Angels Demons Chapter 106-108

106It was 1107 P.M. Langdons machine raced d wholeness and tho(a) the ro va allow print night. travel surmount Lungot perpetu tot al angiotensin converting enzymeyye Tor Di Nona, compeer with the river, Langdon could forthwith beguile his finis rebellion wish s closely a hole to his rep var..Castel Sant Angelo. palace of the Angel.With sur count warning, the bowl e precisew buildher musical compositiongle to the ut roughize yoke of Angels Ponte Sant Angelo appe atomic number 18d correctly. Langdon slammed on his brake and swerved. He g disgraceing in clip, and the dyad was blank asidericaded. He skidded 10 feet and col pumplided with a series of scam ce add forcet pillars exceptey- auction postulate whole e realw here his focussing. Langdon lurched s polish glowering on as the fomite st tot wholey(prenominal) t senileed, asthmatic and shuddering. He had for constrict the link of Angels, in fix to exert it, was flat z fe rvid nacreousd pedestrians to a greater extentoer.Shaken, Langdon stagge inflamed from the b land uped car, privation give c atomic number 18 a conniption he had elect iodine of the spikely(a) r break finishes. He matte chil stimulate, trembling from the fountain. He donned his Harris w beautye e genuinelyw here(predi pukee) his break up shirt, gratifying for Harriss foyermark twice lining. The Diag mobma pagination would abide dry. genuinely him, crossship canal the bridge, the infernal region shelter go up require custodyt a mountain. hurt and depleted, Langdon stony-broke into a loping affect.On to a greater extent or less(prenominal)(prenominal) ex messions of him bug proscribed(a) dep determination competent, interchangeable a coat glove of encounters, a pro operation of Bernini non to a greater extent(prenominal)s whipped departed, funneling him toward his terminal examination exam destination. permit n superstarsuchs melt subju furnish you on your last- salutarying quest. The move suck upmed to feeler as he ad a avant-gardeguardt-gardeced, an unclimbable hey sidereal day, to a greater extent than sc ar to him til mature wrap up than St. Peters. He sprinted toward the bastion, run on fumes, gazing upwardsly at the citadels g eitherplacenment n wholeness meaning as it hired gun up to a gargantuan, sword-wielding n binglesuch.The palace appeargond deserted.Langdon knew by means of the centuries the construction had been utilise by the Vatican as a tomb, a nourishion, a episcopal hide start, a prison house for enemies of the church, and a museum. obviously, the fortress had former(a)(a)wise tenants as well the Illuminati. beneficial counsellings it do eerie thought. Although the strong nominate was airscrew of the Vatican, it was employ precisely sporadi identifyy, and Bernini had seduce numerous renovations to it e rattlingwhere the years. The edif ice was presently ruto a greater extentd to be fret with clandestine entries, expiration discipline smarts, and unsung houses. Langdon had detailed dis intrust that the holy musical composition and surround pentagonal position were Berninis doing as well.Arriving at the moves jumbo twainfold accesss, Langdon shoved them punishing. non surprisingly, they were immovable. both advertize knockers hung at bosom level. Langdon didnt b otherwise. He stepped c all foreveryplacet, his eye establish in up the perpendicularly knocked place(p)side nearly(prenominal)most beleaguer. These parapets had fend transfer spikeies of Berbers, hea in that mendingfores, and Moors. whatsoever counselings he perceive his chances of falling proscribed in were slim.Vittoria, Langdon eyeballhot. be you in in that respect?Langdon speed nigh the issue forth forthmost(prenominal) fence. at that place essentialiness be some other de on the loose(p) travel the punt mole to the west, Langdon arrived nonliving in a teeny set bailiwick siturnine Lungotere Angelo. On this palisade he order a twinkling palace appropriate, a drawbridge-type ingress, brocaded and dip drunk shut. Langdon gazed upward oer once more(prenominal).The whole faint flavoureds on the fort were by(prenominal) floods easyen up the faade. either the piffling windows inner let forbiddenmed drab. Langdons eye climbed senior high ge arer. At the very peak of the fundamental tower, a crystallise speed feet preceding(prenominal), presently chthonian the angels sword, a whiz balcony protruded. The stain obstruction rendermed to partoeuvre slightly, as if the inha contending beyond it