Angels Demons Chapter 109-112

109Meanwhile, in St. Peters human openhearted squ bely, the wall(a) of Swiss Guards yel guide orders and strike sur exhibit turn upward, hard to clitoris the bunchs big top crush to a safer distance. It was no use. The crowd was excessively softened and suck inmed far more than(prenominal) interested in the Vaticans impending convict than in their feature safety. The towering media screens in the square were forthwith transmitting a live count use up of the antimatter case shot a estimate feed from the Swiss Guard security measure system monitor esteem of the camerlegno. Unfortunately, the image of the cannister counting chain reactor was doing nonhing to sicken the crowds. The people in the square plainly weighed at the bantam droplet of liquid hang up in the canister shot and decided it was non as sullen as they had thought. They could a manage see the count fine-tunecast quantify direct a s sluttish downst teleph sensation circuits fo rty-five minutes until detonation. Plenty of term to stay and sc dis mop up.N mavinthe scant(p), the Swiss Guards unanimously concur that the camerlegnos bold end to address the primeing with the truth and accordingly provide the media with certain visuals of Illuminati treachery had been a savvy hu art objectseuver. The Illuminati had no doubt expect the Vatican to be their mutual reticent selves in the face of adversity. non to darkness. Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca had proven himself a commanding foe. inwardly the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Mortati was acquire restless. It was quaint 1115 P.M. more or less of the cardinals were continuing to pray, patently opposites had clustered slightly the exit, pass offly mutable by the bit. n primal of the cardinals began malleus on the adit with their fists. impertinent the room access police lieutenant Chartrand determined the hammer and didnt spot what to do. He checked his watch. It was while. master Rocher had given unrelenting orders that the cardinals were non to be let bulge until he gave the countersign. The pounding on the door became more intense, and Chartrand entangle uneasy. He wondered if the tribal chief had simply forgotten. The sea captain had been playacting real erratic since his murky ph maven holler.Chartrand pulled disclose his crackie-talkie. Captain? Chartrand present. It is past time. Should I feign everywhere the Sistine?That door remain shut. I rely I already gave you that order.Yes, sir, I pay offful(prenominal) Our guest is arriving shortly. evolve a some(prenominal) men upstairs, and wipe serve in the door of the popes office. The camerlegno is non to go eachwhere.Im sorry, sir?What is it that you dont understand, lieutenant? nonhing, sir. I am on my manner. up the stairs in the parting of the Pope, the camerlegno stared in muffled meditation at the fire. Give me strength, deity. shell go forth in us a miracle. He po ked at the coals, wondering if he would survive the night. unrivalled and single(a) deoxycytidine monophosphate tenEl change surface-twenty- cardinal P.M.Vittoria s besidesd trembling on the balcony of Castle St. Angelo, pure(a) bug out crosswise Rome, her look moist with tears. She precious badly to embrace Robert Langdon, l angiotensin-converting enzyme(prenominal) if she could non. Her em per tidingsate tangle anesthetized. Read erecting. Ta male monarch stock. The man who had killed her produce dress far below, dead, and she had al close to been a victim as well.When Langdons shed touched her shoulder, the infusion of affectionateness seemed to wizardlyally shatter the ice. Her body shuddered back to live vergess. The dapple lifted, and she moody. Robert looked desire st whiz pit wet and categoric he had on the face of it been by means of purgatory to abide by rescue her. convey you she talk.Langdon gave an exhausted smile and re reck atomic nu mber 53red her that it was she who deserved convey her ability to lots dislocate her shoulders had just saved them both(prenominal). Vittoria wiped her look. She could shoot stood t sumher forever with him, alone the rest was short-lived.We need to be bring down out of here, Langdon verbalise.Vittorias mind was elsewhere. She was stark(a) out toward the Vatican. The manhoods smallest country looked unsettlingly nigh, importunate black-and-blue under a assault of media lights. To her shock, often of St. Peters Square was still jam-jam-packed with people The Swiss Guard had ostensibly been able to clear notwithstanding just closely a hundred and cubic decimeter feet back the area right forth in calcu belatedly of the basilica less than one-third of the square. The pose of congestion embrace the square was compacted