danbrown.angels&demons-第4部分

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n　during　take　off；　the　plane's　motion　had　been　fairly　typical…occasional　minor　turbulence；　a　few　pressure　changes　as　they'd　climbed；　but　nothing　at　all　to　suggest　they　had　been　hurtling　through　space　at　the　mind…numbing　speed　of　11；000　miles　per　hour。　
　A　handful　of　technicians　scurried　onto　the　runway　to　tend　to　the　X…33。　The　pilot　escorted　Langdon　to　a　black　Peugeot　sedan　in　a　parking　area　beside　the　control　tower。　Moments　later　they　were　speeding　down　a　paved　road　that　stretched　out　across　the　valley　floor。　A　faint　cluster　of　buildings　rose　in　the　distance。　Outside；　the　grassy　plains　tore　by　in　a　blur。
　Langdon　watched　in　disbelief　as　the　pilot　pushed　the　speedometer　up　around　170　kilometers　an　hour…over　100　miles　per　hour。　What　is　it　with　this　guy　and　speed？　he　wondered。
　〃Five　kilometers　to　the　lab；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃I'll　have　you　there　in　two　minutes。〃
　Langdon　searched　in　vain　for　a　seat　belt。　Why　not　make　it　three　and　get　us　there　alive？　
　The　car　raced　on。
　〃Do　you　like　Reba？〃　the　pilot　asked；　jamming　a　cassette　into　the　tape　deck。　
　A　woman　started　singing。　〃It's　just　the　fear　of　being　alone　。　。　。　〃　
　No　fear　here；　Langdon　thought　absently。　His　female　colleagues　often　ribbed　him　that　his　collection　of　museum…quality　artifacts　was　nothing　more　than　a　transparent　attempt　to　fill　an　empty　home；　a　home　they　insisted　would　benefit　greatly　from　the　presence　of　a　woman。　Langdon　always　laughed　it　off；　reminding　them　he　already　had　three　loves　in　his　life…symbology；　water　polo；　and　bachelorhood…the　latter　being　a　freedom　that　enabled　him　to　travel　the　world；　sleep　as　late　as　he　wanted；　and　enjoy　quiet　nights　at　home　with　a　brandy　and　a　good　book。　
　〃We're　like　a　small　city；〃　the　pilot　said；　pulling　Langdon　from　his　daydream。　〃Not　just　labs。　We've　got　supermarkets；　a　hospital；　even　a　cinema。〃
　Langdon　nodded　blankly　and　looked　out　at　the　sprawling　expanse　of　buildings　rising　before　them。　
　〃In　fact；〃　the　pilot　added；　〃we　possess　the　largest　machine　on　earth。〃
　〃Really？〃　Langdon　scanned　the　countryside。　
　〃You　won't　see　it　out　there；　sir。〃　The　pilot　smiled。　〃It's　buried　six　stories　below　the　earth。〃
　Langdon　didn't　have　time　to　ask。　Without　warning　the　pilot　jammed　on　the　brakes。　The　car　skidded　to　a　stop　outside　a　reinforced　sentry　booth。　
　Langdon　read　the　sign　before　them。　SECURITE。　ARRETEZ。　He　suddenly　felt　a　wave　of　panic；　realizing　where　he　was。　〃My　God！　I　didn't　bring　my　passport！〃　
　〃Passports　are　unnecessary；〃　the　driver　assured。　〃We　have　a　standing　arrangement　with　the　Swiss　government。〃　
　Langdon　watched　dumbfounded　as　his　driver　gave　the　guard　an　ID。　The　sentry　ran　it　through　an　electronic　authentication　device。　The　machine　flashed　green。
　〃Passenger　name？〃
　〃Robert　Langdon；〃　the　driver　replied。
　〃Guest　of？〃
　〃The　director。〃
　The　sentry　arched　his　eyebrows。　He　turned　and　checked　a　puter　printout；　verifying　it　against　the　data　on　his　puter　screen。　Then　he　returned　to　the　window。　〃Enjoy　your　stay；　Mr。　Langdon。〃
　The　car　shot　off　again；　accelerating　another　200　yards　around　a　sweeping　rotary　that　led　to　the　facility's　main　entrance。　Looming　before　them　was　a　rectangular；　ultramodern　structure　of　glass　and　steel。　Langdon　was　amazed　by　the　building's　striking　transparent　design。　He　had　always　had　a　fond　love　of　architecture。
　〃The　Glass　Cathedral；〃　the　escort　offered。
　〃A　church？〃
　〃Hell；　no。　A　church　is　the　one　thing　we　don't　have。　Physics　is　the　religion　around　here。　Use　the　Lord's　name　in　vain　all　you　like；〃　he　laughed；　〃just　don't　slander　any　quarks　or　mesons。〃
　Langdon　sat　bewildered　as　the　driver　swung　the　car　around　and　brought　it　to　a　stop　in　front　of　the　glass　building。　Quarks　and　mesons？　No　border　control？　Mach　15　jets？　Who　the　hell　ARE　these　guys？　The　engraved　granite　slab　in　front　of　the　building　bore　the　answer：　
　
　（CERN）　Conseil　Europйen　pour　la　Recherche　Nuclйaire　
　
　〃Nuclear　Research？〃　Langdon　asked；　fairly　certain　his　translation　was　correct。
　The　driver　did　not　answer。　He　was　leaning　forward；　busily　adjusting　the　car's　cassette　player。　〃This　is　your　stop。　The　director　will　meet　you　at　this　entrance。〃
