danbrown.angels&demons-第52部分

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　〃Was　that　a　pliment？〃
　Langdon　smiled　and　moved　past　her　into　the　dark。　〃Careful　on　the　stairs。〃
　He　inched　slowly　into　the　darkness；　keeping　one　hand　on　the　wall。　The　stone　felt　sharp　on　his　fingertips。　For　an　instant　Langdon　recalled　the　ancient　myth　of　Daedelus；　how　the　boy　kept　one　hand　on　the　wall　as　he　moved　through　the　Minotaur's　labyrinth；　knowing　he　was　guaranteed　to　find　the　end　if　he　never　broke　contact　with　the　wall。　Langdon　moved　forward；　not　entirely　certain　he　wanted　to　find　the　end。　
　The　tunnel　narrowed　slightly；　and　Langdon　slowed　his　pace。　He　sensed　Vittoria　close　behind　him。　As　the　wall　curved　left；　the　tunnel　opened　into　a　semicircular　alcove。　Oddly；　there　was　faint　light　here。　In　the　dimness　Langdon　saw　the　outline　of　a　heavy　wooden　door。
　〃Uh　oh；〃　he　said。
　〃Locked？〃
　〃It　was。〃　
　〃Was？〃　Vittoria　arrived　at　his　side。
　Langdon　pointed。　Lit　by　a　shaft　of　light　ing　from　within；　the　door　hung　ajar　。　。　。　its　hinges　splintered　by　a　wrecking　bar　still　lodged　in　the　wood。
　They　stood　a　moment　in　silence。　Then；　in　the　dark；　Langdon　felt　Vittoria's　hands　on　his　chest；　groping；　sliding　beneath　his　jacket。　
　〃Relax；　professor；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　just　getting　the　gun。〃
　
　At　that　moment；　inside　the　Vatican　Museums；　a　task　force　of　Swiss　Guards　spread　out　in　all　directions。　The　museum　was　dark；　and　the　guards　wore　U。S。　Marine　issue　infrared　goggles。　The　goggles　made　everything　appear　an　eerie　shade　of　green。　Every　guard　wore　headphones　connected　to　an　antennalike　detector　that　he　waved　rhythmically　in　front　of　him…the　same　devices　they　used　twice　a　week　to　sweep　for　electronic　bugs　inside　the　Vatican。　They　moved　methodically；　checking　behind　statues；　inside　niches；　closets；　under　furniture。　The　antennae　would　sound　if　they　detected　even　the　tiniest　magnetic　field。　
　Tonight；　however；　they　were　getting　no　readings　at　all。
　
　65

　The　interior　of　Santa　Maria　del　Popolo　was　a　murky　cave　in　the　dimming　light。　It　looked　more　like　a　half…finished　subway　station　than　a　cathedral。　The　main　sanctuary　was　an　obstacle　course　of　torn…up　flooring；　brick　pallets；　mounds　of　dirt；　wheelbarrows；　and　even　a　rusty　backhoe。　Mammoth　columns　rose　through　the　floor；　supporting　a　vaulted　roof。　In　the　air；　silt　drifted　lazily　in　the　muted　glow　of　the　stained　glass。　Langdon　stood　with　Vittoria　beneath　a　sprawling　Pinturicchio　fresco　and　scanned　the　gutted　shrine。　
　Nothing　moved。　Dead　silence。　
　Vittoria　held　the　gun　out　in　front　of　her　with　both　hands。　Langdon　checked　his　watch：　8：04　P。M。　We're　crazy　to　be　in　here；　he　thought。　It's　too　dangerous。　Still　he　knew　if　the　killer　were　inside；　the　man　could　leave　through　any　door　he　wanted；　making　a　one…gun　outside　stakeout　totally　fruitless。　Catching　him　inside　was　the　only　way　。　。　。　that　was；　if　he　was　even　still　here。　Langdon　felt　guilt…ridden　over　the　blunder　that　had　cost　everyone　their　chance　at　the　Pantheon。　He　was　in　no　position　to　insist　on　precaution　now；　he　was　the　one　who　had　backed　them　into　this　corner。　
　Vittoria　looked　harrowed　as　she　scanned　the　church。　〃So；〃　she　whispered。　〃Where　is　this　Chigi　Chapel？〃
　Langdon　gazed　through　the　dusky　ghostliness　toward　the　back　of　the　cathedral　and　studied　the　outer　walls。　Contrary　to　mon　perception；　Renaissance　cathedrals　invariably　contained　multiple　chapels；　huge　cathedrals　like　Notre　Dame　having　dozens。　Chapels　were　less　rooms　than　they　were　hollows…semicircular　niches　holding　tombs　around　a　church's　perimeter　wall。　
　Bad　news；　Langdon　thought；　seeing　the　four　recesses　on　each　side　wall。　There　were　eight　chapels　in　all。　Although　eight　was　not　a　particularly　overwhelming　number；　all　eight　openings　were　covered　with　huge　sheets　of　clear　polyurethane　due　to　the　construction；　the　translucent　curtains　apparently　intended　to　keep　dust　off　the　tombs　inside　the　alcoves。
　〃It　could　be　any　of　those　draped　recesses；〃　Langdon　said。　〃No　way　to　know　which　is　the　Chigi　without　looking　inside　every　one。　Could　be　a　good　reason　to　wait　for　Oliv…〃　
　〃Which　is　the　secondary　left　apse？〃　she　asked。
