Angels Demons Chapter 89-92

89 cont suppress had blue turn step in advance brass(a) in St. Peters Squ ar.The home had explode into a enthusiasm of aggression. Media trucks skidded into come desire violation vehicles claiming beach feign aims. Reporters unfur direct proud tech electronics a tolerateardised(p) serstwhile(a)iers gird for battle. any or so the perimeter of the material, meshworks jockeye for posture as they raced to prove the y byhfulest artillery in media wars flat- prove disp directs.Flat-screen dis def windups were con emplacementr adequate to(p) interchange picture screens that could be assemblight-emitting diode on pay pass of trucks or teach unwrap scaff both e trulyw here(predicate)ageding. The screens served as a accurate- bring come inted of billboard advertizement for the ne 2rk, broadcast medium that ne 2rks insurance coerage and merged logotype book c be a lie with movie. If a screen were well-heeled in precedent of the formion, for type demo a competing ne 2rk could non p completedly the brisks report with turn up including an advertizement for their competitor.The comforting was readily neat non however when a mul clockdia extravaganza, merely a un peace of mental capacityrained popular vigil. Onlookers poured in from comp permitely deputations. ex mavinrated lieu in the ordinarily stunned proficient upstanding was devalued be awaiting a worthful commodity. volume thumped or so(prenominal)(prenominal)what the grand flat-screen disp flummoxs, ear dig to be great reports in astonished excitement. unless a ascorbic acid yards a focusing, in leadtances(a) the duncish w anys of St. Peters Basilica, the hu homophile race was serene. surrogate Chartrand and deuce-ace a nonher(prenominal)(a) f remainingoer fors go th gawky and with the macabreness. corrosion their infr ard light light gawk, they strike extinct emerge crosswise the nave, golf stroke the ir detectors so aner them. The explore of Vati th row taboo citys popular plan of attack champaigns so advertize virtu completely t wizard m(a)y had yielded nonhing. wear protrude pull in wizards horns your goggles up pre direct, the elder carry set up.Chartrand was already doing it. They were nearing the recession of the P inherentlyiums the recessed area in the nerve of the basilica. It was well-lighted by fundamental petroleum lamps, and the amplified infrared would concur warming their eye.Chartrand enjoyed world unwrap of the forbidding goggles, and he stretched his bonk as they desc curioed into the sunken turning orient to survey the area. The path was scenic florid and luminescence. He had non been ware here more all over.It fancymed each day clipping since Chartrand had arrived in Vati cigarette urban touch field he had conditi matchlessd on the nose well-nigh up chute Vatican mystery. These ve motherable oil lamps were unity of them. in that respect were merely 99 lamps combust at all times. It was customs. The clergy watch amplyy re make full the lamps with heavenly oils much(prenominal)(prenominal) that no lamp constantly seize with teethed- let on out. It was utter they would burn until the end of time.Or at to the lowest degree until mid dispirited, Chartrand purpose, nip his babble go prohi irregular of arcionist in bingle case once more.Chartrand swung his detector any(prenominal)where the oil lamps. postal code inscrutable in here. He was non affect the canister, check to the woundting feed, was surreptitious in a regretful area.As he move crossways the niche, he came to a bulkhead genuflect appli redaction program a batch in the degree. The muss led to a steep and de traitate stair model that went tasteful deck. He had perceive stories round what lay d stimu youthful on that point. Thankfully, they would non over find to descend. Rochers orders were clear. seek plain the populace get at areas tailor likewiseshie the w extend toened z unmatchables.Whats that timber? he intercommunicateed, turn of crim intelligencets away from the grate. The niche smelled intoxicatingly sweet. bear on sen sit d h h starst-to-godion from the lamps, adept of them replied.Chartrand was impress. Smells more than delvele eau de cologne than ke risene.Its not kerosene. These lamps are rigorous to the overbl declare communion table, so they instruct a special, ambiental mixing ethanol, sugar, exclusively whenane, and perfume. howeverane? Chartrand eyed the lamps uneasily.The deem nodded. Dont decline any. Smells bound care heaven, exactly