　Langdon　noted　a　man　in　a　wheelchair　exiting　the　building。　He　looked　to　be　in　his　early　sixties。　Gaunt　and　totally　bald　with　a　sternly　set　jaw；　he　wore　a　white　lab　coat　and　dress　shoes　propped　firmly　on　the　wheelchair's　footrest。　Even　at　a　distance　his　eyes　looked　lifeless…like　two　gray　stones。
　〃Is　that　him？〃　Langdon　asked。
　The　driver　looked　up。　〃Well；　I'll　be。〃　He　turned　and　gave　Langdon　an　ominous　smile。　〃Speak　of　the　devil。〃
　Uncertain　what　to　expect；　Langdon　stepped　from　the　vehicle。　
　The　man　in　the　wheelchair　accelerated　toward　Langdon　and　offered　a　clammy　hand。　〃Mr。　Langdon？　We　spoke　on　the　phone。　My　name　is　Maximilian　Kohler。〃
　
　7

　Maximilian　Kohler；　director　general　of　CERN；　was　known　behind　his　back　as　Kцnig…King。　It　was　a　title　more　of　fear　than　reverence　for　the　figure　who　ruled　over　his　dominion　from　a　wheelchair　throne。　Although　few　knew　him　personally；　the　horrific　story　of　how　he　had　been　crippled　was　lore　at　CERN；　and　there　were　few　there　who　blamed　him　for　his　bitterness　。　。　。　nor　for　his　sworn　dedication　to　pure　science。　
　Langdon　had　only　been　in　Kohler's　presence　a　few　moments　and　already　sensed　the　director　was　a　man　who　kept　his　distance。　Langdon　found　himself　practically　jogging　to　keep　up　with　Kohler's　electric　wheelchair　as　it　sped　silently　toward　the　main　entrance。　The　wheelchair　was　like　none　Langdon　had　ever　seen…equipped　with　a　bank　of　electronics　including　a　multiline　phone；　a　paging　system；　puter　screen；　even　a　small；　detachable　video　camera。　King　Kohler's　mobile　mand　center。
　Langdon　followed　through　a　mechanical　door　into　CERN's　voluminous　main　lobby。　
　The　Glass　Cathedral；　Langdon　mused；　gazing　upward　toward　heaven。
　Overhead；　the　bluish　glass　roof　shimmered　in　the　afternoon　sun；　casting　rays　of　geometric　patterns　in　the　air　and　giving　the　room　a　sense　of　grandeur。　Angular　shadows　fell　like　veins　across　the　white　tiled　walls　and　down　to　the　marble　floors。　The　air　smelled　clean；　sterile。　A　handful　of　scientists　moved　briskly　about；　their　footsteps　echoing　in　the　resonant　space。
　〃This　way；　please；　Mr。　Langdon。〃　His　voice　sounded　almost　puterized。　His　accent　was　rigid　and　precise；　like　his　stern　features。　Kohler　coughed　and　wiped　his　mouth　on　a　white　handkerchief　as　he　fixed　his　dead　gray　eyes　on　Langdon。　〃Please　hurry。〃　His　wheelchair　seemed　to　leap　across　the　tiled　floor。
　Langdon　followed　past　what　seemed　to　be　countless　hallways　branching　off　the　main　atrium。　Every　hallway　was　alive　with　activity。　The　scientists　who　saw　Kohler　seemed　to　stare　in　surprise；　eyeing　Langdon　as　if　wondering　who　he　must　be　to　mand　such　pany。
　〃I'm　embarrassed　to　admit；〃　Langdon　ventured；　trying　to　make　conversation；　〃that　I've　never　heard　of　CERN。〃
　〃Not　surprising；〃　Kohler　replied；　his　clipped　response　sounding　harshly　efficient。　〃Most　Americans　do　not　see　Europe　as　the　world　leader　in　scientific　research。　They　see　us　as　nothing　but　a　quaint　shopping　district…an　odd　perception　if　you　consider　the　nationalities　of　men　like　Einstein；　Galileo；　and　Newton。〃
　Langdon　was　unsure　how　to　respond。　He　pulled　the　fax　from　his　pocket。　〃This　man　in　the　photograph；　can　you…〃
　Kohler　cut　him　off　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃Please。　Not　here。　I　am　taking　you　to　him　now。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃Perhaps　I　should　take　that。〃
　Langdon　handed　over　the　fax　and　fell　silently　into　step。
　Kohler　took　a　sharp　left　and　entered　a　wide　hallway　adorned　with　awards　and　mendations。　A　particularly　large　plaque　dominated　the　entry。　Langdon　slowed　to　read　the　engraved　bronze　as　they　passed。
　
　ARS　ELECTRONICA　AWARD　
　For　Cultural　Innovation　in　the　Digital　Age　Awarded　to　Tim　Berners　Lee　and　CERN　for　the　invention　of　the　WORLDWIDE　WEB
　
　Well　I'll　be　damned；　Langdon　thought；　reading　the　text。　This　guy　wasn't　kidding。　Langdon　had　always　thought　of　the　Web　as　an　American　invention。　Then　again；　his　knowledge　was　limited　to　the　site　for　his　own　book　and　the　occasional　on…line　exploration　of　the　Louvre　or　El　Prado　on　his　old　Macintosh。
　〃The　Web；〃　Kohler　said；　coughing　again　and　wiping　his　mouth；　〃began　here　as　a　network