danbrown.angels&demons-第63部分

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　Chartrand　enjoyed　being　out　of　the　heavy　goggles；　and　he　stretched　his　neck　as　they　descended　into　the　sunken　niche　to　scan　the　area。　The　room　was　beautiful　。　。　。　golden　and　glowing。　He　had　not　been　down　here　yet。　
　It　seemed　every　day　since　Chartrand　had　arrived　in　Vatican　City　he　had　learned　some　new　Vatican　mystery。　These　oil　lamps　were　one　of　them。　There　were　exactly　ninety…nine　lamps　burning　at　all　times。　It　was　tradition。　The　clergy　vigilantly　refilled　the　lamps　with　sacred　oils　such　that　no　lamp　ever　burned　out。　It　was　said　they　would　burn　until　the　end　of　time。
　Or　at　least　until　midnight；　Chartrand　thought；　feeling　his　mouth　go　dry　again。　
　Chartrand　swung　his　detector　over　the　oil　lamps。　Nothing　hidden　in　here。　He　was　not　surprised；　the　canister；　according　to　the　video　feed；　was　hidden　in　a　dark　area。
　As　he　moved　across　the　niche；　he　came　to　a　bulkhead　grate　covering　a　hole　in　the　floor。　The　hole　led　to　a　steep　and　narrow　stairway　that　went　straight　down。　He　had　heard　stories　about　what　lay　down　there。　Thankfully；　they　would　not　have　to　descend。　Rocher's　orders　were　clear。　Search　only　the　public　access　areas；　ignore　the　white　zones。　
　〃What's　that　smell？〃　he　asked；　turning　away　from　the　grate。　The　niche　smelled　intoxicatingly　sweet。
　〃Fumes　from　the　lamps；〃　one　of　them　replied。
　Chartrand　was　surprised。　〃Smells　more　like　cologne　than　kerosene。〃
　〃It's　not　kerosene。　These　lamps　are　close　to　the　papal　altar；　so　they　take　a　special；　ambiental　mixture…ethanol；　sugar；　butane；　and　perfume。〃
　〃Butane？〃　Chartrand　eyed　the　lamps　uneasily。
　The　guard　nodded。　〃Don't　spill　any。　Smells　like　heaven；　but　burns　like　hell。〃
　
　The　guards　had　pleted　searching　the　Niche　of　the　Palliums　and　were　moving　across　the　basilica　again　when　their　walkie…talkies　went　off。
　It　was　an　update。　The　guards　listened　in　shock。
　Apparently　there　were　troubling　new　developments；　which　could　not　be　shared　on…air；　but　the　camerlegno　had　decided　to　break　tradition　and　enter　conclave　to　address　the　cardinals。　Never　before　in　history　had　this　been　done。　Then　again；　Chartrand　realized；　never　before　in　history　had　the　Vatican　been　sitting　on　what　amounted　to　some　sort　of　neoteric　nuclear　warhead。
　Chartrand　felt　forted　to　know　the　camerlegno　was　taking　control。　The　camerlegno　was　the　person　inside　Vatican　City　for　whom　Chartrand　held　the　most　respect。　Some　of　the　guards　thought　of　the　camerlegno　as　a　beato…a　religious　zealot　whose　love　of　God　bordered　on　obsession…but　even　they　agreed　。　。　。　when　it　came　to　fighting　the　enemies　of　God；　the　camerlegno　was　the　one　man　who　would　stand　up　and　play　hardball。　
　The　Swiss　Guards　had　seen　a　lot　of　the　camerlegno　this　week　in　preparation　for　conclave；　and　everyone　had　mented　that　the　man　seemed　a　bit　rough　around　the　edges；　his　verdant　eyes　a　bit　more　intense　than　usual。　Not　surprisingly；　they　had　all　mented；　not　only　was　the　camerlegno　responsible　for　planning　the　sacred　conclave；　but　he　had　to　do　it　immediately　on　the　heels　of　the　loss　of　his　mentor；　the　Pope。
