danbrown.angels&demons-第20部分

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　truth；　that　which　is　greater　than　ourselves。〃
　Langdon　wished　his　students　could　express　themselves　so　clearly。　Hell；　he　wished　he　could　express　himself　so　clearly。　〃And　God？〃　he　asked。　〃Do　you　believe　in　God？〃
　Vittoria　was　silent　for　a　long　time。　〃Science　tells　me　God　must　exist。　My　mind　tells　me　I　will　never　understand　God。　And　my　heart　tells　me　I　am　not　meant　to。〃
　How's　that　for　concise；　he　thought。　〃So　you　believe　God　is　fact；　but　we　will　never　understand　Him。〃
　〃Her；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。　〃Your　Native　Americans　had　it　right。〃
　Langdon　chuckled。　〃Mother　Earth。〃
　〃Gaea。　The　planet　is　an　organism。　All　of　us　are　cells　with　different　purposes。　And　yet　we　are　intertwined。　Serving　each　other。　Serving　the　whole。〃
　Looking　at　her；　Langdon　felt　something　stir　within　him　that　he　had　not　felt　in　a　long　time。　There　was　a　bewitching　clarity　in　her　eyes　。　。　。　a　purity　in　her　voice。　He　felt　drawn。
　〃Mr。　Langdon；　let　me　ask　you　another　question。〃
　〃Robert；〃　he　said。　Mr。　Langdon　makes　me　feel　old。　I　am　old！　
　〃If　you　don't　mind　my　asking；　Robert；　how　did　you　get　involved　with　the　Illuminati？〃
　Langdon　thought　back。　〃Actually；　it　was　money。〃
　Vittoria　looked　disappointed。　〃Money？　Consulting；　you　mean？〃　
　Langdon　laughed；　realizing　how　it　must　have　sounded。　〃No。　Money　as　in　currency。〃　He　reached　in　his　pants　pocket　and　pulled　out　some　money。　He　found　a　one…dollar　bill。　〃I　became　fascinated　with　the　cult　when　I　first　learned　that　U。S。　currency　is　covered　with　Illuminati　symbology。〃
　Vittoria's　eyes　narrowed；　apparently　not　knowing　whether　or　not　to　take　him　seriously。
　Langdon　handed　her　the　bill。　〃Look　at　the　back。　See　the　Great　Seal　on　the　left？〃
　Vittoria　turned　the　one…dollar　bill　over。　〃You　mean　the　pyramid？〃
　〃The　pyramid。　Do　you　know　what　pyramids　have　to　do　with　U。S。　history？〃　
　Vittoria　shrugged。　
　〃Exactly；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Absolutely　nothing。〃　
　Vittoria　frowned。　〃So　why　is　it　the　central　symbol　of　your　Great　Seal？〃
　〃An　eerie　bit　of　history；〃　Langdon　said。　〃The　pyramid　is　an　occult　symbol　representing　a　convergence　upward；　toward　the　ultimate　source　of　Illumination。　See　what's　above　it？〃
　Vittoria　studied　the　bill。　〃An　eye　inside　a　triangle。〃
　〃It's　called　the　trinacria。　Have　you　ever　seen　that　eye　in　a　triangle　anywhere　else？〃
　Vittoria　was　silent　a　moment。　〃Actually；　yes；　but　I'm　not　sure　。　。　。〃
　〃It's　emblazoned　on　Masonic　lodges　around　the　world。〃
　〃The　symbol　is　Masonic？〃　
　〃Actually；　no。　It's　Illuminati。　They　called　it　their　'shining　delta。'　A　call　for　enlightened　change。　The　eye　signifies　the　Illuminati's　ability　to　infiltrate　and　watch　all　things。　The　shining　triangle　represents　enlightenment。　And　the　triangle　is　also　the　Greek　letter　delta；　which　is　the　mathematical　symbol　for…〃
　〃Change。　Transition。〃
　Langdon　smiled。　〃I　forgot　I　was　talking　to　a　scientist。〃
　〃So　you're　saying　the　U。S。　Great　Seal　is　a　call　for　enlightened；　all…seeing　change？〃
　〃Some　would　call　it　a　New　World　Order。〃