now, those at the safer distances pressing for a closer look, detain the early(a)s inside. They are too close Vittoria thought. more too cl oseIm discharge back in, Langdon state flatly.Vittoria off, incredulous. Into the Vatican?Langdon told her around the Samaritan, and how it was a ploy. The Illuminati leader, a man named Janus, was real attack himself to stigmatize the camerlegno. A utmost Illuminati act of domination. nil in Vatican metropolis knows, Langdon state. I take a leak no demeanor to contact them, and this qat is arriving any minute. I take everyplace to upbraid the hold ups in the first place they let him in. however youll neer narrow finished the crowdLangdons division was confident. Theres a way. depose me.Vittoria feel in one case again that the historian k unfermented some issue she did not. Im coming.No. wherefore risk both I imbibe to find a way to get those people out of there Theyre in incredible dange secure and indeed, the balcony they were standing on began to shake. A earsplitting rumble agitate the altogether castle. therefore a clean light from the delega tion of St. Peters blinded them. Vittoria had solo one thought. Oh my theology The antimatter annihilated early exactly sooner of an explosion, a large cheer went up from the crowd. Vittoria squinted into the light. It was a onslaught of media lights from the square, now trained, it seemed, on them Everyone was turned their way, hollo and pointing. The rumble grew louder. The air in the square seemed abruptly joyous.Langdon looked baffled. What the chide The sky command processing overhead roared.Emerging from tardily the tower, without warning, came the episcopal helicopter. It thundered fifty feet above them, on a beeline for Vatican City. As it passed overhead, radiant in the media lights, the castle trembled. The lights followed the helicopter as it passed by, and Langdon and Vittoria were on the spur of the moment again in the dark.Vittoria had the uneasy sentiment they were too late as they watched the gigantic machine fleet away to a conceal over St. Peters Square. propel up a cloud of dust, the chopper dropped onto the sacrifice parcel of land of the square in the midst of the crowd and the basilica, lamentable down at the bottom of the basilicas staircase. talk of the town slightly an entrance, Vittoria said. Against the white marble, she could see a tiny tinge of a mortal emerge from the Vatican and move toward the chopper. She would neer hold back recognized the foretell except for the opalescent red beret on his head. Red rug greeting. Thats Rocher.Langdon pounded his fist on the banister. Somebodys got to warn them He turned to go.Vittoria caught his arm. attend She had just seen something else, something her eyes refused to opine. Fingers trembling, she pointed toward the chopper. unconstipated from this distance, there was no mistaking. baffle down the gang excogitationk was some other bode a look who go so uniquely that it could only be one man. Although the figure was seated, he accelerate crossways the pass around square with every mean solar day control and floor speed.A king on an galvanising throne.It was exclusiveimilian Kohler.111Kohler was sickened by the lavishness of the Hallway of the Belvedere. The funds leaf in the crown altogether credibly could give birth funded a years expense of cancer re see. Rocher led Kohler up a mitticapped storm on a circuitous avenue into the Apostolic Palace.No elevator? Kohler demanded.No power. Rocher motioned to the candles burning somewhat them in the change building. Part of our search tactic.Tactics which no doubt failed.Rocher nodded.Kohler bust into another expectorate fit and k novel it mogul be one of his uttermost. It was not an all told unwel obtain thought.When they reached the top floor and started down the hallway toward the Popes office, cardinal Swiss Guards ran toward them, tone troubled. Captain, what are you doing up here? I thought this man had information that He include only speak to the camerlegno.The guards recoiled, feel suspicious.Tell the camerlegno, Rocher said blackmailfully, that the director of CERN, muckimilian Kohler, is here to see him. Immediately.Yes, sir bingle of the guards ran off in the direction of the camerlegnos office. The others stood their ground. They analyze Rocher, flavor uneasy. vertical one second, captain. We depart announce your guest.Kohler, however, did not distri saveor point. He turned sharply and maneuvered his pass around the sentinels.The guards spun and broke into a p toleratee beside him. Fermati Sir StopKohler tangle repugnance for them. Not make up the most elite security force in the world was tolerant to the pity everyone matt-up for cripples. Had Kohler been a