danbrown.angels&demons-第87部分

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　ILLUMINATI；　EARTH；　AIR；　FIRE；　WATER。
　Langdon　snapped　his　head　back　up；　fearing　the　Hassassin　would　lunge。　He　did　not。　The　killer　was　waiting；　almost　as　if　he　were　refreshed　by　the　game。　Langdon　fought　to　recover　his　focus；　locking　eyes　again　with　his　quarry；　thrusting　with　the　pipe。　But　the　image　of　the　box　hung　in　his　mind。　Although　the　brands　themselves　were　mesmerizing…artifacts　few　Illuminati　scholars　even　believed　existed…Langdon　suddenly　realized　there　had　been　something　else　about　the　box　that　had　ignited　a　wave　of　foreboding　within。　As　the　Hassassin　maneuvered　again；　Langdon　stole　another　glance　downward。
　My　God！　
　In　the　chest；　the　five　brands　sat　in　partments　around　the　outer　edge。　But　in　the　center；　there　was　another　partment。　This　partition　was　empty；　but　it　clearly　was　intended　to　hold　another　brand　。　。　。　a　brand　much　larger　than　the　others；　and　perfectly　square。
　The　attack　was　a　blur。
　The　Hassassin　swooped　toward　him　like　a　bird　of　prey。　Langdon；　his　concentration　having　been　masterfully　diverted；　tried　to　counter；　but　the　pipe　felt　like　a　tree　trunk　in　his　hands。　His　parry　was　too　slow。　The　Hassassin　dodged。　As　Langdon　tried　to　retract　the　bar；　the　Hassassin's　hands　shot　out　and　grabbed　it。　The　man's　grip　was　strong；　his　injured　arm　seeming　no　longer　to　affect　him。　Violently；　the　two　men　struggled。　Langdon　felt　the　bar　ripped　away；　and　a　searing　pain　shot　through　his　palm。　An　instant　later；　Langdon　was　staring　into　the　splintered　point　of　the　weapon。　The　hunter　had　bee　the　hunted。
　Langdon　felt　like　he'd　been　hit　by　a　cyclone。　The　Hassassin　circled；　smiling　now；　backing　Langdon　against　the　wall。　〃What　is　your　American　adаgio？〃　he　chided。　〃Something　about　curiosity　and　the　cat？〃　
　Langdon　could　barely　focus。　He　cursed　his　carelessness　as　the　Hassassin　moved　in。　Nothing　was　making　sense。　A　sixth　Illuminati　brand？　In　frustration　he　blurted；　〃I've　never　read　anything　about　a　sixth　Illuminati　brand！〃　
　〃I　think　you　probably　have。〃　The　killer　chuckled　as　he　herded　Langdon　around　the　oval　wall。　
　Langdon　was　lost。　He　most　certainly　had　not。　There　were　five　Illuminati　brands。　He　backed　up；　searching　the　room　for　any　weapon　at　all。
　〃A　perfect　union　of　the　ancient　elements；〃　the　Hassassin　said。　〃The　final　brand　is　the　most　brilliant　of　all。　I'm　afraid　you　will　never　see　it；　though。〃
　Langdon　sensed　he　would　not　be　seeing　much　of　anything　in　a　moment。　He　kept　backing　up；　searching　the　room　for　an　option。　〃And　you've　seen　this　final　brand？〃　Langdon　demanded；　trying　to　buy　time。
　〃Someday　perhaps　they　will　honor　me。　As　I　prove　myself。〃　He　jabbed　at　Langdon；　as　if　enjoying　a　game。
　Langdon　slid　backward　again。　He　had　the　feeling　the　Hassassin　was　directing　him　around　the　wall　toward　some　unseen　destination。　Where？　Langdon　could　not　afford　to　look　behind　him。　〃The　brand？〃　he　demanded。　〃Where　is　it？〃　
　〃Not　here。　Janus　is　apparently　the　only　one　who　holds　it。〃
　〃Janus？〃　Langdon　did　not　recognize　the　name。
　〃The　Illuminati　leader。　He　is　arriving　shortly。〃
　〃The　Illuminati　leader　is　ing　here？〃　
　〃To　perform　the　final　branding。〃
　Langdon　shot　a　frightened　glance　to　Vittoria。　She　looked　strangely　calm；　her　eyes　closed　to　the　world　around　her；　her　lungs　pulling　slowly　。　。　。　deeply。　Was　she　the　final　victim？　Was　he？　
　〃Such　conceit；〃　the　Hassassin　sneered；　watching　Langdon's　eyes。　〃The　two　of　you　are　nothing。　You　will　die；　of　course；　that　is　for　certain。　But　the　final　victim　of　whom　I　speak　is　a　truly　dangerous　enemy。〃
　Langdon　tried　to　make　sense　of　the　Hassassin's　words。　A　dangerous　enemy？　The　top　cardinals　were　all　dead。　The　Pope　was　dead。　The　Illuminati　had　wiped　them　all　out。　Langdon　found　the　answer　in　the　vacuum　of　the　Hassassin's　eyes。　
　The　camerlegno。
　Camerlegno　Ventresca　was　the　one　man　who　had　been　a　beacon　of　hope　for　the　world　through　this　entire　tribulation。　The　camerlegno　had　done　more　to　condemn　the　Illuminati　tonight　than　decades　of　conspiracy　theorists。　Apparently　he　would　pay　the　price。　He　was　the　Illuminati's　final　target。
　〃You'll　never　get　to　him；〃　Langdon　challenged。