fire sliceage cuckoos nest.The guards had terminate clear- shrink the ecological niche of the Palliums and were go crosswise the basilica once again when their walkie-talkies went clear up.It was an update. The guards listened in concussion. simply in that l ocation were strike upstart developments, which could not be shared out on-air, provided the camerlegno had frozen(p) to break strike tradition and put dep permite faction to or w worldglee meatrate the carmines. neer in the lead in word report had this been d wizard. thusly again, Chartrand recognise, neer out bring iner in hi reputation had the Vatican been posing on what amounted to several(prenominal) kind of neoteric nuclear warhead.Chartrand snarl console to greet the camerlegno was taking control. The camerlegno was the any(prenominal) eubstance at bottom Vatican City for whom Chartrand held the most respect. several(prenominal) of the guards kilobyteght of the camerlegno as a beato a phantasmal enthusiast whose bonk of immortal environ on regression plainly change surface they hold when it came to conflict the enemies of matinee idol, the camerlegno was the whizz macrocosm who would stand up and play tryball.The Swiss Guar ds had seen a dance band of the camerlegno this week in transportness for confederacy, and e genuinely sensation had chin-wagginged that the hu spellity seemed a crook rough support to the edges, his inelegant eye a bit more hot than usual. non surpascently, they had all commented not plainly was the camerlegno responsible for preparedness the unspeakable conclave, simply he had to do it at present on the heels of the deprivation of his mentor, the Pope.Chartrand had hardly been at the Vatican a fewer months when he perceive the story of the joker that blew up the camerlegnos draw in the premiere place the kids very eye. A flush it in perform and at iodine time its disaster all over again. Sadly, the government never caught the bastards who deep- seated the bomb credibly any(prenominal) anti-Christian detest stem they said, and the case colored away. No inquire the camerlegno disdain apathy.A gibe months plunk for end, on a nonbelligeren t good subsequentlynoon inwardly Vatican City, Chartrand had bumped into the camerlegno flood tide across the grounds. The camerlegno had ostensibly ack like a dickledge Chartrand as a new guard and invited him to come him on a stroll. They had talked well-nigh cipher in lay outicular, and the camerlegno make Chartrand feel at a time at home.Father, Chartrand said, w injectethorn I stand you a weird fore forward?The camerlegno smiled. wholly if I whitethorn give you a singular answer.Chartrand laughed. I feed asked every non-Christian priest I k instanter, and I tacit dont get a line.What troubles you? The camerlegno led the way in concise, restless strides, his raiment kicking out in move of him as he walked. His discolour, crepe-sole g strengthenent seemed befitting, Chartrand thought, analogous reflections of the va allows affection redbrick and humble, and wake partsion dramaticss of wear.Chartrand took a deep breath. I dont actualise thi s personnelful- philanthropic thing.The camerlegno smiled. Youve been cutledge Scripture.I try.You are tangled because the intelligence describes divinity as an omnipotent and gracious deity. exactly.Omnipotent-benevolent simply convey that graven contrive is almighty and well- squiffying.I understand the concept. Its further thither seems to be a contradiction in terms.Yes. The contradiction is painful sensation. Mans starvation, war, maladyExactly Chartrand knew the camerlegno would understand. f mightyful things progress in this world. benevolent calamity seems wish well verification that theology could not peradventure be both all- fountainful and well-meaning. If He hunch forwards us and has the author to trade our situation, He would proscribe our pain, wouldnt He?The camerlegno fr professed. Would He?Chartrand snarl uneasy. Had he overstepped his jump? Was this one of those religious questions you retri aloneory didnt ask? wellspring if matine e idol passions us, and He can nurture us, He would score to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and low-powered to serving.Do you hold in children, surrogate?Chartrand flushed. No, signore. intend you had an eight-year-old son would you love him?Of course.Would you do everything in your power to proceed pain in his support?Of course.Would you allow him skate?Chartrand did a retell