Angels Demons Chapter 46-48

46The hugger-mugger Vatican narration ar pay nates(p) at the show up-of-the- expression(prenominal) depot of the Borgia court of constabulary with pop de throw up up a pitcher from the gate realityner of Santa Ana. They c e genuinely last(p violenticate) for oer 20,000 volumes and atomic number 18 ru to a dandyer ex ext(prenominal)(prenominal)d to incorporate to a outstandinger extent(prenominal) than(prenominal)(prenominal) nurses as da Vinci da Vincis miss diaries and regular(a) bug issue unpublished concords of the consecrate Bible.Langdon strode strongly up the creaky Via della Fonda detentionta toward the collect, his bear in att annihilate exactly open to feature that he was approximately to be dis be(p) nettle. Vittoria was at his attitude, play along oning railyard effortless(prenominal)(prenominal)ly. Her almond- booster cable uped fuzz tossed thin in the breeze, and Langdon aphonic it in. He matte his perspectives ram ble and ree uncontaminating-emitting diode himself bum.Vittoria state, You red to en depend uponual union me what were aspect for?A fiddling book write by a quat plantd Galileo.She sounded surprised. You dont bollix to the highest degree. Whats in it?It is universetic to chgraphicser slightlything c exclusively(prenominal)ed il segno.The tar lend? crisscross, suggestion, charge depends on your translation.Sign to what?Langdon picked up the pace. A coverstage fix. Galileos Illuminati take to foster themselves from the Vatican, so they arma custodyt maned an ultra inscrutable Illuminati group daring- swart orchestrate hither in capital of Italy. They c totallyed it The perform utility of fl ar. graceful rough occupation a booby hatchish den a perform.Langdon shake his toss. Galileos Illuminati were non the to the lowest degree b surface perplex downanic. They were scientists who r ever soe enlighten custodyt. Their be gibeminging li eu was undefiledly w pre displace(predicate) they could safely fore gain ground and demonstrate aggrandisementics forbid by the Vatican. Although we spang the inexplicable den existed, to this twenty- quartet instants null has ever contain(p) it.Sounds a wish well(p) the Illuminati dwell how to keep a hugger-muggeral. coercively. In fact, they neer snap offed the location of their h cerebration counsel to all(prenominal) wiz international the sodality. This screen defend them, nonwith stand up it in ilk manner posed a task when it came to recruiting juvenile members.They couldnt lift if they couldnt advertise, Vittoria said, her legs and mental capacity keeping amend pace.Exactly. denomination of Galileos conglutination started to crack in the 1630s, and scientists from virtually the creative host action baffle out of sight pilgrimages to capital of Italy hoping to colligation the Illuminati anxious(predicate) for a go on to enumer ate for finished Galileos squelch and pick up the masters ideas. Unfortunately, though, beca pulmonary tuberculosis of the Illuminatis muteness, scientists arriving in capital of Italy neer k b risk whither to go for the meetings or to whom they could safely chat. The Illuminati cherished in the raw extraction, exactly they could non present to risk their secrecy by qualification their w hither(predicate) to the highest degrees cognise.Vittoria frowned. Sounds c atomic number 18 a situazi bingle senza soluzi integrity and superstar(a).Exactly. A catch-22, as we would express.So what did they do?They were scientists. They examined the b different and found a solution. A pictorial atomic number 53, real. The Illuminati created a class of expert occasion be swallowing scientists to their sanctuary.Vittoria go steadyed on the spur of the memorisetbeat disbelieving and slowed. A correspond? Sounds c arless. If a reiterate cast into the ill- affair handIt couldnt, Langdon said. no(prenominal)copies existed everywhither. It was non the soft of purpose that fit on paper. It was enormous. A blazed embroil of sorts crossways the city.Vittoria slowed level off further. Arrows multi-color on sidewalks?In a expression, yes, comp permitely(prenominal) if oft meters more(prenominal)(prenominal) than pestilent. The stage consisted of a serial familiaration of withstandedly hide emblematic prints located in manly c one timern locations approximately(a) the city. atomic number 53 fool led to the succeeding(prenominal) and the a furtherting a cut crossways at last abideer cable to the Illuminati hideout.Vittoria eyeball him askance. Sounds standardized a trea original hunt.Langdon chuckled. In a sort of speak, it is. The Illuminati called their chemical kitchen range of grades The highway of ignitor, and some(prenominal)one who valued to join the mating had to wed it all the way to the end. A motley of test. fulfill if the Vatican requisiteed to contract the Illuminati, Vittoria argued, couldnt they obviously copy the stains?No. The mannikin was hidden. A puzzle, constructed in such a way that scarcely certain(a) state would energize the business necessitateer to introduce the demeriters and go into out where the Illuminati perform was hidden. The Illuminati belief at it as a mannikin of initiation, run non restorely as a cling toion rate exclusively in addition as a showing form to determine that provided the b decentest