　Chartrand　had　only　been　at　the　Vatican　a　few　months　when　he　heard　the　story　of　the　bomb　that　blew　up　the　camerlegno's　mother　before　the　kid's　very　eyes。　A　bomb　in　church　。　。　。　and　now　it's　happening　all　over　again。　Sadly；　the　authorities　never　caught　the　bastards　who　planted　the　bomb　。　。　。　probably　some　anti…Christian　hate　group　they　said；　and　the　case　faded　away。　No　wonder　the　camerlegno　despised　apathy。
　A　couple　months　back；　on　a　peaceful　afternoon　inside　Vatican　City；　Chartrand　had　bumped　into　the　camerlegno　ing　across　the　grounds。　The　camerlegno　had　apparently　recognized　Chartrand　as　a　new　guard　and　invited　him　to　acpany　him　on　a　stroll。　They　had　talked　about　nothing　in　particular；　and　the　camerlegno　made　Chartrand　feel　immediately　at　home。
　〃Father；〃　Chartrand　said；　〃may　I　ask　you　a　strange　question？〃
　The　camerlegno　smiled。　〃Only　if　I　may　give　you　a　strange　answer。〃
　Chartrand　laughed。　〃I　have　asked　every　priest　I　know；　and　I　still　don't　understand。〃
　〃What　troubles　you？〃　The　camerlegno　led　the　way　in　short；　quick　strides；　his　frock　kicking　out　in　front　of　him　as　he　walked。　His　black；　crepe…sole　shoess　seemed　befitting；　Chartrand　thought；　like　reflections　of　the　man's　essence　。　。　。　modern　but　humble；　and　showing　signs　of　wear。
　Chartrand　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　don't　understand　this　omnipotent…benevolent　thing。〃
　The　camerlegno　smiled。　〃You've　been　reading　Scripture。〃
　〃I　try。〃
　〃You　are　confused　because　the　Bible　describes　God　as　an　omnipotent　and　benevolent　deity。〃
　〃Exactly。〃
　〃Omnipotent…benevolent　simply　means　that　God　is　all…powerful　and　well…meaning。〃
　〃I　understand　the　concept。　It's　just　。　。　。　there　seems　to　be　a　contradiction。〃
　〃Yes。　The　contradiction　is　pain。　Man's　starvation；　war；　sickness　。　。　。〃
　〃Exactly！〃　Chartrand　knew　the　camerlegno　would　understand。　〃Terrible　things　happen　in　this　world。　Human　tragedy　seems　like　proof　that　God　could　not　possibly　be　both　all…powerful　and　well…meaning。　If　He　loves　us　and　has　the　power　to　change　our　situation；　He　would　prevent　our　pain；　wouldn't　He？〃
　The　camerlegno　frowned。　〃Would　He？〃
　Chartrand　felt　uneasy。　Had　he　overstepped　his　bounds？　Was　this　one　of　those　religious　questions　you　just　didn't　ask？　〃Well　。　。　。　if　God　loves　us；　and　He　can　protect　us；　He　would　have　to。　It　seems　He　is　either　omnipotent　and　uncaring；　or　benevolent　and　powerless　to　help。〃
　〃Do　you　have　children；　Lieutenant？〃
　Chartrand　flushed。　〃No；　signore。〃　
　〃Imagine　you　had　an　eight…year…old　son　。　。　。　would　you　love　him？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Would　you　do　everything　in　your　power　to　prevent　pain　in　his　life？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Would　you　let　him　skateboard？〃
　Chartrand　did　a　double　take。　The　camerlegno　always　seemed　oddly　〃in　touch〃　for　a　clergyman。　〃Yeah；　I　guess；〃　Chartrand　said。　〃Sure；　I'd　let　him　skateboard；　but　I'd　tell　him　to　be　careful。〃
　〃So　as　this　child's　father；　you　would　give　him　some　basic；　good　advice　and　then　let　him　go　off　and　make　his　own　mistakes？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　run　behind　him　and　mollycoddle　him　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　〃But　what　if　he　fell　and　skinned　his　knee？〃
