danbrown.angels&demons-第75部分

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ortress　rose　like　a　mountain。　Aching　and　depleted；　Langdon　broke　into　a　loping　run。
　On　both　sides　of　him　now；　like　a　gauntlet　of　escorts；　a　procession　of　Bernini　angels　whipped　past；　funneling　him　toward　his　final　destination。　Let　angels　guide　you　on　your　lofty　quest。　The　castle　seemed　to　rise　as　he　advanced；　an　unscalable　peak；　more　intimidating　to　him　even　than　St。　Peter's。　He　sprinted　toward　the　bastion；　running　on　fumes；　gazing　upward　at　the　citadel's　circular　core　as　it　shot　skyward　to　a　gargantuan；　sword…wielding　angel。　
　The　castle　appeared　deserted。
　Langdon　knew　through　the　centuries　the　building　had　been　used　by　the　Vatican　as　a　tomb；　a　fortress；　a　papal　hideout；　a　prison　for　enemies　of　the　church；　and　a　museum。　Apparently；　the　castle　had　other　tenants　as　well…the　Illuminati。　Somehow　it　made　eerie　sense。　Although　the　castle　was　property　of　the　Vatican；　it　was　used　only　sporadically；　and　Bernini　had　made　numerous　renovations　to　it　over　the　years。　The　building　was　now　rumored　to　be　honeybed　with　secret　entries；　passageways；　and　hidden　chambers。　Langdon　had　little　doubt　that　the　angel　and　surrounding　pentagonal　park　were　Bernini's　doing　as　well。
　Arriving　at　the　castle's　elephantine　double　doors；　Langdon　shoved　them　hard。　Not　surprisingly；　they　were　immovable。　Two　iron　knockers　hung　at　eye　level。　Langdon　didn't　bother。　He　stepped　back；　his　eyes　climbing　the　sheer　outer　wall。　These　ramparts　had　fended　off　armies　of　Berbers；　heathens；　and　Moors。　Somehow　he　sensed　his　chances　of　breaking　in　were　slim。　
　Vittoria；　Langdon　thought。　Are　you　in　there？　
　Langdon　hurried　around　the　outer　wall。　There　must　be　another　entrance！　
　Rounding　the　second　bulwark　to　the　west；　Langdon　arrived　breathless　in　a　small　parking　area　off　Lungotere　Angelo。　On　this　wall　he　found　a　second　castle　entrance；　a　drawbridge…type　ingress；　raised　and　sealed　shut。　Langdon　gazed　upward　again。
　The　only　lights　on　the　castle　were　exterior　floods　illuminating　the　faзade。　All　the　tiny　windows　inside　seemed　black。　Langdon's　eyes　climbed　higher。　At　the　very　peak　of　the　central　tower；　a　hundred　feet　above；　directly　beneath　the　angel's　sword；　a　single　balcony　protruded。　The　marble　parapet　seemed　to　shimmer　slightly；　as　if　the　room　beyond　it　were　aglow　with　torchlight。　Langdon　paused；　his　soaked　body　shivering　suddenly。　A　shadow？　He　waited；　straining。　Then　he　saw　it　again。　His　spine　prickled。　Someone　is　up　there！　
　〃Vittoria！〃　he　called　out；　unable　to　help　himself；　but　his　voice　was　swallowed　by　the　raging　Tiber　behind　him。　He　wheeled　in　circles；　wondering　where　the　hell　the　Swiss　Guard　were。　Had　they　even　heard　his　transmission？　
　Across　the　lot　a　large　media　truck　was　parked。　Langdon　ran　toward　it。　A　paunchy　man　in　headphones　sat　in　the　cabin　adjusting　levers。　Langdon　rapped　on　the　side　of　the　truck。　The　man　jumped；　saw　Langdon's　dripping　clothes；　and　yanked　off　his　headset。　
　〃What's　the　worry；　mate？〃　His　accent　was　Australian。
　〃I　need　your　phone。〃　Langdon　was　frenzied。
