danbrown.angels&demons-第111部分

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he　dead。　
　In　the　dimness　now；　Langdon　could　see　a　second　bed。　The　sheets　were　tousled；　but　the　bed　was　empty。　From　one　of　the　adjoining　rooms；　he　could　hear　the　faint；　steady　stream　of　a　shower。　
　As　he　gazed　at　Vittoria's　bed；　he　saw　a　boldly　embroidered　seal　on　her　pillowcase。　It　read：　HOTEL　BERNINI。　Langdon　had　to　smile。　Vittoria　had　chosen　well。　Old　World　luxury　overlooking　Bernini's　Triton　Fountain　。　。　。　there　was　no　more　fitting　hotel　in　all　of　Rome。
　As　Langdon　lay　there；　he　heard　a　pounding　and　realized　what　had　awoken　him。　Someone　was　knocking　at　the　door。　It　grew　louder。　
　Confused；　Langdon　got　up。　Nobody　knows　we're　here；　he　thought；　feeling　a　trace　of　uneasiness。　Donning　a　luxuriant　Hotel　Bernini　robe；　he　walked　out　of　the　bedroom　into　the　suite's　foyer。　He　stood　a　moment　at　the　heavy　oak　door；　and　then　pulled　it　open。
　A　powerful　man　adorned　in　lavish　purple　and　yellow　regalia　stared　down　at　him。　〃I　am　Lieutenant　Chartrand；〃　the　man　said。　〃Vatican　Swiss　Guard。〃
　Langdon　knew　full　well　who　he　was。　〃How　。　。　。　how　did　you　find　us？〃
　〃I　saw　you　leave　the　square　last　night。　I　followed　you。　I'm　relieved　you're　still　here。〃
　Langdon　felt　a　sudden　anxiety；　wondering　if　the　cardinals　had　sent　Chartrand　to　escort　Langdon　and　Vittoria　back　to　Vatican　City。　After　all；　the　two　of　them　were　the　only　two　people　beyond　the　College　of　Cardinals　who　knew　the　truth。　They　were　a　liability。
　〃His　Holiness　asked　me　to　give　this　to　you；〃　Chartrand　said；　handing　over　an　envelope　sealed　with　the　Vatican　signet。　Langdon　opened　the　envelope　and　read　the　handwritten　note。
　
　Mr。　Langdon　and　Ms。　Vetra；　
　Although　it　is　my　profound　desire　to　request　your　discretion　in　the　matters　of　the　past　24　hours；　I　cannot　possibly　presume　to　ask　more　of　you　than　you　have　already　given。　I　therefore　humbly　retreat　hoping　only　that　you　let　your　hearts　guide　you　in　this　matter。　The　world　seems　a　better　place　today　。　。　。　maybe　the　questions　are　more　powerful　than　the　answers。　
　My　door　is　always　open；　
　His　Holiness；　Saverio　Mortati　
　
　Langdon　read　the　message　twice。　The　College　of　Cardinals　had　obviously　chosen　a　noble　and　munificent　leader。　
　Before　Langdon　could　say　anything；　Chartrand　produced　a　small　package。　〃A　token　of　thanks　from　His　Holiness。〃　
　Langdon　took　the　package。　It　was　heavy；　wrapped　in　brown　paper。　
　〃By　his　decree；〃　Chartrand　said；　〃this　artifact　is　on　indefinite　loan　to　you　from　the　sacred　Papal　Vault。　His　Holiness　asks　only　that　in　your　last　will　and　testament　you　ensure　it　finds　its　way　home。〃
　Langdon　opened　the　package　and　was　struck　speechless。　It　was　the　brand。　The　Illuminati　Diamond。　
　Chartrand　smiled。　〃May　peace　be　with　you。〃　He　turned　to　go。
　〃Thank　。　。　。　you；〃　Langdon　managed；　his　hands　trembling　around　the　precious　gift。
　The　guard　hesitated　in　the　hall。　〃Mr。　Langdon；　may　I　ask　you　something？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃My　fellow　guards　and　I　are　curious。　Those　last　few　minutes　。　。　。　what　happened　up　there　in　the　helicopter？〃
　Langdon　felt　a　rush　of　anxiety。　He　knew　this　moment　was　ing…the　moment　of　truth。　He　and　Vittoria　had　talked　about　it　last　night　as　they　stole　away　from　St。　Peter's　Square。　And　they　had　made　their　decision。　Even　before　the　Pope's　note。
　Vittoria's　father　had　dreamed　his　antimatter　discovery　would　bring　about　a　spiritual　awakening。　Last　night's　events　were　no　doubt　not　what　he　had　intended；　but　the　undeniable　fact　remained　。　。　。　at　this　moment；　around　the　world；　people　were　considering　God　in　ways　they　never　had　before。　How　long　the　magic　would　last；　Langdon　and　Vittoria　had　no　idea；　but　they　knew　they　could　never　shatter　the　wonderment　with　scandal　and　doubt。　The　Lord　works　in　strange　ways；　Langdon　told　himself；　wondering　wryly　if　maybe　。　。　。　just　maybe　。　。　。　yesterday　had　been　God's　will　after　all。
　〃Mr。　Langdon？〃　Chartrand　repeated。　〃I　was　asking　about　the　helicopter？〃
　Langdon　gave　a　sad　smile。　〃Yes；　I　know　。　。　。〃　He　felt　the　words　flow　not　from　his　mind　but　from　his　heart。　〃Perhaps　it　was　the　shock　of　the　fall　。　。　。　but　my　memory　。　。　。　it　seems　。　。　。　it's　all　a　blur　。　。　。〃
