need　to　go　out　with　a　bang。〃
　〃I　know；〃　he　said。　〃You　want　a　straight　wrap。〃　
　〃The　straightest　in　history。　I'm　trusting　you。〃
　Glick　smiled。　A　straight　wrap？　Is　she　crazy？　A　story　like　last　night's　deserved　so　much　more。　A　twist。　A　final　bombshell。　An　unforeseen　revelation　of　shocking　truth。　
　Fortunately；　Glick　had　just　the　ticket　waiting　in　the　wings　。　。　。　
　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　
　〃You're　on　in　。　。　。　five　。　。　。　four　。　。　。　three　。　。　。〃
　As　Chinita　Macri　looked　through　her　camera；　she　sensed　a　sly　glint　in　Glick's　eye。　I　was　insane　to　let　him　do　this；　she　thought。　What　was　I　thinking？　
　But　the　moment　for　second　thoughts　had　passed。　They　were　on。
　〃Live　from　Vatican　City；〃　Glick　announced　on　cue；　〃this　is　Gunther　Glick　reporting。〃　He　gave　the　camera　a　solemn　stare　as　the　white　smoke　rose　behind　him　from　the　Sistine　Chapel。　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　it　is　now　official。　Cardinal　Saverio　Mortati；　a　seventy…nine…year…old　progressive；　has　just　been　elected　the　next　Pope　of　Vatican　City。　Although　an　unlikely　candidate；　Mortati　was　chosen　by　an　unprecedented　unanimous　vote　by　the　College　of　Cardinals。〃　
　As　Macri　watched　him；　she　began　to　breathe　easier。　Glick　seemed　surprisingly　professional　today。　Even　austere。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　Glick　actually　looked　and　sounded　somewhat　like　a　newsman。
　〃And　as　we　reported　earlier；〃　Glick　added；　his　voice　intensifying　perfectly；　〃the　Vatican　has　yet　to　offer　any　statement　whatsoever　regarding　the　miraculous　events　of　last　night。〃
　Good。　Chinita's　nervousness　waned　some　more。　So　far；　so　good。　
　Glick's　expression　grew　sorrowful　now。　〃And　though　last　night　was　a　night　of　wonder；　it　was　also　a　night　of　tragedy。　Four　cardinals　perished　in　yesterday's　conflict；　along　with　mander　Olivetti　and　Captain　Rocher　of　the　Swiss　Guard；　both　in　the　line　of　duty。　Other　casualties　include　Leonardo　Vetra；　the　renowned　CERN　physicist　and　pioneer　of　antimatter　technology；　as　well　as　Maximilian　Kohler；　the　director　of　CERN；　who　apparently　came　to　Vatican　City　in　an　effort　to　help　but　reportedly　passed　away　in　the　process。　No　official　report　has　been　issued　yet　on　Mr。　Kohler's　death；　but　conjecture　is　that　he　died　due　to　plications　brought　on　by　a　long…time　illness。〃
　Macri　nodded。　The　report　was　going　perfectly。　Just　as　they　discussed。
　〃And　in　the　wake　of　the　explosion　in　the　sky　over　the　Vatican　last　night；　CERN's　antimatter　technology　has　bee　the　hot　topic　among　scientists；　sparking　excitement　and　controversy。　A　statement　read　by　Mr。　Kohler's　assistant　in　Geneva；　Sylvie　Baudeloque；　announced　this　morning　that　CERN's　board　of　directors；　although　enthusiastic　about　antimatter's　potential；　are　suspending　all　research　and　licensing　until　further　inquiries　into　its　safety　can　be　examined。〃
　Excellent；　Macri　thought。　Home　stretch。　
　〃Notably　absent　from　our　screens　tonight；〃　Glick　reported；　〃is　the　face　of　Robert　Langdon；　the　Harvard　professor　who　came　to　Vatican　City　yesterday　to　lend　his　expertise　during　this　Illuminati　crisis。　Although　originally　thought　to　have　perished　in　the　antimatter　blast；　we　now　have　reports　that　Langdon　was　spotted　in　St。　Peter's　Square　after　the　explosion。　How　he　got　there　is　still　speculation；　although　a　spokesman　from　Hospital　Tiberina　claims　that　Mr。　Langdon　fell　out　of　the　sky　into　the　Tiber　River　shortly　after　midnight；　was　treated；　and　released。〃　Glick　arched　his　eyebrows　at　the　camera。　〃And　if　that　is　true　。　。　。　it　was　indeed　a　night　of　miracles。〃
　Perfect　ending！　Macri　felt　herself　smiling　broadly。　Flawless　wrap！　Now　sign　off！　
　But　Glick　did　not　sign　off。　Instead；　he　paused　a　moment　and　then　stepped　toward　the　camera。　He　had　a　mysterious　smile。　〃But　before　we　sign　off　。　。　。〃
　No！　
　〃。　。　。　I　would　like　to　invite　a　guest　to　join　me。〃
　Chinita's　hands　froze　on　the　camera。　A　guest？　What　the　hell　is　he　doing？　What　guest！　Sign　off！　But　she　knew　it　was　too　late。　Glick　had　mitted。
　〃The　man　I　am　about　to　introduce；〃　Glick　said；　〃is　an　American　。　。　。　a　renowned　scholar。〃
　Chinita　hesitated。　She　held　her　breath　as　Glick　turned　to　the　small　crowd　around　them　and　motioned　for　his　guest　to　step　forward。　Macri　said　a　silent　prayer。　Please　tell　me　he　somehow　located　Robert　Langdon　。　。　。　and　not　some　Illuminati…conspiracy　nutcase。　