　The　man　shrugged。　〃No　dial　tone。　Been　trying　all　night。　Circuits　are　packed。〃
　Langdon　swore　aloud。　〃Have　you　seen　anyone　go　in　there？〃　He　pointed　to　the　drawbridge。　
　〃Actually；　yeah。　A　black　van's　been　going　in　and　out　all　night。〃
　Langdon　felt　a　brick　hit　the　bottom　of　his　stomach。
　〃Lucky　bastard；〃　the　Aussie　said；　gazing　up　at　the　tower；　and　then　frowning　at　his　obstructed　view　of　the　Vatican。　〃I　bet　the　view　from　up　there　is　perfect。　I　couldn't　get　through　the　traffic　in　St。　Peter's；　so　I'm　shooting　from　here。〃
　Langdon　wasn't　listening。　He　was　looking　for　options。
　〃What　do　you　say？〃　the　Australian　said。　〃This　11th　Hour　Samaritan　for　real？〃
　Langdon　turned。　〃The　what？〃　
　〃You　didn't　hear？　The　Captain　of　the　Swiss　Guard　got　a　call　from　somebody　who　claims　to　have　some　primo　info。　The　guy's　flying　in　right　now。　All　I　know　is　if　he　saves　the　day　。　。　。　there　go　the　ratings！〃　The　man　laughed。　
　Langdon　was　suddenly　confused。　A　good　Samaritan　flying　in　to　help？　Did　the　person　somehow　know　where　the　antimatter　was？　Then　why　didn't　he　just　tell　the　Swiss　Guard？　Why　was　he　ing　in　person？　Something　was　odd；　but　Langdon　didn't　have　time　to　figure　out　what。　
　〃Hey；〃　the　Aussie　said；　studying　Langdon　more　closely。　〃Ain't　you　that　guy　I　saw　on　TV？　Trying　to　save　that　cardinal　in　St。　Peter's　Square？〃
　Langdon　did　not　answer。　His　eyes　had　suddenly　locked　on　a　contraption　attached　to　the　top　of　the　truck…a　satellite　dish　on　a　collapsible　appendage。　Langdon　looked　at　the　castle　again。　The　outer　rampart　was　fifty　feet　tall。　The　inner　fortress　climbed　farther　still。　A　shelled　defense。　The　top　was　impossibly　high　from　here；　but　maybe　if　he　could　clear　the　first　wall　。　。　。　
　Langdon　spun　to　the　newsman　and　pointed　to　the　satellite　arm。　〃How　high　does　that　go？〃　
　〃Huh？〃　The　man　looked　confused。　〃Fifteen　meters。　Why？〃
　〃Move　the　truck。　Park　next　to　the　wall。　I　need　help。〃　
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　Langdon　explained。
　The　Aussie's　eyes　went　wide。　〃Are　you　insane？　That's　a　two…
　hundred…thousand…dollar　telescoping　extension。　Not　a　ladder！〃
　〃You　want　ratings？　I've　got　information　that　will　make　your　day。〃　Langdon　was　desperate。　
　〃Information　worth　two　hundred　grand？〃
　Langdon　told　him　what　he　would　reveal　in　exchange　for　the　favor。
　Ninety　seconds　later；　Robert　Langdon　was　gripping　the　top　of　the　satellite　arm　wavering　in　the　breeze　fifty　feet　off　the　ground。　Leaning　out；　he　grabbed　the　top　of　the　first　bulwark；　dragged　himself　onto　the　wall；　and　dropped　onto　the　castle's　lower　bastion。　
　〃Now　keep　your　bargain！〃　the　Aussie　called　up。　〃Where　is　he？〃
　Langdon　felt　guilt…ridden　for　revealing　this　information；　but　a　deal　was　a　deal。　Besides；　the　Hassassin　would　probably　call　the　press　anyway。　〃Piazza　Navona；〃　Langdon　shouted。　〃He's　in　the　fountain。〃
　The　Aussie　lowered　his　satellite　dish　and　peeled　out　after　the　scoop　of　his　career。
　
　In　a　stone　chamber　high　above　the　city；　the　Hassassin　removed　his　soaking　boots　and　bandaged　his　wounded　toe。　There　was　pain；　but　not　so　much　that　he　couldn't　enjoy　himself。
　He　turned　to　his　prize。