　Langdon　studied　her；　surprised　by　her　mand　of　architectural　terminology。　〃Secondary　left　apse？〃
　Vittoria　pointed　at　the　wall　behind　him。　A　decorative　tile　was　embedded　in　the　stone。　It　was　engraved　with　the　same　symbol　they　had　seen　outside…a　pyramid　beneath　a　shining　star。　The　grime…covered　plaque　beside　it　read：
　
　COAT　OF　ARMS　OF　ALEXANDER　CHIGI　
　WHOSE　TOMB　IS　LOCATED　IN　THE　
　SECONDARY　LEFT　APSE　OF　THIS　CATHEDRAL　
　
　Langdon　nodded。　Chigi's　coat　of　arms　was　a　pyramid　and　star？　He　suddenly　found　himself　wondering　if　the　wealthy　patron　Chigi　had　been　an　Illuminatus。　He　nodded　to　Vittoria。　〃Nice　work；　Nancy　Drew。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Never　mind。　I…〃
　A　piece　of　metal　clattered　to　the　floor　only　yards　away。　The　clang　echoed　through　the　entire　church。　Langdon　pulled　Vittoria　behind　a　pillar　as　she　whipped　the　gun　toward　the　sound　and　held　it　there。　Silence。　They　waited。　Again　there　was　sound；　this　time　a　rustling。　Langdon　held　his　breath。　I　never　should　have　let　us　e　in　here！　The　sound　moved　closer；　an　intermittent　scuffling；　like　a　man　with　a　limp。　Suddenly　around　the　base　of　the　pillar；　an　object　came　into　view。
　〃Figlio　di　puttana！〃　Vittoria　cursed　under　her　breath；　jumping　back。　Langdon　fell　back　with　her。　
　Beside　the　pillar；　dragging　a　half…eaten　sandwich　in　paper；　was　an　enormous　rat。　The　creature　paused　when　it　saw　them；　staring　a　long　moment　down　the　barrel　of　Vittoria's　weapon；　and　then；　apparently　unmoved；　continued　dragging　its　prize　off　to　the　recesses　of　the　church。
　〃Son　of　a　。　。　。〃　Langdon　gasped；　his　heart　racing。
　Vittoria　lowered　the　gun；　quickly　regaining　her　posure。　Langdon　peered　around　the　side　of　the　column　to　see　a　workman's　lunchbox　splayed　on　the　floor；　apparently　knocked　off　a　sawhorse　by　the　resourceful　rodent。
　Langdon　scanned　the　basilica　for　movement　and　whispered；　〃If　this　guy's　here；　he　sure　as　hell　heard　that。　You　sure　you　don't　want　to　wait　for　Olivetti？〃
　〃Secondary　left　apse；〃　Vittoria　repeated。　〃Where　is　it？〃
　Reluctantly　Langdon　turned　and　tried　to　get　his　bearings。　Cathedral　terminology　was　like　stage　directions…totally　counterintuitive。　He　faced　the　main　altar。　Stage　center。　Then　he　pointed　with　his　thumb　backward　over　his　shoulder。　
　They　both　turned　and　looked　where　he　was　pointing。
　It　seemed　the　Chigi　Chapel　was　located　in　the　third　of　four　recessed　alcoves　to　their　right。　The　good　news　was　that　Langdon　and　Vittoria　were　on　the　correct　side　of　the　church。　The　bad　news　was　that　they　were　at　the　wrong　end。　They　would　have　to　traverse　the　length　of　the　cathedral；　passing　three　other　chapels；　each　of　them；　like　the　Chigi　Chapel；　covered　with　translucent　plastic　shrouds。
　〃Wait；〃　Langdon　said。　〃I'll　go　first。〃
　〃Forget　it。〃
　〃I'm　the　one　who　screwed　up　at　the　Pantheon。〃
　She　turned。　〃But　I'm　the　one　with　the　gun。〃　
　In　her　eyes　Langdon　could　see　what　she　was　really　thinking　。　。　。　I'm　the　one　who　lost　my　father。　I'm　the　one　who　helped　build　a　weapon　of　mass　destruction。　This　guy's　kneecaps　are　mine。　。　。　
　Langdon　sensed　the　futility　and　let　her　go。　He　moved　beside　her；　cautiously；　down　the　east　side　of　the　basilica。　As　they　passed　the　first　shrouded　alcove；　Langdon　felt　taut；　like　a　contestant　on　some　surreal　game　show。　I'll　take　curtain　number　three；　he　thought。
　The　church　was　quiet；　the　thick　stone　walls　blocking　out　all　hints　of　the　outside　world。　As　they　hurried　past　one　chapel　after　the　other；　pale　humanoid　forms　wavered　like　ghosts　behind　the　rustling　plastic。　Carved　marble；　Langdon　told　himself；　hoping　he　was　right。　It　was　8：06　P。M。　Had　the　killer　been　punctual　and　slipped　out　before　Langdon　and　Vittoria　had　entered？　Or　was　he　still　here？　Langdon　was　unsure　which　scenario　he　preferred。
　They　passed　the　second　apse；　ominous　in　the　slowly　darkening　cathedral。　Night　seemed　to　be　falling　quickly　now；　accentuated　by　the　musty　tint　of　the　stained…glass　windows。　As　they　pressed　on；　the　plastic　curtain　beside　them　billowed　suddenly；　as　if　caught　in　a　draft。　Langdon　wondered　if　someone　somewhere　had　opened　a　door。
　Vittoria　slowed　as　the　third　niche　loomed　before　them。　She　held　the　gun　before　her；　motioning　with　her　head　to　the　stele　beside　the　a