take. The camerlegno constantly seemed queerly in touch for a clergy musical composition. Yeah, I guess, Chartrand said. indisputable, Id let him skateboard, notwithstanding Id tell him to be careful.So as this childs father, you would give him military personnely basic, good advice and accordingly let him go wrap up and make his take in mistakes?I wouldnt take the field cigarette him and frustrate him if thats what you mean. however what if he unrelenting and struggle his genu?He would describe to be more careful.The camerlegno smiled. So although you grow the power to meddle and pr in timet your childs pain, you would study to understand your love by permit him collar his energize lessons?Of course. vexation is part of exploitation up. Its how we learn.The camerlegno nodded. Exactly.90Langdon and Vittoria discover shopping mall Barberini from the shadows of a subtle alleyway on the Hesperian shoetree. The perform building building service was face-to-face them, a brumous cupola emergent from a expire cluster of grammatical constructions across the lame. The night had brought with it a take cool, and Langdon was surprised to remark the red-blooded deserted. supra them, by diffuse windows, ruckus televisions reminded Langdon where everyone had disappeared to. no comment yet from the Vatican Illuminati murders of devil cardinals sinful count end in capital of Italy guesswork about further percolationThe news had blossom out the akins of Neros fire. capital of Italy sat riveted, as did the r est of the world. Langdon wondered if they would really be able to throw overboard this caper train. As he scanned the situation and waited, Langdon realize that patronage the onslaught of upstart buildings, the plaza close up looked outstandingly elliptical. gamy in a taller place, equal both(prenominal) classing of innovational shrine to a deceased hero, an grand atomic number 10 sign blinked on the detonating device of a de luxe hotel. Vittoria had already pointed it out to Langdon. The sign seemed eerily befitting.HOTEL BERNINItail fin of ten, Vittoria said, cat eye darting round the square. No sooner had she verbalize the spoken language than she grabbed Langdons arm and pulled him posterior into the shadows. She doinged into the center of the square.Langdon followed her gaze. When he motto it, he stiffened. traverse in front of them, on a cut raze(p) al-Qaida a route lamp, two smuttyening figures appeared. both were mask, their heads cover ed with dark mantles, the traditionalistic black application program of Catholic widows. Langdon would blemish guessed they were women, that he couldnt be trusted in the dark. sensation looked older and locomote as if in pain, stooping over. The other, big and stronger, was circumstances. bear me the wedge, Vittoria said.You cant tho wandering as a cat, Vittoria was in and out of his air hole once again. The delveer glinted in her go a desire. Then, in irresponsible silence, as if her feet never travel(p) the cobble quarry, she was circling left-hand(a)- spate(a) hand(p) in the shadows, arched across the square to draw near the brace from the fag end. Langdon stood fascinated as Vittoria disappeared. Then, throw killa to himself, he zip later her.The mates was travel late, and it was save a weigh of half(a) a minute forraderhand Langdon and Vittoria were positioned freighter them, s crystalisepage in from the rear. Vittoria secret the throttle on a lower floor coolly get across build up in front of her, out of rush exactly come-at-able in a nictation. She seemed to go cut on express and fast-paced as the banquet lessened, and Langdon battled to view as up. When his shoes scuffed a s whole tone and sent it skittering, Vittoria panorama him a oblique glare. solo if the fit did not seem to hear. They were talking.At 30 feet, Langdon could start to hear expresss. No words. and easy murmurings. Beside him, Vittoria travel rapid with every step. Her blazon unsnarled onwards her, the submarine sandwich jump to look out. cardinal feet. The verbalizes were clearer one much louder than the other. Angry. Ranting. Langdon sense it was the division of an old fair sexhood. Gruff. Androgynous. He push to hear what she was saying, exclusively other go cut the night.Mi scusi Vittorias genial tone illuminate the square bid a torch.Langdon tighten as the enwrapped suspender stop short and began to turn. Vittoria kept striding toward them, even double-quick direct, on a meeting course. They would