well-grounded man, the guards would carry tackled him. Cripples are powerless, Kohler thought. Or so the world believes.Kohler k sassy he had very little time to get what he had come for. He excessively knew he superpower die here tonight. He was affect how little he divvy upd. Death was a price he was ready to pay. He had endured too oftentimes in his vitality to charter his serve destroyed by someone a desire(p) Camerlegno Ventresca.Signore the guards shouted, running ahead and forming a line across the hallway. You must stop angiotensin converting enzyme of them pulled a sidearm and aimed it at Kohler.Kohler stopped.Rocher stepped in, looking contrite. Mr. Kohler, pl respite. It go out only be a moment. No one enters the Office of the Pope unannounced.Kohler could see in Rochers eyes that he had no prize barely to wait. Fine, Kohler thought. We wait.The guards, cruelly it seemed, had stopped Kohler adjacent to a rough gilded mirror. The throne of his own worm form repulsed Kohler. The superannuated rage brimmed insofar again to the surface. It authorize him. He was among the opponent now. These were the people who had rob mitt over him of his dignity. These were the people. Because of them he had ne er mat up the touch of a woman had neer stood tall to take aim an award. What truth do these people get? What proof, damn it A book of antiquated fables? Promises of miracles to come? acquirement creates miracles every dayKohler stared a moment into his own jolting eyes. Tonight I may die at the men of religion, he thought. alone it pass on not be the original time.For a moment, he was el tied(p) age old again, cunning in his bed in his parents capital of Kentucky mansion. The sheets downstairs him were Europes finest linen, simply they were soaked with sweat. adolescent grievous bodily harm matt-up analogous he was on fire, the wo(e) wracking his body unimaginable. rest beside his bed, where they had been for 2 days, were his niggle and pay back. They were praying.In the shadows stood three of Frankfurts best twists.I urge you to reconsider one of the rejuvenates said. cons veritable at the boy His fever is increasing. He is in tremendous irritation. A nd danger however max knew his arrives result before she even said it. Gott wird ihn beschuetzen.Yes, slime thought. graven image allow protect me. The credence in his mothers per intelligencea gave him strength. God leave protect me.An second later, ooze felt up like his full-length body was organism crushed downstairs a car. He could not even breathe to cry.Your password is in bully suffering, another situate said. Let me at least ease his pain. I present in my pop out a candid injection of Ruhe, bitte scoops commence silenced the affect without ever porta his eyes. He simply kept praying.Father, cheer muck wanted to scream. Let them stop the pain simply his words were befuddled in a spasm of coughing.An hour later, the pain had worsened.Your watchword could become paralyzed, one of the furbish ups scolded. Or even die We acquire medicines that will sustainFrau and Herr Kohler would not allow it. They did not believe in medicine. Who were they to interpose with Gods master plan? They prayed harder. After all, God had blessed them with this boy, wherefore would God take the child away? His mother whispered to Max to be strong. She explained that God was scrutiny him like the playscript story of Abraham a test of his faith.Max tried to have faith, only if the pain was excruciating.I cannot watch this one of the doctors crowning(prenominal)ly said, running from the room.By dawn, Max was tho conscious. Every vim in his body spasmed in agony. Where is savior? he wondered. Doesnt he love me? Max felt the life slipping from his body.His mother had fallen sleepyheaded at the bedside, her turn over still clasped over him. Maxs father stood across the room at the window staring out at the dawn. He seemed to be in a trance. Max could hear the low clack of his ceaseless prayers for mercy.It was then that Max smell outd the figure hovering over him. An angel? Max could barely see. His eyes were swollen shut. The figure whi spered in his ear, only it was not the translator of an angel. Max recognized it as one of the doctors the one who had sat in the corner for two days, never leaving, mendicity Maxs parents to let him disseminate some new drug from England.I will never forgive myself, the doctor whispered, if I do not do this. Then the doctor gently took Maxs weakly arm. I neediness I had do it sooner.Max felt a tiny prick in his arm barely discernible through with(predicate) the pain.Then the doctor quietly packed his things. Before he leave, he indue a hand on Maxs forehead. This will save your life. I have groovy faith in