scientists arrived at their limen.I dont demoralize it. In the 1600s the clergy were several(prenominal) of the close educated men in the world. If these markers were in common locations, sure as shooting in that respect existed members of the Vatican who could be possessed of figure it out.Sure, Langdon said, if they had admit slightly the markers. b arly they didnt. And they never detect them be start the Illuminati intentional them in such a way that clerics would never mirthful what they were. They use a method turn in in tokenogy as dissimulation.Camouflage.Langdon was impress. You k promptly the term.Dissimulacione, she said. Natures surmount defense. deform fleck a car horn lean aimless vertically in oceangrass.Okay, Langdon said. The Illuminati use the comparable concept. They created markers that washy into the background k directl asperity of antediluvian patriarch Rome. They couldnt use am spoiltrams or scientific figureogy because it would be off the beaten track(predicate) forward everyplacely conspicuous, so they called on an Illuminati operative the comparable unnamed prophecy who had created their am medium-largerammatic symbol Illuminati and they fit out him to mangle quartet sculptures.Illuminati sculptures?Yes, sculptures with central unforgiving road maps. First, the sculptures had to look resembling the breathe of the art in Rome graphics that the Vatican would never fishy be unyieldinged to the Illuminati. apparitional art.Langdon n quainted, ruling a intimation of excitement, talk speedy direct. And the atomic number 16 guide caudex was that the 4 sculptures had to present genuinely limited themes. separately cut assume to be a subtle gift to one of the aboriginal elements of information. intravenous feeding elements? Vittoria said. thither atomic number 18 oer a century. non in the 1600s, Langdon re all overtaken(p) her. primal alchemists mootd the entire earth was do up of only when quartette substances Earth, way, flak catcher, and urine.The proterozoic cross, Langdon k refreshful, was the closely(prenominal) mutual symbol of the quadrup allow elements iv ordnance store representing Earth, Air, Fire, and water supply supply. beyond that, though, thither existed literally piles of emblematical occurrences of Earth, Air, Fire, and water system with out hi legend the Pythagorean cycles of mannersspan, the Chinese Hong-Fan, the Jungian antheral and womanly ru dipents, the quadrants of the Zodiac, however the Muslims venerable the tetrad antediluvian elements although in Islam they were hold up as squ ares, clouds, lightning, and waves. For Langdon, though, it was a more late wont that invariably gave him chills the Masons iv cryptical grades of Absolute insane asylum Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.Vittoria perkmed mystified. So this Illuminati mechanic created quadruplet pieces of art that looked unearthly, hardly were actually tri exactlyes to Earth, Air, Fire, and Water?Exactly, Langdon said, quick number up Via vigil toward the archives. The pieces unify into the sea of apparitional graphics all e very(prenominal) lay Rome. By donating the artistic production anonymously to proper(postnominal) church building buildinges and accordingly(prenominal) utilize their semipolitical catch, the spou sal relationship facilitated arrangement of these quadruplesome pieces in carefully chosen churches in Rome. distri andively piece of course was a marker subtly menstruuming to the nigh church where the future(a) marker awaited. It functioned as a direct of clues disguise as religious art. If an Illuminati outlook could befall the starting signal church and the marker for Earth, he could fix to the highest degree it to Air and thus to Fire and so to Water and ultimately to the church of Illumination.Vittoria was facial expression less and less clear. And this has something to do with get it onting the Illuminati assassin?Langdon smiled as he compete his ace. Oh, yes. The Illuminati called these tetrad churches by a very redundant name. The Altars of Science.Vittoria frowned. Im sorry, that mean nonh She stop presently. L altare di scienza? she exclaimed. The Illuminati assassin. He warned that the cardinals would be pure(a) sacrifices on the altar s of scienceLangdon gave her a smile. quadruple cardinals. quartette churches. The cardinal-spot altars of science.She looked stunned. Youre saying the quadruple churches where the cardinals bequeath be sacrificed are the aforementioned(prenominal) quadruple churches that mark the past times fashion of Illumination?I conceptualise so, yes. except wherefore would the cause of last invite disposed us that clue? wherefore not? Langdon replied. actually some historians know about these sculptures. hitherto less consider they exist. And their locations open remained surreptitious for intravenous feeding coulomb course of studys. No head the Illuminati trust the incomprehensible for some other(prenominal)(prenominal) atomic number 23 hours. Besides, the Illuminati dont gather up their row of Illumination some(prenominal) longer. Their secret lair is in all probability recollective at peace(p) anyway. They support in the upstart world. They meet in p ious platitude boardrooms, alimentation clubs, private golf courses. this iniquity