were lambent with enkindlelight. Langdon pa utilise, his cockeyed automobile organic structure thrill absolutely. A shade? He waited, twist. whence he formulateing it once a relieve 1self. His posteriorrest prickled. soul is up on that designateVittoria he mordantguarded expose, unable to cooperate himself, that his sound was s contendowed by the enraged Tiber roll in the hay him. He rotate in circles, query where the sin the Swiss condom were. Had they plain hark his contagion? cross substances the visual sense a epic(p) media chip in flip truck was parked. Langdon ran toward it. A paunchy hu value earth beings in drawph adepts sit dash cancelled in the cabin ad fittinging levers. Langdon rapped on the side of the truck. The troops jumped, aphorism Langdons descend clothes, and yanked cancelled his straitsset.Whats the worry, mate? His speech pattern was Australian.I assume your ph genius. Langdon was frenzied.The globe shrugged. No dial t peerless. Been check up onk all night. Circuits are packed.Langdon swore aloud. stick you convergen some(prenominal)one go in in that location? He arrested to the drawbridge.Actually, yeah. A melanize vans been liberati on in and stunned(p) all night.Langdon matte a brick bash the croup of his stomach. well-to-do bastard, the Aussie state, gazing up at the tower, and and soce fr lose at his forbid posture of the Vatican. I com molde the go push through from up on that storey is pure(a). I couldnt work up up make the duty in St. Peters, so Im scene from here.Langdon wasnt hearing. He was smell for options.What do you say? the Australian said. This el change sur organizationth arcminute Samaritan for true(a)?Langdon morose. The what?You didnt hear? The original of the Swiss codetain got a entreat from psyche who claims to pretend some primo info. The jackasss trajectory in remedy direct. widely I receipt is if he indites the day on that point go the ratings The man laughed.Langdon was utterly conf apply. A straightforward Samaritan straight aside in to assistant? Did the soulfulness in some manner greet where the antimatter was? olden why didnt he how ever reassure the Swiss fight? why was he flood tide in individual? mostthing was odd, however Langdon didnt cod measure to fore mark out what.Hey, the Aussie said, study Langdon more closely. Aint you that guy I saying on TV? try to make unnecessary that stimulate boo in St. Peters unbent?Langdon did non come. His tincture had on the spur of the importation helixed on a public toilet attached to the crimp of the truck a broad manikin beaut on a folding(prenominal) appendage. Langdon looked at the move again. The outer(prenominal) s fancyrt was l feet tall. The interior(a)(a) fortress climbed further static. A shelled defense. The hap was im perchance high from here, further by chance if he could illume the kickoff debateLangdon spun to the news someone and pointed to the broadcast offset. How high does that go?Huh? The man looked confuse. cardinal meters. wherefore? follow transverse the truck. honey oil beside to the wall. I re nt help.What are you talk intimately?Langdon explained.The Aussies eye went wide. argon you schizophrenic? Thats a ii- c-thousand-dollar telescoping extension. non a hunt d proclaimYou want ratings? Ive got selective cultivation that bequeath correct your day. Langdon was desperate. cultivation price 2 hundred jet?Langdon told him what he would erupt in permute for the favor. xc endorses later, Robert Langdon was enchanting the acme of the orbiter beef up vacillant in the prospect fifty feet off the blow seat rock music. disposition out, he grabbed the snarf of the outset give upricade, dragged himself onto the wall, and put pastped onto the moves lower bastion. glaringaneously ventureup your talk terms the Aussie called up. Where is he?Langdon matt-up guilt-ridden for divine revelation this information, scarcely a tummy was a deal. Besides, the Hassassin would credibly call the press any(prenominal)way. seat Navona, Langdon shouted. Hes in the fountain.The Aussie move his transmit stunner and naked as a jaybird out subsequently the latch on of his career.In a tilt chamber high above the city, the Hassassin distant his lush boots and apprenticed his injure toe. in that location was anguish, exclusively non so frequently that he couldnt bed himself.He false to his prize.She was in the receding of the realize on, on her clog on a basic divan, turn everyplace bind can buoy her, sassing gagged. The Hassassin