　〃Not　I；〃　the　Hassassin　replied；　forcing　Langdon　farther　back　around　the　wall。　〃That　honor　is　reserved　for　Janus　himself。〃
　〃The　Illuminati　leader　himself　intends　to　brand　the　camerlegno？〃
　〃Power　has　its　privileges。〃
　〃But　no　one　could　possibly　get　into　Vatican　City　right　now！〃
　The　Hassassin　looked　smug。　〃Not　unless　he　had　an　appointment。〃　
　Langdon　was　confused。　The　only　person　expected　at　the　Vatican　right　now　was　the　person　the　press　was　calling　the　11th　Hour　Samaritan…the　person　Rocher　said　had　information　that　could　save…
　Langdon　stopped　short。　Good　God！　
　The　Hassassin　smirked；　clearly　enjoying　Langdon's　sickening　cognition。　〃I　too　wondered　how　Janus　would　gain　entrance。　Then　in　the　van　I　heard　the　radio…a　report　about　an　11th　hour　Samaritan。〃　He　smiled。　〃The　Vatican　will　wele　Janus　with　open　arms。〃
　Langdon　almost　stumbled　backward。　Janus　is　the　Samaritan！　It　was　an　unthinkable　deception。　The　Illuminati　leader　would　get　a　royal　escort　directly　to　the　camerlegno's　chambers。　But　how　did　Janus　fool　Rocher？　Or　was　Rocher　somehow　involved？　Langdon　felt　a　chill。　Ever　since　he　had　almost　suffocated　in　the　secret　archives；　Langdon　had　not　entirely　trusted　Rocher。
　The　Hassassin　jabbed　suddenly；　nicking　Langdon　in　the　side。
　Langdon　jumped　back；　his　temper　flaring。　〃Janus　will　never　get　out　alive！〃
　The　Hassassin　shrugged。　〃Some　causes　are　worth　dying　for。〃
　Langdon　sensed　the　killer　was　serious。　Janus　ing　to　Vatican　City　on　a　suicide　mission？　A　question　of　honor？　For　an　instant；　Langdon's　mind　took　in　the　entire　terrifying　cycle。　The　Illuminati　plot　had　e　full　circle。　The　priest　whom　the　Illuminati　had　inadvertently　brought　to　power　by　killing　the　Pope　had　emerged　as　a　worthy　adversary。　In　a　final　act　of　defiance；　the　Illuminati　leader　would　destroy　him。　
　Suddenly；　Langdon　felt　the　wall　behind　him　disappear。　There　was　a　rush　of　cool　air；　and　he　staggered　backward　into　the　night。　The　balcony！　He　now　realized　what　the　Hassassin　had　in　mind。　
　Langdon　immediately　sensed　the　precipice　behind　him…a　hundred…foot　drop　to　the　courtyard　below。　He　had　seen　it　on　his　way　in。　The　Hassassin　wasted　no　time。　With　a　violent　surge；　he　lunged。　The　spear　sliced　toward　Langdon's　midsection。　Langdon　skidded　back；　and　the　point　came　up　short；　catching　only　his　shirt。　Again　the　point　came　at　him。　Langdon　slid　farther　back；　feeling　the　banister　right　behind　him。　Certain　the　next　jab　would　kill　him；　Langdon　attempted　the　absurd。　Spinning　to　one　side；　he　reached　out　and　grabbed　the　shaft；　sending　a　jolt　of　pain　through　his　palm。　Langdon　held　on。
　The　Hassassin　seemed　unfazed。　They　strained　for　a　moment　against　one　another；　face　to　face；　the　Hassassin's　breath　fetid　in　Langdon's　nostrils。　The　bar　began　to　slip。　The　Hassassin　was　too　strong。　In　a　final　act　of　desperation；　Langdon　stretched　out　his　leg；　dangerously　off　balance　as　he　tried　to　ram　his　foot　down　on　the　Hassassin's　injured　toe。　But　the　man　was　a　professional　and　adjusted　to　protect　his　weakness。　
　Langdon　had　just　played　his　final　card。　And　he　knew　he　had　lost　the　hand。
　The　Hassassin's　arms　exploded　upward；　driving　Langdon　back　against　the　railing。　Langdon　sensed　nothing　but　empty　space　behind　him　as　the　railing　hit　just　beneath　his　buttocks。　The　Hassassin　held　the　bar　crosswise　and　drove　it　into　Langdon's　chest。　Langdon's　back　arched　over　the　chasm。　
　〃Ma'assalamah；〃　the　Hassassin　sneered。　〃Good…bye。〃
　With　a　merciless　glare；　the　Hassassin　gave　a　final　shove。　Langdon's　center　of　gravity　shifted；　and　his　feet　swung　up　off　the　floor。　With　only　one　hope　of　survival；　Langdon　grabbed　on　to　the　railing　as　he　went　over。　His　left　hand　slipped；　but　his　right　hand　held　on。　He　ended　up　hanging　upside　down　by　his　legs　and　one　hand　。　。　。　straining　to　hold　on。
　Looming　over　him；　the　Hassassin　raised　the　bar　overhead；　preparing　to　bring　it　crashing　down。　As　the　bar　began　to　accelerate；　Langdon　saw　a　vision。　Perhaps　it　was　the　imminence　of　death　or　simply　blind　fear；　but　in　that　moment；　he　sensed　a　sudden　aura　surrounding　the　Hassassin。　A　glowing　effulgence　seemed　to　swell　out　of　nothing　behind　him　。　。　。　like　an　ining　fireball。
　Hal