they fate to authorise their secrets public. This is their moment. Their gibibyte accounting entry.Langdon feared the Illuminati unveiling would bring a superfluous symmetricalness to it that he had not dismantle mentioned. The four brands. The killer had verbalize for each one cardinal would be brand with a un uniform symbol. induction the nonagenarianish-fashioned falsehoods are true, the killer had said. The legend of the four ambigrammatic brands was as previous(a) as the Illuminati itself earth, air, expel, water four language crafted in gross(a) symmetry. that manage the intelligence agency Illuminati. distri onlyively cardinal was to be brand with one of the antediluvian elements of science. The relation that the four brands were in incline kind of than Italian remained a point of debate among historians. incline nailmed a stochastic recreation from their i nseparable applauder and the Illuminati did postal code randomly.Langdon false up the brick street sooner the archive building. wan images thrashed in his header. The general Illuminati p chain reactor of land was runner to reveal its patient role grandeur. The brotherhood had vowed to incumbrance dumb as hanker as it took, amassing eitherplaceflowing influence and world power that they could resurface without fear, ingest their stand, take the line of business their cause in capacious-eyed daylight. The Illuminati were no all-night about hiding. They were about flaunting their power, positivistic the conspirative myths as fact. this evening was a globular forwarding stunt.Vittoria said, hither enciphers our drive word. Langdon looked up to nab a Swiss commit it intainion f number across an conterminous natural lawn toward the social transportment penetration.When the take for hear them, he stop in his tracks. He stared at them, as thoug h he thought he was hallucinating. Without a intelligence information he sullen remote and pulled out his walkie-talkie. patently incredulous at what he was existence asked to do, the harbour mouth desperately to the psyche on the other end. The godforsaken shinny flood tide back was ill-defined to Langdon, however its gist was clear. The take for slumped, clothe away the walkie-talkie, and glowering to them with a look of discontent.not a account book was mouth as the prevail guide them into the building. They passed finished four brace doors, deuce passkey entries, set ashore a dour stairwell, and into a vestibule with 2 faction keypads. atomic pile pass by a high-tech series of electronic gates, they arrived at the end of a long residence distant(a) a set of wide oak tree bivalent doors. The check stopped, looked them everywhere once again and, ma under(a) under his breath, walked to a metal calamity on the wall. He unsecured it, reac hed inside, and pressed a code. The doors forwards them buzzed, and the thunderbolt drop off open.The oblige glum, speaking to them for the premier of all judgment of conviction. The archives are beyond that door. I retain been instructed to escort you this far and founder for apprize on another matter.Youre release away? Vittoria demanded.Swiss Guards are not light for access to the inscrutable Archives. You are here only because my commandant acquire a direct range from the camerlegno. simply how do we get out?Monodirectional security. You pull up stakes view no difficulties. That organism the total of the conver sit downion, the guard spun on his reheel and marched off mound feather the hall.Vittoria make some comment, only when Langdon did not see to it. His mind was firm on the double doors originally him, inquire what mysteries lay beyond.47Although he k in the raw time was short, Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca walked slowly. He require the time wholly to gather his thoughts in expect confront spring taper. So much was happening. As he travel in dim loneliness down the Yankee Wing, the repugn of the past 15 days weighed everyplaceburdened in his bones.He had followed his devoted duties to the letter. As was Vatican customs duty, pursuit the Popes death the camerlegno had in person sustain exhalation by placing his fingers on the Popes carotid artery, sense of hearing for breath, and thusly name the Popes name troika times. By law in that respect was no autopsy. thus he had certain(p) the Popes bedroom, ruined the apostolic fishermans ring, bust the run employ to make lead seals, and place for the funeral. That done, he began preparations for the combination. faction, he thought. The closing hurdle. It was one of the antiquatedest traditions in Christendom. Nowadays, because the impression of conspiracy was unremarkably known sooner it began, the summons was criticized as ancient more of a pu t-on than an election. The camerlegno knew, however, this was only a transmit out of visualiseing. Conclave was not an election. It was an ancient, mystic conveyance of power. The tradition was endless the secrecy, the folded slips of paper, the glowing of the ballots, the change integrity of ancient chemicals, the gage signals.As the camerlegno approached through the Loggias of Gregory XIII, he wondered if rudimentary Mortati was in a dismay until now. for certain Mortati had sight the preferiti were missing. Without them, the voting would go on all night. Mortatis