　She　was　in　the　corner　of　the　room；　on　her　back　on　a　rudimentary　divan；　hands　tied　behind　her；　mouth　gagged。　The　Hassassin　moved　toward　her。　She　was　awake　now。　This　pleased　him。　Surprisingly；　in　her　eyes；　he　saw　fire　instead　of　fear。
　The　fear　will　e。　
　
　107

　Robert　Langdon　dashed　around　the　outer　bulwark　of　the　castle；　grateful　for　the　glow　of　the　floodlights。　As　he　circled　the　wall；　the　courtyard　beneath　him　looked　like　a　museum　of　ancient　warfare…catapults；　stacks　of　marble　cannonballs；　and　an　arsenal　of　fearful　contraptions。　Parts　of　the　castle　were　open　to　tourists　during　the　day；　and　the　courtyard　had　been　partially　restored　to　its　original　state。
　Langdon's　eyes　crossed　the　courtyard　to　the　central　core　of　the　fortress。　The　circular　citadel　shot　skyward　107　feet　to　the　bronze　angel　above。　The　balcony　at　the　top　still　glowed　from　within。　Langdon　wanted　to　call　out　but　knew　better。　He　would　have　to　find　a　way　in。　
　He　checked　his　watch。　
　11：12　P。M。　
　Dashing　down　the　stone　ramp　that　hugged　the　inside　of　the　wall；　Langdon　descended　to　the　courtyard。　Back　on　ground　level；　he　ran　through　shadows；　clockwise　around　the　fort。　He　passed　three　porticos；　but　all　of　them　were　permanently　sealed。　How　did　the　Hassassin　get　in？　Langdon　pushed　on。　He　passed　two　modern　entrances；　but　they　were　padlocked　from　the　outside。　Not　here。　He　kept　running。
　Langdon　had　circled　almost　the　entire　building　when　he　saw　a　gravel　drive　cutting　across　the　courtyard　in　front　of　him。　At　one　end；　on　the　outer　wall　of　the　castle；　he　saw　the　back　of　the　gated　drawbridge　leading　back　outside。　At　the　other　end；　the　drive　disappeared　into　the　fortress。　The　drive　seemed　to　enter　a　kind　of　tunnel…a　gaping　entry　in　the　central　core。　Il　traforo！　Langdon　had　read　about　this　castle's　traforo；　a　giant　spiral　ramp　that　circled　up　inside　the　fort；　used　by　manders　on　horseback　to　ride　from　top　to　bottom　rapidly。　The　Hassassin　drove　up！　The　gate　blocking　the　tunnel　was　raised；　ushering　Langdon　in。　He　felt　almost　exuberant　as　he　ran　toward　the　tunnel。　But　as　he　reached　the　opening；　his　excitement　disappeared。　
　The　tunnel　spiraled　down。　
　The　wrong　way。　This　section　of　the　traforo　apparently　descended　to　the　dungeons；　not　to　the　top。　
　Standing　at　the　mouth　of　a　dark　bore　that　seemed　to　twist　endlessly　deeper　into　the　earth；　Langdon　hesitated；　looking　up　again　at　the　balcony。　He　could　swear　he　saw　motion　up　there。　Decide！　With　no　other　options；　he　dashed　down　into　the　tunnel。
　
　High　overhead；　the　Hassassin　stood　over　his　prey。　He　ran　a　hand　across　her　arm。　Her　skin　was　like　cream。　The　anticipation　of　exploring　her　bodily　treasures　was　inebriating。　How　many　ways　could　he　violate　her？
　The　Hassassin　knew　he　deserved　this　woman。　He　had　served　Janus　well。　She　was　a　spoil　of　war；　and　when　he　was　finished　with　her；　he　would　pull　her　from　the　divan　and　force　her　to　her　knees。　She　would　service　him　again。　The　ultimate　submission。　Then；　at　the　moment　of　his　own　climax；　he　would　slit　her　throat。
　Ghayat　assa'adah；　they　called　it。　The　ultimate　pleasure。
　Afterward；　basking　in　his　glory；　he　would　stand　on　the　balcony　and　savor　th