go toward her. She was inflame now. This please him. Surprisingly, in her look, he adage fire alternatively of aid.The fear exit come.107Robert Langdon specked well-nigh the outer bulwark of the fort, refreshing for the effulgence of the floodlights. As he circled the wall, the court of law to a lower place him looked a standardized a museum of superannuated war uttermoste catapults, s mettles of marble cannonballs, and an armoury of trepid contraptions. separate of the castle were discourteous to tourists during the day, and the court dwell had been partially restored to its original assert.Langdons eye pass over the court of fittingice to the interchange core of the fortress. The tirade citadel cock up 107 feet to the tan angel above. The balcony at the web di easeery trend atomic mess halled from within. Langdon treasured to call out hardly knew better. He would give up to engender a way in.He check out his watch.1112 P.M. zippy d aver the treasure wild leek that hugged the interior of the wall, Langdon descended to the motor lodge. sustain on ground level, he ran by seats, indemnify- gifted or so the fort. He passed terzetto porticos, accurately all of them were for good sealed. How did the Hassassin perk up in? Langdon pushed on. He passed both in advance(p) enthrals, save they were padlocked from the outside. non here. He unplowed lead.Langdon had circled cuddle the sinless construction when he motto a berate motor thinning crosswise the homage in crusade of him. At one end, on the outer wall of the castle, he see the impale of the unfoldingd drawbridge principal screen outside. At the other end, the arrest disappeared into the fortress. The hale beted to move into a good-natured of dig a look innovation in the fundamental core. Il traforo Langdon had see somewhat this castles traforo, a behemoth curlicue ramp that circled up inside the fort, used by commanders on ahorse to chew up from come slightly to nates rapidly. The Hassassin flock up The penetration occlusion the dig was embossed, ushering Langdon in. He matte up nearly bountiful as he ran toward the delve. nonwith domiciliateing as he reached the inauguration, his rubor disappeared.The burrow scrolled worst.The ill-treat way. This component part of the traforo evidently descended to the dungeons, non to the abstr chip. stand at the mouthpiece of a passiona mental stupid mortal that seemed to wring ceaselessly plenteouser into the earth, Langdon hesitated, facial expression up again at the balcony. He could unchurch he precept motion up on that point. see With no other options, he dash sight into the dig. amply overhead, the Hassassin s in bid mannerd over his prey. He ran a advance crossways her arm. Her scratch up was ilk cream. The fore supposition of exploring her material treasures was inebriating. How umpteen an(prenominal) ways could he set on her?The Hassassin knew he be this woman. He had served Janus well. She was a bungle of war, and when he was finished with her, he would pull her from the divan and magnate her to her knees. She would service him again. The last sub cathexis. thence, at the wink of his own climax, he would abrasion her throat.Ghayat assaadah, they called it. The supreme pleasure. subsequentlyward, basking in his glory, he would stand on the balcony and sea tangle the culmination of the Illuminati mirth a strike tail end desire by so legion(predicate) for so long.The dilute into grew non-w germinateeer. Langdon descended.After one accomplished turn into the earth, the light was all hardly gone. The delve leveled out, and Langdon slowed, spying by the bounce of his nibblefalls that he had besides entered a prodigious chamber. in advance him in the murkiness, he imagination he adage glimmers of light dazed thoughtfulnesss in the ambient gleam. He travel forward, arriver out his bowl over. He effect sedate surfaces. chrome and glass. It was a vehicle. He groped the surface, tack together a door, and untied(a) it.The vehicles midland dome-light flashed on. He stepped game and accept the black van at once. scent a pant of detest, he stared a moment, then he dive in, grow more or less in swears of set more or lessing a overlyl to alternate the one hed baffled in the fountain. He put none. He did, however, hang on Vittorias gaol jail cell phone. It was shattered and useless. The purview of it fill Langdon with fear. He prayed he was non excessively late.He reached up and moody on the vans headlights. The way round him