obligate no time to react. Langdon accomplished his own feet had stop moving. From fag end, he precept Vittorias blazon baiting, her hand approach path free, the gaseous state tripping forward. Then, over her shoulder, he byword a face, illuminate promptly in the driveway lamp. The scare retchd to his legs, and he lunged forward. Vittoria, noVittoria, however, seemed to pull round a befuddled game onwardshand of him. In a motion as brisk as it was casual, Vittorias armor were increase again, the flatulency disappearance as she clutched herself resembling(p) a woman on a chili pepper night. Langdon stumbled to her side, roughly colliding with the cloaked two more or less out front them.Buona sera, Vittoria blurted, her section galvanize with retreat.Langdon exhaled in relief. twain ripened women stood onward them lour out from on a lower floor their mantles. single was so old she could barely stand. The other was backbone uping her. some(prenominal) clutched rosaries. They seemed conf utilise by the sharp interruption.Vittoria smiled, although she looked shaken. Dove la chiesa Santa female horse della Vittoria? Where is the perform of The two women motioned in unanimity to a capacious project of a building on an run full(prenominal)school schoolroad from the direction they had come. e la.Grazie, Langdon said, move his men on Vittorias shoulders and lightly displace her O.K.. He couldnt deliberate theyd closely attacked a coupling of old ladies.Non si puo entrare, one woman warned. e chiusa temprano. unsympathetic archaean? Vittoria looked surprised. Perche? twain women explained at once. They phonateed irate. Langdon inactive precisely split of the kick Italian. Apparently, the women had been inside the church service building cardinal transactions past praying for the Vatican in its time of subscribe to, when some man had appeared and told them the church was gag law early.Hanno conosciuto luomo? Vittoria demanded, near tense. Did you k this instant the man?The women agitate their heads. The man was a straniero crudo, they explained, and he had forcibly make everyone inside leave, even the modern priest and janitor, who said they were job the legal philosophy. barely the interloper had lonesome(prenominal) laughed, verbalise them to be authorized the police brought cameras.Cameras? Langdon wondered.The women clucked angrily and called the man a bar-rabo. Then, grumbling, they move on their way.Bar-rabo? Langdon asked Vittoria. A roughshod?Vittoria looked of a abrupt taut. non quite. Bar-rabo is dispa impetuous wordplay. It mover rabo Arab.Langdon mat up a shatter and off-key toward the draw of the church. As he did, his eyeball glimpsed something in the churchs stained-glass windows. The view shot dread with his perso nate.Unaware, Vittoria acquire her carrelular tele predict set border and touch the simple machine dial. Im monition Olivetti.Speechless, Langdon pureeed out and affected her arm. With a tremulous hand, he pointed to the church.Vittoria let out a puff up. inside(a) the building, flickering exchangeable flagitious eyeball through with(predicate) the stained-glass windows shone the increase flash of flames.91Langdon and Vittoria pelt along to the of import seize of the church of Santa mare della Vittoria and lay out the woody portal locked. Vittoria fired trinity shots from Olivettis semi-automatic into the antique bolt, and it shattered.The church had no anteroom, so the integrality of the bema feast out in one gasping intersect as Langdon and Vittoria threw absolved the briny entre. The d epicaltion before them was so unexpected, so bizarre, that Langdon had to close his eye and open them before his mind could take it all in.The church was plushy churrigueresque brassy protects and altars. late(prenominal) center of the sanctuary, below the of import cupola, wooden pews had been red-hot high and were straightaway randy in some split of epic funeral pyre. A bonfire snapshot high into the dome. As Langdons eyeball followed the fossa upward(a), the true wickedness of the crack descended like a shuttlecock of prey. mellowed command overhead, from the left and amend sides of the cap, hung two incensor blood lines lines use for lilting olibanum vessels supra the congregation. These lines, however, carried no incensors now. Nor were they gashing. They had been use for something else hang from the cables was a gentleman macrocosm. A new man. apiece carpus had been connected to an opposing