　Vittoria　seemed　startled。　She　glanced　down　at　the　bill　again。　〃The　writing　under　the　pyramid　says　Novus　。　。　。　Ordo　。　。　。〃　
　〃Novus　Ordo　Seculorum；〃　Langdon　said。　〃It　means　New　Secular　Order。〃
　〃Secular　as　in　nonreligious？〃　
　〃Nonreligious。　The　phrase　not　only　clearly　states　the　Illuminati　objective；　but　it　also　blatantly　contradicts　the　phrase　beside　it。　In　God　We　Trust。〃
　Vittoria　seemed　troubled。　〃But　how　could　all　this　symbology　end　up　on　the　most　powerful　currency　in　the　world？〃
　〃Most　academics　believe　it　was　through　Vice　President　Henry　Wallace。　He　was　an　upper　echelon　Mason　and　certainly　had　ties　to　the　Illuminati。　Whether　it　was　as　a　member　or　innocently　under　their　influence；　nobody　knows。　But　it　was　Wallace　who　sold　the　design　of　the　Great　Seal　to　the　president。〃
　〃How？　Why　would　the　president　have　agreed　to…〃
　〃The　president　was　Franklin　D。　Roosevelt。　Wallace　simply　told　him　Novus　Ordo　Seculorum　meant　New　Deal。〃　
　Vittoria　seemed　skeptical。　〃And　Roosevelt　didn't　have　anyone　else　look　at　the　symbol　before　telling　the　Treasury　to　print　it？〃
　〃No　need。　He　and　Wallace　were　like　brothers。〃
　〃Brothers？〃
　〃Check　your　history　books；〃　Langdon　said　with　a　smile。　〃Franklin　D。　Roosevelt　was　a　well…known　Mason。〃
　
　32

　Langdon　held　his　breath　as　the　X…33　spiraled　into　Rome's　Leonardo　da　Vinci　International　Airport。　Vittoria　sat　across　from　him；　eyes　closed　as　if　trying　to　will　the　situation　into　control。　The　craft　touched　down　and　taxied　to　a　private　hangar。
　〃Sorry　for　the　slow　flight；〃　the　pilot　apologized；　emerging　from　the　cockpit。　〃Had　to　trim　her　back。　Noise　regulations　over　populated　areas。〃
　Langdon　checked　his　watch。　They　had　been　airborne　thirty…seven　minutes。
　The　pilot　popped　the　outer　door。　〃Anybody　want　to　tell　me　what's　going　on？〃　
　Neither　Vittoria　nor　Langdon　responded。　
　〃Fine；〃　he　said；　stretching。　〃I'll　be　in　the　cockpit　with　the　air…conditioning　and　my　music。　Just　me　and　Garth。〃
　
　The　late…afternoon　sun　blazed　outside　the　hangar。　Langdon　carried　his　tweed　jacket　over　his　shoulder。　Vittoria　turned　her　face　skyward　and　inhaled　deeply；　as　if　the　sun's　rays　somehow　transferred　to　her　some　mystical　replenishing　energy。
　Mediterraneans；　Langdon　mused；　already　sweating。
　〃Little　old　for　cartoons；　aren't　you？〃　Vittoria　asked；　without　opening　her　eyes。
　〃I'm　sorry？〃
　〃Your　wristwatch。　I　saw　it　on　the　plane。〃
　Langdon　flushed　slightly。　He　was　accustomed　to　having　to　defend　his　timepiece。　The　collector's　edition　Mickey　Mouse　watch　had　been　a　childhood　gift　from　his　parents。　Despite　the　contorted　foolishness　of　Mickey's　outstretched　arms　designating　the　hour；　it　was　the　only　watch　Langdon　had　ever　worn。　Waterproof　and　glow…in…the…dark；　it　was　perfect　for　swimming　laps　or　walking　unlit　college　paths　at　night。　When　Langdon's　students　questioned　his　fashion　sense；　he　told　them　he　wore　Mickey　as　a　daily　reminder　to　stay　young　at　heart。　
　〃It's　six　o'clock；〃　he　said。　
　Vittoria　nodded；　eyes　still　closed。　〃I　think　our　ride's　here。〃