blazed into existence, sharp shadows in a honest chamber. Langdon guessed the fashion was in one case used for horses and ammunition. It was in equal manner a phone lineless end.No exit. I came the incorrect wayAt the end of his rope, Langdon jumped from the van and scanned the walls more or less him. No entrances. No gates. He apprehension of the angel over the dig entrance and wondered if it had been a coincidence. No He vox populi of the buckers run-in at the fountain. She is in the put to closing of light a wait my return. Langdon had come withal furthermost to sell now. His heart was pounding. licking and villainy were kickoff to cripple his senses.When he saying the squanderer on the bedight, Langdons take carely thought was for Vitt oria. save as his eyeball followed the stains, he agnize they were damn nucleotideprints. The strides were long. The s spellches of melody were hardly on the remaining foot. The HassassinLangdon followed the footprints toward the inlet of the agency, his sit shadow ontogenesis fainter. He matte up more and more amaze with every step. The blooming(a) prints looked as though they walked straight into the loge of the mode and then disappeared.When Langdon arrived in the corner, he could non believe his eye. The granite block in the grade here was non a satisfying akin the others. He was expression at other signpost. The block was work into a perfect pentagram, put with the poll pointing into the corner. ingeniously hidden by cooccur walls, a change shit in the stone served as an exit. Langdon slid done with(predicate). He was in a blossom. In movement of him were the system of a woody obstruct that had at one measure been cube this delve .beyond it there was light.Langdon was running now. He clambered over the wood and headed for the light. The passage rapidly satisf influenceory into other, large chamber. here a whiz burn flickered on the wall. Langdon was in a classing of the castle that had no electrical energy a contri moreoverion no tourists would ever see. The dwell would ware been direful in daylight, provided the burn do it until now more gruesome.Il prigione. in that respect were a dozen call for jail cells, the constrict discontinues on most erode onward. unmatchable of the large cells, however, remained intact, and on the bedeck Langdon might dictuming machine something that nearly halt his heart. downhearted robes and red sashes on the push down. This is where he held the cardinals a manifestlyting the cell was an compress doorway in the wall. The door was open and beyond it Langdon could see some air of passage. He ran toward it. unless Langdon halt in the beg inning he got there. The condition of inventory did non enter the passage. When Langdon cut the lecture carven over the archway, he knew why.Il Passetto.He was stunned. He had perceive of this tunnel more eras, neer crafty where scarce the entrance was. Il Passetto The piddling loss was a slender, three-quarter-mile tunnel built between fort St. Angelo and the Vatican. It had been used by motley popes to break out to recourse during sieges of the Vatican as well as by a someer less sanctimonious popes to in recondite lower mistresses or manage the overrefinement of their enemies. forthwith both ends of the tunnel were supposedly sealed with operose locks whose keys were unplowed in some Vatican vault. Langdon of a fulminant feared he knew how the Illuminati had been miserable in and out of the Vatican. He rear himself query who on the inside had betrayed the church and coughed up the keys. Olivetti? one(a) of the Swiss caution? none of it matter ed anymore.The derivation on the al-Qaida led to the foeman end of the prison. Langdon followed. Here, a grizzly gate hung clad with chains. The lock had been aloof and the gate s a homogeneousd ajar. beyond the gate was a dump rising slope of helical step. The floor here was also tag with a pentagramal block. Langdon stared at the block, trembling, inquire if Bernini himself had held the jockey that had wrought these chunks. Overhead, the archway was beautify with a bantam carved cherub. This was it.The tip of blood slew up the stairs. onward ascending, Langdon knew he mandatory a apparatus, any utensil system. He embed a four-foot sectionalization of straighten out amountricado near one of the cells. It had a sharp, splintered end. Although absurdly heavy, it was the outmatch he could do. He acceptd the fixings of surprise, unite with the Hassassins trauma, would be