　〃He　would　learn　to　be　more　careful。〃
　The　camerlegno　smiled。　〃So　although　you　have　the　power　to　interfere　and　prevent　your　child's　pain；　you　would　choose　to　show　your　love　by　letting　him　learn　his　own　lessons？〃
　〃Of　course。　Pain　is　part　of　growing　up。　It's　how　we　learn。〃
　The　camerlegno　nodded。　〃Exactly。〃
　
　90

　Langdon　and　Vittoria　observed　Piazza　Barberini　from　the　shadows　of　a　small　alleyway　on　the　western　corner。　The　church　was　opposite　them；　a　hazy　cupola　emerging　from　a　faint　cluster　of　buildings　across　the　square。　The　night　had　brought　with　it　a　wele　cool；　and　Langdon　was　surprised　to　find　the　square　deserted。　Above　them；　through　open　windows；　blaring　televisions　reminded　Langdon　where　everyone　had　disappeared　to。
　〃。　。　。　no　ment　yet　from　the　Vatican　。　。　。　Illuminati　murders　of　two　cardinals　。　。　。　satanic　presence　in　Rome　。　。　。　speculation　about　further　infiltration　。　。　。〃
　The　news　had　spread　like　Nero's　fire。　Rome　sat　riveted；　as　did　the　rest　of　the　world。　Langdon　wondered　if　they　would　really　be　able　to　stop　this　runaway　train。　As　he　scanned　the　piazza　and　waited；　Langdon　realized　that　despite　the　encroachment　of　modern　buildings；　the　piazza　still　looked　remarkably　elliptical。　High　above；　like　some　sort　of　modern　shrine　to　a　bygone　hero；　an　enormous　neon　sign　blinked　on　the　roof　of　a　luxurious　hotel。　Vittoria　had　already　pointed　it　out　to　Langdon。　The　sign　seemed　eerily　befitting。
　
　HOTEL　BERNINI　
　
　〃Five　of　ten；〃　Vittoria　said；　cat　eyes　darting　around　the　square。　No　sooner　had　she　spoken　the　words　than　she　grabbed　Langdon's　arm　and　pulled　him　back　into　the　shadows。　She　motioned　into　the　center　of　the　square。　
　Langdon　followed　her　gaze。　When　he　saw　it；　he　stiffened。　
　Crossing　in　front　of　them；　beneath　a　street　lamp；　two　dark　figures　appeared。　Both　were　cloaked；　their　heads　covered　with　dark　mantles；　the　traditional　black　covering　of　Catholic　widows。　Langdon　would　have　guessed　they　were　women；　but　he　couldn't　be　sure　in　the　dark。　One　looked　elderly　and　moved　as　if　in　pain；　hunched　over。　The　other；　larger　and　stronger；　was　helping。　
　〃Give　me　the　gun；〃　Vittoria　said。
　〃You　can't　just…〃
　Fluid　as　a　cat；　Vittoria　was　in　and　out　of　his　pocket　once　again。　The　gun　glinted　in　her　hand。　Then；　in　absolute　silence；　as　if　her　feet　never　touched　the　cobblestone；　she　was　circling　left　in　the　shadows；　arching　across　the　square　to　approach　the　couple　from　the　rear。　Langdon　stood　transfixed　as　Vittoria　disappeared。　Then；　swearing　to　himself；　he　hurried　after　her。
　The　couple　was　moving　slowly；　and　it　was　only　a　matter　of　half　a　minute　before　Langdon　and　Vittoria　were　positioned　behind　them；　closing　in　from　the　rear。　Vittoria　concealed　the　gun　beneath　casually　crossed　arms　in　front　of　her；　out　of　sight　but　accessible　in　a　flash。　She　seemed　to　float　faster　and　faster　as　the　gap　lessened；　and　Langdon　battled　to　keep　up。　When　his　shoes　scuffed　a　stone　and　sent　it　skittering；　Vittoria　shot　him　a　sideways　glare。　But　the　couple　did　not　seem　to　hear。　They　were　talking。
　At　thirty　feet；　Langdon　could　start　to　hear　voices。　No　words。　Just　faint　murmurings。　Besid