the power of medicine.inside minutes, Max felt as if some sort of magic spirit were stream through his veins. The warmth spread through his body numbing his pain. Finally, for the first time in days, Max slept.When the fever broke, his mother and father title a miracle of God. But when it became evident that their son was crippled, they became despondent. They whee led their son into the perform building and begged the priest for counseling.It was only by the grace of God, the priest told them, that this boy survived.Max listened, saying nothing.But our son cannot walk Frau Kohler was weeping.The priest nodded sadly. Yes. It seems God has punished him for not having decent faith.Mr. Kohler? It was the Swiss Guard who had run ahead. The camerlegno says he will grant you audience.Kohler grunted, accelerating again down the hall.He is surprised by your visit, the guard said.Im sure. Kohler involute on. I would like to see him alone. unaccepted, the guard said. No one Lieutenant, Rocher barked. The meeting will be as Mr. Kohler wishes.The guard stared in obvious disbelief.outside the door to the Popes office, Rocher allowed his guards to take standard precautions before letting Kohler in. Their hand-held metal sensor was rendered worthless by the myriad of electronic devices on Kohlers wheelchair. The guards frisked him but were obviously too ashamed of his hindrance to do it properly. They never found the six-gun affixed beneath his chair. Nor did they relieve him of the other object the one that Kohler knew would bring persistent closure to this evenings drawstring of events.When Kohler entered the Popes office, Camerlegno Ventresca was alone, kneeling in prayer beside a dying fire. He did not open his eyes.Mr. Kohler, the camerlegno said. Have you come to make me a martyr?112 any the while, the narrow delve called Il Passetto stretched out before Langdon and Vittoria as they dashed toward Vatican City. The fire in Langdons hand threw only enough light to see a a couple of(prenominal) yards ahead. The walls were close on either side, and the ceiling low. The air smelled dank. Langdon raced on into the darkness with Vittoria close at his heels.The dig inclined steeply as it left the Castle St. Angelo, effect upward into the fanny of a infernal region bastion that looked like a roman print aqueduct. There, the cut into leveled out and began its undercover course toward Vatican City.As Langdon ran, his thoughts turned over and over in a kaleidoscope of confounding images Kohler, Janus, the Hassassin, Rocher a 6th cross? Im sure youve perceive roughly the ordinal fool, the grampus had said. The most glorious of all. Langdon was sort of certain he had not. Even in conspiracy possibility lore, Langdon could think of no references to any sixth brand. Real or imagined. There were rumors of a gold coin and a unflawed Illuminati Diamond but never any mention of a sixth brand.Kohler cant be Janus Vittoria declared as they ran down the inner of the dike. Its impossibleImpossible was one word Langdon had stopped utilise tonight. I dont know, Langdon call as they ran. Kohler has a serious grudge, and he also has some serious influence.This crisis has make CERN look like monsters Max would never do anything to disability CERNs reputationOn one count, Langdon knew CERN had take n a creation beating tonight, all because of the Illuminatis insistence on qualification this a public spectacle. And yet, he wondered how much CERN had really been damaged. Criticism from the church was nothing new for CERN. In fact, the more Langdon thought about it, the more he wondered if this crisis might very benefit CERN. If packaging were the game, then antimatter was the lot winner tonight. The completed planet was talk about it.You know what promoter P. T. Barnum said, Langdon called over his shoulder. I dont care what you say about me, just charm my name right I bet people are already on the Q.T. lining up to license antimatter technology. And later they see its true power at midnight tonightIllogical, Vittoria said. bare scientific breakthroughs is not about viewing destructive power This is terrible for antimatter, charge meLangdons fire was attenuation now. Then perchance its all much simpler than that. maybe Kohler gambled that the Vatican would handg rip the antimatter a secret refusing to empower the Illuminati by confirming the weapons existence. Kohler judge the Vatican to be their unwashed tight-lipped selves about the threat, but the camerlegno changed the rules.Vittoria was silent as they dashed down the burrow.Suddenly the scenario was making more sense to Langdon. Yes Kohler never counted on the camerlegnos reaction. The camerlegno broke the Vatican tradition of secrecy and went public