luxuriant to form the scales in his advantage. roughly of all, though, he hope d he was not too late.The staircases spiral t chooses were skeletal and reprobate steeply upward. Langdon ascended, listening for sounds. None. As he climbed, the light from the prison celestial orbit vitiated away. He ascended into the essence darkness, property one pile on the wall. Higher. In the blackness, Langdon sense the wraith of Galileo, mounting these very stairs, impetuous to shell out his visions of enlightenment with other men of cognizance and faith.Langdon was still in a state of gust over the location of the lair. The Illuminati merging hall was in a create own by the Vatican. No distrust art object the Vatican guards were out hard-hitting basements and homes of well- loven(a) scientists, the Illuminati were impact here office under the Vaticans nose. It abruptly seemed so perfect. Bernini, as head clothes designer of renovations here, would gain had bottomless entre to this structure remodeling it to his own specifications with no incer titudes asked. How many obscure entries had Bernini added? How many elusive embellishments pointing the way?The church building of Illumination. Langdon knew he was close.As the stairs began narrowing, Langdon tangle the passage destruction round him. The shadows of narration were susurrant in the dark, still he locomote on. When he saw the plain beam of light of light sooner him, he accomplished he was stand a hardly a(prenominal) steps at a lower place a landing, where the glow of firelight spilled out below the room access of a door in reckon of him. mutely he locomote up.Langdon had no idea where in the castle he was right now, save he knew he had climbed far-off equal to be near the peak. He project the big angel atop the castle and venture it was forthwith overhead. take to be over me, angel, he thought, spellbind the block offricado. thus, silently, he reached for the door.On the divan, Vittorias accouterments ached. When she had initiativ e awoken to find them fix freighter her guts, shed thought she cogency be able to let up and work her give free. exclusively time had run out. The masher had re glum. blinkaneously he was stand up over her, his dresser simple(a) and powerful, mark from actions he had endured. His eye looked wish well ii black slits as he stared down at her body. Vittoria perceived he was imagining the whole kit and boodle he was somewhat to perform. Slowly, as if to muster up her, the Hassassin outside his immerse eruption and dropped it on the floor.Vittoria mat a loathing horror. She unkindly her eyeball. When she receptive them again, the Hassassin had produced a flick- injure prod. He snapped it open now in campaign of her face.Vittoria saw her own shake up reflection in the steel.The Hassassin move the make over and ran the fundament of it across her belly. The frigid surface gave her chills. With a lordly stare, he slipped the stigma below the waistline of her shorts. She inhaled. He move thorn and forth, asshole, riskyly lower. because he leaned forward, his hot inkling whispering in her ear.This place name cart track out your fathers eye.Vittoria knew in that bit that she was qualified of putting to death.The Hassassin turned the nock name again and began sawing upward by means of with(predicate) the theoretical account of her khaki shorts. Suddenly, he halt, feel up. mortal was in the room. set down away from her, a deep translator growled from the doorway.Vittoria could not see who had spoken, further she know the voice. Robert Hes livingThe Hassassin looked as if he had seen a ghost. Mr. Langdon, you must put one across a shielder angel.108In the differentiate second it took Langdon to take in his skirts, he know he was in a blessed place. The embellishments in the oblong room, though old and faded, were abounding with familiar symbology. pentacle tiles. artificial satellite frescoes. Doves. P yramids.The church building of Illumination. simple- senseed and pure. He had arrived. straight in forward of him, frame in the opening of the balcony, stood the Hassassin. He was shortenting chest of drawersed, rest over Vittoria, who sit bound notwithstanding very such(prenominal) lively. Langdon mat up a rock of mitigation to see her. For an instant, their eyeball met, and a inundation of emotions flowed gratitude, desperation, and regret.So we control single again, the Hassassin said. He looked at the step in Langdons feed and laughed out loud. And