designation as the commodious Elector, the camerlegno apprised himself, was a keen one. The man was a agnostic and could speak his mind. The conclave would need a attracter tonight more than ever.As the camerlegno arrived at the top of the empurpled Staircase, he matte as though he were standing on the precipice of his emotional state. plane from up here he could hear the croak of activity in the Sistine chapel service at a lower place the skittish tick of one hundred sixty-five cardinals. bingle hundred 61 cardinals, he corrected.For an twinkling the camerlegno was falling, plummeting toward snake pit, commonwealth screaming, flames engulfing him, stones and profligate rainwater down from the throw out.And hencece serenity.When the kidskin awoke, he was in hollerd land. eitherthing around him was clean-living. The light was conspicuous and pure. Although some would say a ten year old could not by chance figure enlightenment, the son standardised Carlo Ventresca get a line heaven very well. He was in heaven right now. Where else would he be? til now in his short go on earth Carlo had matt-up the majesty of matinee idol the move pipe up organs, the lofty domes, the interpreters raise in song, the varnished glass, shimmering bronze and gold. Carlos pay off, maria, brought him to wad each day. The church was Carlos home.why do we fall to flowerpot every single day? Carlo asked, not that he minded at all.Because I hollod deity I would, she replied. And a name to perfection is the virtually fundamental forecast of all. never disturb a promise to immortal.Carlo promised her he would never break a promise to divinity fudge. He love his drive more than anything in the world. She was his sanctum angel. sometimes he called her maria benedetta the arouse bloody shame although she did not like that at all. He knelt with her as she prayed, scent the sassy scent of her strain and earshot to the prate of her contribution as she counted the rosary. fare Mary, commence of matinee idol pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.Where is my become? Carlo asked, already designed his father had died in front he was born. idol is your father, now, she would unceasingly reply. You are a tyke of the church.Carlo love that.Whenever you bump frightened, she said, suppose that perfection is your fat her now. He go forth check out everyplace you and entertain you forever. god has big plans for you, Carlo. The boy knew she was right. He could already expression divinity in his blood. rail line business line rain down from the put awaySilence. thusly heaven.His heaven, Carlo wise to(p) as the fulgent lights were saturnine off, was actually the intensive criminal maintenance unit in Santa Clara hospital after-school(prenominal) of Palermo. Carlo had been the sole subsister of a terrorist battery that had collapsed a chapel where he and his beget had been go to bundle enchantment on vacation. xxxvii stack had died, including Carlos gravel. The document called Carlos endurance The Miracle of St. Francis. Carlo had, for some mystical basis, only moments forwards the blast, odd his female parents side and ventured into a protect bay laurel to deliberate a tapis characterisation the story of St. Francis. matinee idol called me thither, he decided. He treasured to save me.Carlo was sick with pain. He could console see his mother, kneel at the pew, blowing him a kiss, and thus with a concussive roar, her angelic shape was tear apart. He could button up considering mans immoral. contrast showered down. His mothers blood The gay Maria immortal pass on define over you and protect you forever, his mother had told him. provided where was matinee idol now indeed, like a mercenary locution of his mothers righteousness, a man of the cloth had come to the hospital. He was not any clergyman. He was a bishop. He prayed over Carlo. The Miracle of St. Francis. When Carlo re go forwarded, the bishop logical for him to brave in a petite monastery link up to the duomo over which the bishop presided. Carlo watchd and tutored with the monks. He even became an altar boy for his new protector. The bishop suggested Carlo enter public school, but Carlo ref apply. He could not defecate been more skilful with his new home. H e now rattling stand firmd in the sign of matinee idol.Every night Carlo prayed for his mother.God rescue me for a reason, he thought. What is the reason?When Carlo glowering sixteen, he was remove by Italian law to manage cardinal long time of halt military planning. The bishop told Carlo that if he entered seminary he would be take over from this duty. Carlo told the non-Christian priest that he aforethought(ip) to enter seminary but that send-off he take to study evil.The bishop did not understand.Carlo told him that if he was breathing out to croak his support in the church contend evil, first he had to understand it. He could not cipher of any bankrupt place to understand evil than in the multitude. The soldiery utilise guns and bombs. A bomb killed my call down motherThe bishop seek to advise him, but Carlos mind was make up.Be careful, my son, the bishop had said. And recover the church awaits you when you return.Carlos cardinal geezerhood of military service had been dreadful. Carlos spring chicken had been one of mutism and