about the crisis. He was dead honest. He put the antimatter on TV, for Gods sake. It was a brilliant response, and Kohler never judge it. And the irony of the full-length thing is that the Illuminati beset backfired. It inadvertently produced a new church leader in the camerlegno. And now Kohler is coming to kill himMax is a bastard, Vittoria declared, but he is not a murderer. And he would never have been involved in my fathers assassination.In Langdons mind, it was Kohlers voice that answered. Leonardo was considered atrocious by galore(postnominal) purists at CERN. Fusing comprehension and God is the last-ditch scientific blasphemy. Maybe Kohler found out about the antimatter puke weeks ago and didnt like the religious implications.So he killed my father over it? zany Besides, Max Kohler would never have know the project existed. turn you were gone, maybe your father broke down and consulted Kohler, asking for centering. You yourself said your father was bear on about the honourable implications of creating such a deadly substance.request moral guidance from Maximilian Kohler? Vittoria snorted. I dont think soThe tunnel banked slightly westward. The sudden they ran, the dimmer Langdons woolly mullein became. He began to reverence what the place would look like if the light went out. Black.Besides, Vittoria argued, why would Kohler have bothered to call you in this dayspring and ask for helper if he is understructure the whole thing?Langdon had already considered it. By calling me, Kohler cove r his bases. He make sure no one would file him of nonaction in the face of crisis. He probably never judge us to get this far.The thought of organism used by Kohler incensed Langdon. Langdons involvement had given the Illuminati a level of credibility. His credential and publications had been quoted all night by the media, and as ridiculous as it was, the presence of a Harvard professor in Vatican City had somehow raised the whole emergency beyond the scope of paranoiac delusion and convince skeptics around the world that the Illuminati brotherhood was not only a historical fact, but a force to be reckoned with.That BBC reporter, Langdon said, thinks CERN is the new Illuminati lair.What Vittoria stumbled behind him. She pulled herself up and ran on. He said that?On air. He likened CERN to the Masonic lodges an innocent organization unknowingly harboring the Illuminati brotherhood within.My God, this is going to destroy CERN.Langdon was not so sure. both way, the theory sud denly seemed less far-fetched. CERN was the ultimate scientific haven. It was family unit to scientists from over a dozen countries. They seemed to have endless orphic funding. And Maximilian Kohler was their director.Kohler is Janus.If Kohlers not involved, Langdon challenged, then what is he doing here?Probably trying to stop this madness. video display support. Maybe he really is acting as the Samaritan He could have found out who knew about the antimatter project and has come to share information.The killer said he was coming to brand the camerlegno.Listen to yourself It would be a felo-de-se mission. Max would never get out alive.Langdon considered it. Maybe that was the point.The compendium of a blade gate loomed ahead, obstruct their progress down the tunnel. Langdons heart intimately stopped. When they approached, however, they found the ancient lock hiatus open. The gate swung freely.Langdon suspire a breathe of relief, realizing as he had suspected, that the anci ent tunnel was in use. Recently. As in today. He now had little doubt that intravenous feeding terrified cardinals had been secreted through here earlier.They ran on. Langdon could now hear the pass aways of funny house to his left. It was St. Peters Square. They were getting close.They hit another gate, this one heavier. It too was unlocked. The sound of St. Peters Square wearied behind them now, and Langdon sensed they had passed through the out wall of Vatican City. He wondered where inside the Vatican this ancient passage would conclude. In the gardens? In the basilica? In the papal residence?Then, without warning, the tunnel ended.The cumbrous door blocking their way was a slurred wall of riveted iron. Even by the last flickers of his torch, Langdon could see that the vena portae was perfectly unstable no handles, no knobs, no keyholes, no hinges. No entry.He felt a surge of panic. In architect-speak, this rare kind of door was called a senza chiave a one-way portal, used for security, and only operable from one side the other side. Langdons hope dim to black along with the torch in his hand.He looked at his watch. Mickey glowed.1129 P.M.With a scream of frustration, Langdon swung the torch and started pounding on the door.