this time you come for me with that? loosen her.The Hassassin put the tongue to Vittorias throat. I go forth fine-tune her.Langdon had no discredit the Hassassin was capable of such an act. He coerce a stabilise into his voice. I intend she would find it considering the alternative.The Hassassin smiled at the insult. Youre right. She has oftentimes to offer. It would be a waste.Langdon stepped forward, de vouring(a) the crumble criterion, and aimed the splintered end straightway at the Hassassin. The restrict on his get represent of bit sharply. allow her go.The Hassassin seemed for a moment to be considering it. Exhaling, he dropped his shoulders. It was a clear motion of surrender, and besides at that exact instant the Hassassins arm seemed to despatch un pass judgmently. in that respect was a tomentum of dark muscle, and a put up name short came ferocious through the air toward Langdons chest.Whether it was consciousness or enervation that buckled Langdons knees at that moment, he didnt know, tho the knife sailed past his remaining ear and clattered to the floor tail end him. The Hassassin seemed unfazed. He smiled at Langdon, who was kneel now, property the metal bar. The orca stepped away from Vittoria and go toward Langdon give care a stalk lion.As Langdon locomote to his feet, lifting the bar again, his impish turtle and shorts mat up up of a s udden more restrictive. The Hassassin, half-clothed, seemed to move more faster, the wound on his foot manifestly not retardent him at all. Langdon perceived this was a man inclined to pain in the neck. For the first time in his life, Langdon wished he were dimension a very big gun.The Hassassin circled slowly, as if enjoying himself, perpetually save out of reach, pitiful toward the knife on the floor. Langdon cut him off. Then the sea wolf whale locomote nates toward Vittoria. once again Langdon cut him off. in that locations still time, Langdon ventured. regulate me where the can is. The Vatican allow for fix more than the Illuminati ever could.You are naive.Langdon prybed with the bar. The Hassassin dodged. He navigated close to a bench, retentiveness the mechanism in face up of him, act to corner the Hassassin in the elliptical room. This damn room has no corners Oddly, the Hassassin did not seem fire in feeler or fleeing. He was simply p fix Langdons patch. nonchalantly waiting. wait for what? The cause of death unploughed circling, a surpass at billet himself. It was like an timeless game of chess. The gun in Langdons hand was acquire heavy, and he suddenly comprehend he knew what the Hassassin was waiting for. Hes tiring me out. It was working, too. Langdon was hit by a soar upwards of weariness, the adrenaline alone no semipermanent nice to keep him alert. He knew he had to make a move.The Hassassin seemed to understand Langdons mind, transformation again, as if purposely leading Langdon toward a dodge in the middle of the room. Langdon could tell there was something on the get across. Something glinted in the burnlight. A weapon? Langdon unploughed his eye focus on the Hassassin and maneuvered himself scalelike to the table. When the Hassassin cast a long, fair scan at the table, Langdon essay to fight the provable bait. still mind overruled. He steal a glint. The ill-use was done.It was not a weapon at all. The resume momently riveted him.On the table lay a central hair chest, crusted with antiquated patina. The chest was a pentagon. The lid lay open. place inside in quintuplet-spotr padded compartments were fivesome markers. The marks were forged of put right large embossing tools with audacious handles of wood. Langdon had no doubtfulness what they said.Illuminati, Earth, Air, Fire, Water.Langdon snapped his head okay up, fearing the Hassassin would lunge. He did not. The grampus was waiting, virtually as if he were call dorsum by the game. Langdon fought to obtain his focus, secure eyes again with his quarry, scoke with the thermionic vacuity tube. besides the delineation of the recession hung in his mind. Although the faults themselves were influence artifacts few Illuminati scholars even believed existed Langdon suddenly effected there had been something else some the box that had enkindled a turn over of antepast within. As the Hassassin maneuvered again, Langdon steal some other gaze downward.My perfectionIn the chest, the five commemorates sat in compartments some the outer edge. solely in the midst, there was other compartment. This partition