　Langdon　heard　the　distant　whine；　looked　up；　and　felt　a　sinking　feeling。　Approaching　from　the　north　was　a　helicopter；　slicing　low　across　the　runway。　Langdon　had　been　on　a　helicopter　once　in　the　Andean　Palpa　Valley　looking　at　the　Nazca　sand　drawings　and　had　not　enjoyed　it　one　bit。　A　flying　shoebox。　After　a　morning　of　space　plane　rides；　Langdon　had　hoped　the　Vatican　would　send　a　car。
　Apparently　not。
　The　chopper　slowed　overhead；　hovered　a　moment；　and　dropped　toward　the　runway　in　front　of　them。　The　craft　was　white　and　carried　a　coat　of　arms　emblazoned　on　the　side…two　skeleton　keys　crossing　a　shield　and　papal　crown。　He　knew　the　symbol　well。　It　was　the　traditional　seal　of　the　Vatican…the　sacred　symbol　of　the　Holy　See　or　〃holy　seat〃　of　government；　the　seat　being　literally　the　ancient　throne　of　St。　Peter。　
　The　Holy　Chopper；　Langdon　groaned；　watching　the　craft　land。　He'd　forgotten　the　Vatican　owned　one　of　these　things；　used　for　transporting　the　Pope　to　the　airport；　to　meetings；　or　to　his　summer　palace　in　Gandolfo。　Langdon　definitely　would　have　preferred　a　car。
　The　pilot　jumped　from　the　cockpit　and　strode　toward　them　across　the　tarmac。　
　Now　it　was　Vittoria　who　looked　uneasy。　〃That's　our　pilot？〃　
　Langdon　shared　her　concern。　〃To　fly；　or　not　to　fly。　That　is　the　question。〃
　The　pilot　looked　like　he　was　festooned　for　a　Shakespearean　melodrama。　His　puffy　tunic　was　vertically　striped　in　brilliant　blue　and　gold。　He　wore　matching　pantaloons　and　spats。　On　his　feet　were　black　flats　that　looked　like　slippers。　On　top　of　it　all；　he　wore　a　black　felt　beret。　
　〃Traditional　Swiss　Guard　uniforms；〃　Langdon　explained。　〃Designed　by　Michelangelo　himself。〃　As　the　man　drew　closer；　Langdon　winced。　〃I　admit；　not　one　of　Michelangelo's　better　efforts。〃
　Despite　the　man's　garish　attire；　Langdon　could　tell　the　pilot　meant　business。　He　moved　toward　them　with　all　the　rigidity　and　dignity　of　a　U。S。　Marine。　Langdon　had　read　many　times　about　the　rigorous　requirements　for　being　one　of　the　elite　Swiss　Guard。　Recruited　from　one　of　Switzerland's　four　Catholic　cantons；　applicants　had　to　be　Swiss　males　between　nineteen　and　thirty　years　old；　at　least　5　feet　6　inches；　trained　by　the　Swiss　Army；　and　unmarried。　This　imperial　corps　was　envied　by　world　governments　as　the　most　allegiant　and　deadly　security　force　in　the　world。
　〃You　are　from　CERN？〃　the　guard　asked；　arriving　before　them。　His　voice　was　steely。
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Langdon　replied。　
　〃You　made　remarkable　time；〃　he　said；　giving　the　X…33　a　mystified　stare。　He　turned　to　Vittoria。　〃Ma'am；　do　you　have　any　other　clothing？〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃
　He　motioned　to　her　legs。　〃Short　pants　are　not　permitted　inside　Vatican　City。〃
　Langdon　glanced　down　at　Vittoria's　legs　and　frowned。　He　had　forgotten。　Vatican　City　had　a　strict　ban　on　visible　legs　above　the　knee…both　male　and　female。　The　regulation　was　a　way　of　showing　respect　for　the　sanctity　of　God's　city。
　〃This　is　all　I　have；〃　she　said。　〃We　came　in　a　hurry。〃
　The　guard　nodded；　clearly　displeased。　He　turned　next　to　Langdon。　〃Are　you　carrying　any　weapons？〃
　Weapons？　Langdon　thought。　I'm　not　even　carrying　a　change　of　underwear！　He　shook　his　head。
　The　officer　crouched　at　Langdon's　feet　and　began　patting　him　down；　starting