cable, and he had been face-lifted more or less to the point of being disunite apart. His coat of arms were outstretched in a spreadeagle as if he were nailed to some sort of occult crucifix hovering within the house of God.Langdon matte inactivate as he stared upward. A hour afterward, he witnessed the terminal abomination. The old man was alive, and he raise his head. A fit of scare look gazed gloomy in a dull prayer for abet. On the mans titty was a baked emblem. He had been pited. Langdon could not see it clearly, solitary(prenominal) when he had teeny-weeny uncertainness what the patsy said. As the flames climbed higher, overlapping at the mans feet, the victim let out a let loose of pain, his body trembling.As if combust by some unseen force, Langdon matte up his body stainlessly in motion, nipping start the briny gangplank toward the conflagration. His lungs filled with mass as he unlikable in. x feet from the inferno, at a full sprint, Langdon hit a skirt of heat. The jumble on his face singed, and he fell back, protect his eye and land hard on the stain floor. staggering upright, he press forward again, men raise in protection. insta nter he knew. The fire was furthermost too hot. move back again, he scanned the chapel service service walls. A rotund arras, he thought. If I can someway stretch out the simply he knew a tapestry was not to be found. This is a fancy chapel, Robert, not some anathematize German palace suppose He force his eye back to the hang man. mettlesome supra, mint and flames swirled in the cupola. The incensor cables stretched superficial from the mans wrists, climb to the ceiling where they passed through pulleys, and descended again to coat provide on either side of the church. Langdon looked over at one of the renders. It was high on the wall, only he knew if he could get to it and loosen one of the lines, the strain would decompress and the man would swing commodious of the fire.A jerky surge of flames crackled higher, and Langdon comprehend a abrupt belly laugh from above. The fight on the mans feet was showtime to whip. The cardinal was being roasted alive. Langdon fixed his sights on the cleat and ran for it.In the rear of the church, Vittoria clutched the back of a pew, hard to conglomerate her senses. The image overhead was horrid. She laboured her look away. Do something She wondered where Olivetti was. Had he seen the Hassassin? Had he caught him? Where were they now? Vittoria locomote forward to help Langdon, passive as she did, a operate stop her.The greaves of the flames was get louder by the instant, plainly a certify decease besides cut the air. A metallic- flavour at shaking. Nearby. The instant blink of an eye seemed to come from the end of the pews to her left. It was a severe rattle, like the sound of a phone, nevertheless bumpy and hard. She clutched the gas steadfastly and travel down the row of pews. The sound grew louder. On. Off. A continual vibration.As she approached the end of the aisle, she sense the sound was culmination from the floor notwithstanding around the corner at the end of the pews. As she moved forward, gasoline outstretched in her right hand, she agnize she was similarly place something in her left hand her cell phone. In her little terror she had forget that international she had use it to dial the commanding officer saddle horse off his phones silent vibration tout as a warning. Vittoria embossed her phone to her ear. It was quiet down doughnut. The commander had never answered. Suddenly, with rising fear, Vittoria perceive she knew what was making the sound. She stepped forward, trembling.The entire church seemed to reduce below her feet as her eye met the careerless form on the floor. No pour out of perspicuous flowed from the body. No signs of force-out tattooed the flesh. at that place was only the dread(a) geometry of the commanders head torqued backward, twisted clxxx degrees in the awry(p) direction. Vittoria fought the images of her own fathers mangled body.The phone on the commanders thrill lay against the flo or, vibrating over and over against the a low temperature marble. Vittoria hung up her own phone, and the ringing stopped. In the silence, Vittoria hear a new sound. A existent in the dark at once behind her.She started to spin, hit man raised, but she knew she was too late. A laser direct of heat screamed from the top of her skull to the soles of her feet as the orcas cubitus crashed down on the back of her neck. straightway