r¡¡the¡¡helipad¡£¡¡The¡¡cart¡¡whisked¡¡them¡¡silently¡¡alongside¡¡the¡¡country's¡¡western¡¡border¡a¡¡fifty¡foot¡tall¡¡cement¡¡bulwark¡¡thick¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡ward¡¡off¡¡attacks¡¡even¡¡by¡¡tanks¡£¡¡Lining¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡posted¡¡at¡¡fifty¡meter¡¡intervals£»¡¡Swiss¡¡Guards¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡attention£»¡¡surveying¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grounds¡£¡¡The¡¡cart¡¡turned¡¡sharply¡¡right¡¡onto¡¡Via¡¡della¡¡Osservatorio¡£¡¡Signs¡¡pointed¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions£º¡¡
¡¡
¡¡PALAZZIO¡¡GOVERNATORIO¡¡COLLEGIO¡¡ETHIOPIANA¡¡BASILICA¡¡SAN¡¡PIETRO¡¡CAPELLA¡¡SISTINA¡¡
¡¡
¡¡They¡¡accelerated¡¡up¡¡the¡¡manicured¡¡road¡¡past¡¡a¡¡squat¡¡building¡¡marked¡¡RADIO¡¡VATICANA¡£¡¡This£»¡¡Langdon¡¡realized¡¡to¡¡his¡¡amazement£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡hub¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world's¡¡most¡¡listened¡to¡¡radio¡¡programming¡Radio¡¡Vaticana¡spreading¡¡the¡¡word¡¡of¡¡God¡¡to¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡listeners¡¡around¡¡the¡¡globe¡£
¡¡¡¨Attenzione£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡pilot¡¡said£»¡¡turning¡¡sharply¡¡into¡¡a¡¡rotary¡£
¡¡As¡¡the¡¡cart¡¡wound¡¡round£»¡¡Langdon¡¡could¡¡barely¡¡believe¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡now¡¡ing¡¡into¡¡view¡£¡¡Giardini¡¡Vaticani£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡£¡¡The¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡Vatican¡¡City¡£¡¡Directly¡¡ahead¡¡rose¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Peter's¡¡Basilica£»¡¡a¡¡view£»¡¡Langdon¡¡realized£»¡¡most¡¡people¡¡never¡¡saw¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡right¡¡loomed¡¡the¡¡Palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tribunal£»¡¡the¡¡lush¡¡papal¡¡residence¡¡rivaled¡¡only¡¡by¡¡Versailles¡¡in¡¡its¡¡baroque¡¡embellishment¡£¡¡The¡¡severe¡looking¡¡Governatorato¡¡building¡¡was¡¡now¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡housing¡¡Vatican¡¡City's¡¡administration¡£¡¡And¡¡up¡¡ahead¡¡on¡¡the¡¡left£»¡¡the¡¡massive¡¡rectangular¡¡edifice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Vatican¡¡Museum¡£¡¡Langdon¡¡knew¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡a¡¡museum¡¡visit¡¡this¡¡trip¡£
¡¡¡¨Where¡¡is¡¡everyone£¿¡¨¡¡Vittoria¡¡asked£»¡¡surveying¡¡the¡¡deserted¡¡lawns¡¡and¡¡walkways¡£
¡¡The¡¡guard¡¡checked¡¡his¡¡black£»¡¡military¡style¡¡chronograph¡an¡¡odd¡¡anachronism¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡puffy¡¡sleeve¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡cardinals¡¡are¡¡convened¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Sistine¡¡Chapel¡£¡¡Conclave¡¡begins¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡under¡¡an¡¡hour¡£¡¨
¡¡Langdon¡¡nodded£»¡¡vaguely¡¡recalling¡¡that¡¡before¡¡conclave¡¡the¡¡cardinals¡¡spent¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡Sistine¡¡Chapel¡¡in¡¡quiet¡¡reflection¡¡and¡¡visitations¡¡with¡¡their¡¡fellow¡¡cardinals¡¡from¡¡around¡¡the¡¡globe¡£¡¡The¡¡time¡¡was¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡renew¡¡old¡¡friendships¡¡among¡¡the¡¡cardinals¡¡and¡¡facilitate¡¡a¡¡less¡¡heated¡¡election¡¡process¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡residents¡¡and¡¡staff£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Banned¡¡from¡¡the¡¡city¡¡for¡¡secrecy¡¡and¡¡security¡¡until¡¡the¡¡conclave¡¡concludes¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨And¡¡when¡¡does¡¡it¡¡conclude£¿¡¨