　But　as　Glick's　guest　stepped　out；　Macri's　heart　sank。　It　was　not　Robert　Langdon　at　all。　It　was　a　bald　man　in　blue　jeans　and　a　flannel　shirt。　He　had　a　cane　and　thick　glasses。　Macri　felt　terror。　Nutcase！　
　〃May　I　introduce；〃　Glick　announced；　〃the　renowned　Vatican　scholar　from　De　Paul　University　in　Chicago。　Dr。　Joseph　Vanek。〃
　Macri　now　hesitated　as　the　man　joined　Glick　on　camera。　This　was　no　conspiracy　buff；　Macri　had　actually　heard　of　this　guy。
　〃Dr。　Vanek；〃　Glick　said。　〃You　have　some　rather　startling　information　to　share　with　us　regarding　last　night's　conclave。〃
　〃I　do　indeed；〃　Vanek　said。　〃After　a　night　of　such　surprises；　it　is　hard　to　imagine　there　are　any　surprises　left　。　。　。　and　yet　。　。　。〃　He　paused。
　Glick　smiled。　〃And　yet；　there　is　a　strange　twist　to　all　this。〃
　Vanek　nodded。　〃Yes。　As　perplexing　as　this　will　sound；　I　believe　the　College　of　Cardinals　unknowingly　elected　two　Popes　this　weekend。〃
　Macri　almost　dropped　the　camera。
　Glick　gave　a　shrewd　smile。　〃Two　Popes；　you　say？〃
　The　scholar　nodded。　〃Yes。　I　should　first　say　that　I　have　spent　my　life　studying　the　laws　of　papal　election。　Conclave　judicature　is　extremely　plex；　and　much　of　it　is　now　forgotten　or　ignored　as　obsolete。　Even　the　Great　Elector　is　probably　not　aware　of　what　I　am　about　to　reveal。　Nonetheless　。　。　。　according　to　the　ancient　forgotten　laws　put　forth　in　the　Romano　Pontifici　Eligendo；　Numero　63　。　。　。　balloting　is　not　the　only　method　by　which　a　Pope　can　be　elected。　There　is　another；　more　divine　method。　It　is　called　'Acclamation　by　Adoration。'　〃　He　paused。　〃And　it　happened　last　night。〃
　Glick　gave　his　guest　a　riveted　look。　〃Please；　go　on。〃
　〃As　you　may　recall；〃　the　scholar　continued；　〃last　night；　when　Camerlegno　Carlo　Ventresca　was　standing　on　the　roof　of　the　basilica；　all　of　the　cardinals　below　began　calling　out　his　name　in　unison。〃
　〃Yes；　I　recall。〃
　〃With　that　image　in　mind；　allow　me　to　read　verbatim　from　the　ancient　electoral　laws。〃　The　man　pulled　some　papers　from　his　pocket；　cleared　his　throat；　and　began　to　read。　〃　'Election　by　Adoration　occurs　when　。　。　。　all　the　cardinals；　as　if　by　inspiration　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　freely　and　spontaneously；　unanimously　and　aloud；　proclaim　one　individual's　name。'　〃
　Glick　smiled。　〃So　you're　saying　that　last　night；　when　the　cardinals　chanted　Carlo　Ventresca's　name　together；　they　actually　elected　him　Pope？〃
　〃They　did　indeed。　Furthermore；　the　law　states　that　Election　by　Adoration　supercedes　the　cardinal　eligibility　requirement　and　permits　any　clergyman…ordained　priest；　bishop；　or　cardinal…to　be　elected。　So；　as　you　can　see；　the　camerlegno　was　perfectly　qualified　for　papal　election　by　this　procedure。〃　Dr。　Vanek　looked　directly　into　the　camera　now。　〃The　facts　are　these　。　。　。　Carlo　Ventresca　was　elected　Pope　last　night。　He　reigned　for　just　under　seventeen　minutes。　And　had　he　not　ascended　miraculously　into　a　pillar　of　fire；　he　would　now　be　buried　in　the　Vatican　Grottoes　along　with　the　other　Popes。〃
　〃Thank　you；　doctor。〃　Glick　turned　to　Macri　with　a　mischievous　wink。　〃Most　illuminating　。　。　。〃
　
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　High　atop　the　steps　of　the　Roman　Coliseum；　Vittoria　laughed　and　called　down　to　him。　〃Robert；　hurry　up！　I　knew　I　should　have　married　a　younger　man！〃　Her　smile　was　magic。
　He　struggled　to　keep　up；　but　his　legs　felt　like　stone。　〃Wait；〃　he　begged。　〃Please　。　。　。〃
　There　was　a　pounding　in　his　head。
　Robert　Langdon　awoke　with　a　start。
　Darkness。
　He　lay　still　for　a　long　time　in　the　foreign　softness　of　the　bed；　unable　to　figure　out　where　he　was。　The　pillows　were　goose　down；　oversized　and　wonderful。　The　air　smelled　of　potpourri。　Across　the　room；　two　glass　doors　stood　open　to　a　lavish　balcony；　where　a　light　breeze　played　beneath　a　glistening　cloud…swept　moon。　Langdon　tried　to　remember　how　he　had　gotten　here　。　。　。　and　where　here　was。　
　Surreal　wisps　of　memory　sifted　back　into　his　consciousness　。　。　。　
　A　pyre　of　mystical　fire　。　。　。　an　angel　materializing　from　out　of　the　crowd　。　。　。　her　soft　hand　taking　his　and　leading　him　into　the　night　。　。　。　guiding　his　exhausted；　battered　body　through　the　streets　。　。　。　leading　him　here　。　。　。　to　this　suite　。　。　。　propping　him　half…sleeping　in　a　scalding　hot　shower　。　。　。　leading　him　to　this　bed　。　。　。　and　watching　over　him　as　he　fell　asleep　like　the　dead。　
　In　the　dimness　now；　Langdon　could　see　a