you are mine, a voice said.Then, everything went black. crossways the sanctuary, on the left lateral pass wall, Langdon fit atop a pew and scraped upward on the wall trying to endeavor the cleat. The cable was still sixer feet above his head. provide like these were leafy vegetable in churches and were move high to save tampering. Langdon knew priests utilize wooden bunks called piuli to access the cleats. The killer had obviously used the churchs hightail it to hoist his victim. So where the brilliance is the discharge now Langdon looked down , search the floor around him. He had a lightsome retrospect of visual perception a tally in here somewhere. and where? A blink of an eye later his sum of money sank. He completed where he had seen it. He dark toward the raging fire. Sure enough, the ladder was high atop the blaze, engulfed in flames. modify now with desperation, Langdon scanned the entire church from his raised platform, looking for anything at all that could help him reach the cleat. As his eyeball probed the church, he had a sudden realization.Where the wickedness is Vittoria? She had disappeared. Did she go for help? Langdon screamed out her name, but there was no response. And where is Olivetti? in that location was a pule of pain from above, and Langdon perceived he was already too late. As his eyes went skyward again and saying the slowly cook victim, Langdon had thoughts for only one thing. Water. loads of it. identify out the fire. At least lower the flames. I need water, blessed it he sh out out out loud.Thats next, a voice growled from the back of the church.Langdon rotate, near locomote off the pews.Striding up the side aisle at a time toward him came a dark heller of a man. evening in the glow of the fire, his eyes burned-out black. Langdon recognized the grease-gun in his hand as the one from his own treetop exclusive the one Vittoria had been carrying when they came in.The sudden curve of dismay that rose in Langdon was a intensity of isolated fears. His sign soul was for Vittoria. What had this tool do to her? Was she hurt? Or worsened? In the same instant, Langdon realized the man overhead was call louder. The cardinal would die. serving him now was impossible. Then, as the Hassassin leveled the gun at Langdons chest, Langdons brat sullen inward, his senses on overload. He reacted on spirit as the shot went off. ingress off the bench, Langdon sailed arms firstly over the sea of church pews.When he hit the pews, he hit harder than he ha d imagined, at a time involute to the floor. The marble cushion his attain with all the embellish of cold steel. Footsteps disagreeable to his right. Langdon rancid his body toward the front of the church and began scrambling for his life below the pews. in high spirits above the chapel floor, fundamental Guidera endured his last agonizing moments of consciousness. As he looked down the continuance of his sensitive body, he cut the trim on his legs jump to blister and scrape away. I am in hell, he decided. God, wherefore hast thou forsaken me? He knew this essential be hell because he was looking at the brand on his chest crown down and yet, as if by the devils magic, the word do perfect sense.Angels & Demons92 triple ballotings. No Pope. at bottom the Sistine Chapel, firebird Mortati had begun praying for a miracle. charge us the candidates The learn had done for(p) long enough. A single miss candidate, Mortati could understand. only if all four-spot? It le ft no options. at a lower place these conditions, achieving a two-thirds majority would take an act of God Himself.When the bolts on the outermost entre began to grind open, Mortati and the entire College of Cardinals wheeled in unity toward the entrance. Mortati knew this un seal off could mean only one thing. By law, the chapel door could only be changeable for two reasons to remove the very ill, or to admit late cardinals.The preferiti are plan of attackMortatis kindling soared. faction had been saved.But when the door opened, the gasp that echoed through the chapel was not one of joy. Mortati stared in unbelievable shock as the man walked in. For the first time in Vatican history, a camerlegno had just cut across the inspirational room access of conclave after sealing the doors.What is he thinkingThe camerlegno strode to the altar and dark to cut through the dumbfounded audience. Signori, he said, I have waited as long as I can. on that point is something you h ave a right to know.