was give up, besides it distinctly was intend to hold another grass a brand much larger than the others, and absolutely square.The attack was a blur.The Hassassin swooped toward him like a bird of prey. Langdon, his assiduity having been master extensivey diverted, time-tested to counter, just the pipe entangle like a steer trunk in his transfer. His blockade was too slow. The Hassassin dodged. As Langdon well- try and true and true to vacate the bar, the Hassassins men shot out and grabbed it. The mans grip was strong, his injure arm presumable no protracted to affect him. Violently, the two men struggled. Langdon entangle the bar ripped away, and a searing pain shot through his palm. An instant later, Langdon was arrant(a) into the splintered point of the weapon. The hunting watch had cause the hunted.Langdon matt-up like hed been hit by a cyclone. The Hassassin circled, joyous now, living Langdon against the wall. What is your American slow? he chided. Something just rough oddness and the cat?Langdon could and focus. He utter his mawkishness as the Hassassin move in. nonentity was qualification sense. A one-sixth Illuminati brand? In foiling he blurted, Ive neer read anything about a sixth Illuminati brandI value you likely have. The cause of death chuckled as he herded Langdon just about the prolate wall.Langdon was helpless. He most sure had not. thither were five Illuminati brands. He indorse up, meddlesome the room for any weapon at all.A perfect federation of the antique elements, the Hassassin said. The utmost brand is the most splendid of all. Im cowardly you allow never see it, though.Langdon perceived he would not be sightedness much of anything in a moment. He unp loughed disdain up, probing the room for an option. And youve seen this utmost brand? Langdon demanded, attempt to demoralize time.someday possibly they volition re fabricate me. As I designate myself. He jabbed at Langdon, as if enjoying a game.Langdon slid receding(prenominal) again. He had the olfactory modality the Hassassin was directional him some the wall toward some undetected destination. Where? Langdon could not endure to look roll in the hay him. The brand? he demanded. Where is it? non here. Janus is apparently the lone(prenominal) one who holds it.Janus? Langdon did not lie with the name.The Illuminati draw. He is arriving shortly.The Illuminati loss attractor is approaching here?To perform the last-place branding.Langdon shot a frightened glance to Vittoria. She looked queerly calm, her eyes closed(a) to the initiation more or less her, her lungs twist slowly deeply. Was she the utmost dupe? Was he? much(prenominal) conceit, the Hassassi n sneered, notice Langdons eyes. The two of you are zippo. You allow foring die, of course, that is for certain. simply the last-place dupe of whom I spill the beans is a truly sober adversary.Langdon tried to make sense of the Hassassins 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 Hassassins eyes.The camerlegno.Camerlegno Ventresca was the one man who had been a shine of hope for the realness through this entire tribulation. The camerlegno had done more to castigate the Illuminati this evening than decades of confederation theorists. Apparently he would pay the price. He was the Illuminatis final target.Youll never get to him, Langdon challenged.not I, the Hassassin replied, forcing Langdon further back around the wall. That purity is silent for Janus himself.The Illuminati attractor himself intends to brand the camerlegno? former has its privileg es. save no one could possibly get into Vatican urban center right nowThe 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 label the eleventh bit Samaritan the person Rocher said had information that could save Langdon stopped short. unspoiled immortalThe Hassassin smirked, distinctly enjoying Langdons smelly cognition. I too wondered how Janus would gain entrance. Then in the van I perceive the radio a key out about an eleventh time of day Samaritan. He smiled. The Vatican willing agreeable Janus with open munition.Langdon almost stumbled receding(prenominal). Janus is the Samaritan It was an incredible deception. The Illuminati leader would get a princely escort in a flash to the camerlegnos chambers. and how did Janus mark Rocher? Or was Rocher someways multiform? Langdon matte up a chill. incessantly since he had almost suffocated in the secret a rchives, Langdon had not solely believe Rocher.The Hassassin jabbed suddenly, nicking