　Chartrand　slumped。　〃You　remember　nothing？〃　
　Langdon　sighed。　〃I　fear　it　will　remain　a　mystery　forever。〃
　
　When　Robert　Langdon　returned　to　the　bedroom；　the　vision　awaiting　him　stopped　him　in　his　tracks。　Vittoria　stood　on　the　balcony；　her　back　to　the　railing；　her　eyes　gazing　deeply　at　him。　She　looked　like　a　heavenly　apparition　。　。　。　a　radiant　silhouette　with　the　moon　behind　her。　She　could　have　been　a　Roman　goddess；　enshrouded　in　her　white　terrycloth　robe；　the　drawstring　cinched　tight；　accentuating　her　slender　curves。　Behind　her；　a　pale　mist　hung　like　a　halo　over　Bernini's　Triton　Fountain。
　Langdon　felt　wildly　drawn　to　her　。　。　。　more　than　to　any　woman　in　his　life。　Quietly；　he　lay　the　Illuminati　Diamond　and　the　Pope's　letter　on　his　bedside　table。　There　would　be　time　to　explain　all　of　that　later。　He　went　to　her　on　the　balcony。
　Vittoria　looked　happy　to　see　him。　〃You're　awake；〃　she　said；　in　a　coy　whisper。　〃Finally。〃
　Langdon　smiled。　〃Long　day。〃
　She　ran　a　hand　through　her　luxuriant　hair；　the　neck　of　her　robe　falling　open　slightly。　〃And　now　。　。　。　I　suppose　you　want　your　reward。〃
　The　ment　took　Langdon　off　guard。　〃I'm　。　。　。　sorry？〃
　〃We're　adults；　Robert。　You　can　admit　it。　You　feel　a　longing。　I　see　it　in　your　eyes。　A　deep；　carnal　hunger。〃　She　smiled。　〃I　feel　it　too。　And　that　craving　is　about　to　be　satisfied。〃
　〃It　is？〃　He　felt　emboldened　and　took　a　step　toward　her。
　〃pletely。〃　She　held　up　a　room…service　menu。　〃I　ordered　everything　they've　got。〃
　
　The　feast　was　sumptuous。　They　dined　together　by　moonlight　。　。　。　sitting　on　their　balcony　。　。　。　savoring　frisйe；　truffles；　and　risotto。　They　sipped　Dolcetto　wine　and　talked　late　into　the　night。
　Langdon　did　not　need　to　be　a　symbologist　to　read　the　signs　Vittoria　was　sending　him。　During　dessert　of　boysenberry　cream　with　savoiardi　and　steaming　Romcaffй；　Vittoria　pressed　her　bare　legs　against　his　beneath　the　table　and　fixed　him　with　a　sultry　stare。　She　seemed　to　be　willing　him　to　set　down　his　fork　and　carry　her　off　in　his　arms。
　But　Langdon　did　nothing。　He　remained　the　perfect　gentleman。　Two　can　play　at　this　game；　he　thought；　hiding　a　roguish　smile。
　When　all　the　food　was　eaten；　Langdon　retired　to　the　edge　of　his　bed　where　he　sat　alone；　turning　the　Illuminati　Diamond　over　and　over　in　his　hands；　making　repeated　ments　about　the　miracle　of　its　symmetry。　Vittoria　stared　at　him；　her　confusion　growing　to　an　obvious　frustration。　
　〃You　find　that　ambigram　terribly　interesting；　don't　you？〃　she　demanded。
　Langdon　nodded。　〃Mesmerizing。〃
　〃Would　you　say　it's　the　most　interesting　thing　in　this　room？〃
　Langdon　scratched　his　head；　making　a　show　of　pondering　it。　〃Well；　there　is　one　thing　that　interests　me　more。〃
　She　smiled　and　took　a　step　toward　him。　〃That　being？〃
　〃How　you　disproved　that　Einstein　theory　using　tuna　fish。〃
　Vittoria　threw　up　her　hands。　〃Dio　mмo！　Enough　with　the　tuna　fish！　Don't　play　with　me；　I'm　warning　you。〃
　Langdon　grinned。　〃Maybe　for　your　next　experiment；　you　could　study　flounders　and　prove　the　earth　is　flat。〃
　Vittoria　was　steaming　now；　but　the　first　faint　hints　of　an　exasperated　smile　appeared　on　her　lips。　〃For　your　information；　professor；　my　next　experiment　will　make　scientific　history。　I　plan　to　prove　neutrinos　have　mass。〃
　〃Neutrinos　have　mass？〃　Langdon　shot　her　a　stunned　look。　〃I　didn't　even　know　they　were　Catholic！〃
　With　one　fluid　motion；　she　was　on　him；　pinning　him　down。　〃I　hope　you　believe　in　life　after　death；　Robert　Langdon。〃　Vittoria　was　laughing　as　she　straddled　him；　her　hands　holding　him　down；　her　eyes　ablaze　with　a　mischievous　fire。　
　〃Actually；〃　he　choked；　laughing　harder　now；　〃I've　always　had　trouble　picturing　anything　beyond　this　world。〃
　〃Really？　So　you've　never　had　a　religious　experience？　A　perfect　moment　of　glorious　rapture？〃　
　Langdon　shook　his　head。　〃No；　and　I　seriously　doubt　I'm　the　kind　of　man　who　could　ever　have　a　religious　experience。〃
　Vittoria　slipped　off　her　robe。　〃You've　never　been　to　bed　with　a　yoga　master；　have　you？〃
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