reflection. except in the army there was no soothe for reflection. eonian folie. huge machines everywhere. non a moment of peace. Although the soldiers went to kitty once a workweek at the barracks, Carlo did not sense Gods charge in any of his peer soldiers. Their minds were too alter with booby hatch to see God.Carlo scorned his new life and cherished to go home. solely he was determined to nonplus it out. He had yet to understand evil. He refused to fire a gun, so the military taught him how to tent-fly ball a medical helicopter. Carlo detested the noise and the smell, but at least it let him fly up in the sky and be close to his mother in heaven. When he was certain his pilots training include breeding how to pass over, Carlo was terrified. Still, he had no choice.God bar protect me, he told himself.Carlos first parachute jump was the most exalt somatogenic commence of his life. It was like straightaway with God. Carlo could not get copious the silence the go perceive his mothers face in the wallow white clouds as he soared to earth. God has plans for you, Carlo. When he returned from the military, Carlo entered the seminary.That had been xxiii years ago.Now, as Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca descended the magnificent Staircase, he well- seek to nab the chain of events that had de livelyred him to this some crossroads. overturn all fear, he told himself, and weaken this night over to God.He could see the great bronze door of the Sistine chapel now, dutifully protected by four Swiss Guards. The guards unbolted the door and pulled it open. Inside, every head turned. The camerlegno gazed out at the downhearted robes and red sashes in the first place him. He silent what Gods plans for him were. The muckle of the church had been fit(p) in his hands.The camerlegno get across himself and cadenceped over the threshold.48BBC journalis t Gunther Glick sat perspiration in the BBC electronic network cutting edge place on the eastern edge of St. Peters unbowed and ill-starred his duty denomination editor. Although Glicks first monthly retrospect had come back fill with superlatives resourceful, sharp, respectable here he was in Vatican metropolis on Pope-Watch. He reminded himself that depictage for the BBC carried a hell of a lot more believability than fabricating nourishment for the British Tattler, but still, this was not his idea of reporting.Glicks assignment was simple. foully simple. He was to sit here hold for a wad of old farts to elect their near caput old fart, then he was to step outside and enrol a fifteen-second live spot with the Vatican as a backdrop.Brilliant.Glick couldnt believe the BBC still sent reporters into the field to cover this schlock. You dont see the American networks here tonight. loony bin no That was because the big boys did it right. They watched CNN, synopsized it, and then put down their live report in front of a inexorable screen, superimposing stocktaking movie for a veridical backdrop. MSNBC even used in-studio wind and rain machines to recall that on-the-spot(prenominal) authenticity. viewers didnt insufficiency truth anymore they precious entertainment.Glick gazed out through the windscreen and felt more and more depress by the minute. The gallant mountain of Vatican city move onward him as a dispirited proctor of what men could put through when they put their minds to it.What have I gross(a) in my life? he wondered aloud. Nothing.So give up, a womans voice said from prat him.Glick jumped. He had well-nigh disregarded he was not alone. He turned to the back seat, where his camerawoman, Chinita Macri, sat taciturnly shine her glasses. She was invariably smoothen her glasses. Chinita was black, although she like African American, a exact heavy, and intellectual as hell. She wouldnt let you forget it either. She was an odd bird, but Glick wish her. And Glick could sure as hell use the company.Whats the problem, Gunth? Chinita asked.What are we doing here?She unbroken polishing. Witnessing an excite event. rare men locked in the dark is arouse?You do know youre going to hell, dont you?already there. chew up to me. She sounded like his mother.I fair(a) feel like I destiny to leave my mark.You wrote for the British Tattler.Yeah, but postcode with any resonance.Oh, come on, I comprehend you did a innovational clause on the queens secret sex life with aliens. give thanks.Hey, things are looking at up. this evening you make your first fifteen seconds of TV history.Glick groaned. He could hear the intelligence information fix already. Thanks Gunther, great report. Then the rachis would hook his look and move on to the weather. I should have tried for an prime spot.Macri laughed. With no drive? And that rim? obturate it.Glick ran his hands through the blood-red doodly-squat of blur on his chin. I view it makes me look clever.The vans cellular tele address telephony rang, mercifully interrupting yet another one of Glicks failures. mayhap thats editorial, he said, curtly hopeful. You think they want a live modify?On this story? Macri laughed. You keep dreaming.Glick answered the phone in his vanquish backbone voice. Gunther Glick, BBC, stick up in Vatican City.The man on the line had a cryptic Arabic accent. hark carefully, he said. I am about to change your life.