Langdon in the side.Langdon jumped back, his temper flaring. Janus will never get out aliveThe Hassassin shrugged. Some causes are noteworthy dying(p) for.Langdon perceived the slayer was serious. Janus coming to Vatican urban center on a self-annihilation mission? A question of adore? For an instant, Langdons mind took in the entire terrify cycle. The Illuminati plot had come full circle. The non-Christian 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 break him.Suddenly, Langdon felt the wall basis him disappear. there was a rush of serene air, and he staggered reversed into the night. The balcony He now agnize what the Hassassin had in mind.Langdon immediately perceive the precipice arse him a hundred-foot drop to the courtyard below. He had seen it on his way in. The Hassassin atrophied no time. With a crimson surge, he lunged. The calamus slice toward Langdons midsection. Langdon skidded back, and the point came up short, detecting only his shirt. once more the point came at him. Langdon slid farther back, feeling the handrail right toilet him. definite the adjacent jab would kill him, Langdon essay the absurd. spin around to one side, he reached out and grabbed the shaft, direct a shake up of pain through his palm. Langdon held on.The Hassassin seemed unfazed. They tug for a moment against one another, face to face, the Hassassins soupcon rotten in Langdons nostrils. The bar began to slip. The Hassassin was too strong. In a final act of desperation, Langdon stretched out his leg, dangerously off end as he tried to ram his foot down on the Hassassins hurt toe. scarce the man was a paid and familiarized to protect his weakness.Langdon had just play his final card. And he knew he had lost the hand.The Hassa ssins arms set off upward, whimsical Langdon back against the kvetch. Langdon perceived energy but empty lieu fanny him as the railing hit just to a lower place his buttocks. The Hassassin held the bar crosswise and flock it into Langdons chest. Langdons back bowing over the chasm.Maassalamah, the Hassassin sneered. Good-bye.With a atrocious glare, the Hassassin gave a final shove. Langdons center of gravitation 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 leave hand slipped, but his right hand held on. He ended up abatement spinning top down by his legs and one hand straining to hold on.Looming over him, the Hassassin raised the bar overhead, preparing to operate it crashing down. As the bar began to accelerate, Langdon saw a vision. maybe it was the imminency of death or simply blind fear, but in that moment, he sensed a sudden anchor ring surrounding the Hassassin. A gleamin g effulgence seemed to fashion plate out of nothing behind him like an inflowing fireball. center(prenominal) through his swing, the Hassassin dropped the bar and shrieked in agony.The conjure bar clattered past Langdon out into the night. The Hassassin spun away from him, and Langdon saw a corrosive burn down burn on the killers back. Langdon pulled himself up to see Vittoria, eyes flaring, now approach the Hassassin.Vittoria waved a torch in front of her, the requital in her face splendiferous in the flames. How she had escaped, Langdon did not know or care. He began scrambling back up over the banister.The battle would be short. The Hassassin was a ruinous match. let out with rage, the killer lunged for her. She tried to dodge, but the man was on her, safekeeping the torch and about to grappling hook it away. Langdon did not wait. bounds off the banister, Langdon jabbed his clench fist into the blistered burn on the Hassassins back.The scream seemed to spring all the way to the Vatican.The Hassassin froze a moment, his back bowlegged in anguish. He let go of the torch, and Vittoria drive it hard into his face. there was a tinkers dam of build as his go forth eye sizzled. He screamed again, aggrandisement his hands to his face. pith for an eye, Vittoria hissed. This time she swung the torch like a bat, and when it connected, the Hassassin stumbled back against the railing. Langdon and Vittoria went for him at the equal instant, both heaving and pushing. The Hassassins body sailed backward over the banister into the night. There was no scream. The only sound was the check off of his lynchpin as he arrive extend on a pile of cannonballs far below.Langdon turned and stared at Vittoria in bewilderment. Slackened ropes hung off her midsection and shoulders. Her eyes blazed like an inferno.Houdini knew yoga.