¡¡The¡¡guard¡¡shrugged¡£¡¡¡¨God¡¡only¡¡knows¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡words¡¡sounded¡¡oddly¡¡literal¡£¡¡
¡¡
¡¡After¡¡parking¡¡the¡¡cart¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡lawn¡¡directly¡¡behind¡¡St¡£¡¡Peter's¡¡Basilica£»¡¡the¡¡guard¡¡escorted¡¡Langdon¡¡and¡¡Vittoria¡¡up¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡escarpment¡¡to¡¡a¡¡marble¡¡plaza¡¡off¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡basilica¡£¡¡Crossing¡¡the¡¡plaza£»¡¡they¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡basilica¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡it¡¡through¡¡a¡¡triangular¡¡courtyard£»¡¡across¡¡Via¡¡Belvedere£»¡¡and¡¡into¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡buildings¡¡closely¡¡huddled¡¡together¡£¡¡Langdon's¡¡art¡¡history¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡him¡¡enough¡¡Italian¡¡to¡¡pick¡¡out¡¡signs¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Vatican¡¡Printing¡¡Office£»¡¡the¡¡Tapestry¡¡Restoration¡¡Lab£»¡¡Post¡¡Office¡¡Management£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Church¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Ann¡£¡¡They¡¡crossed¡¡another¡¡small¡¡square¡¡and¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡their¡¡destination¡£¡¡
¡¡The¡¡Office¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Swiss¡¡Guard¡¡is¡¡housed¡¡adjacent¡¡to¡¡Il¡¡Corpo¡¡di¡¡Vigilanza£»¡¡directly¡¡northeast¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Peter's¡¡Basilica¡£¡¡The¡¡office¡¡is¡¡a¡¡squat£»¡¡stone¡¡building¡£¡¡On¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡entrance£»¡¡like¡¡two¡¡stone¡¡statues£»¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡guards¡£
¡¡Langdon¡¡had¡¡to¡¡admit£»¡¡these¡¡guards¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡quite¡¡so¡¡ical¡£¡¡Although¡¡they¡¡also¡¡wore¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡and¡¡gold¡¡uniform£»¡¡each¡¡wielded¡¡the¡¡traditional¡¡¡¨Vatican¡¡long¡¡sword¡¨¡an¡¡eight¡foot¡¡spear¡¡with¡¡a¡¡razor¡sharp¡¡scythe¡rumored¡¡to¡¡have¡¡decapitated¡¡countless¡¡Muslims¡¡while¡¡defending¡¡the¡¡Christian¡¡crusaders¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fifteenth¡¡century¡£
¡¡As¡¡Langdon¡¡and¡¡Vittoria¡¡approached£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡guards¡¡stepped¡¡forward£»¡¡crossing¡¡their¡¡long¡¡swords£»¡¡blocking¡¡the¡¡entrance¡£¡¡One¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pilot¡¡in¡¡confusion¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡pantaloni£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡motioning¡¡to¡¡Vittoria's¡¡shorts¡£
¡¡The¡¡pilot¡¡waved¡¡them¡¡off¡£¡¡¡¨Il¡¡andante¡¡vuole¡¡vederli¡¡subito¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡The¡¡guards¡¡frowned¡£¡¡Reluctantly¡¡they¡¡stepped¡¡aside¡£
¡¡
¡¡Inside£»¡¡the¡¡air¡¡was¡¡cool¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡nothing¡¡like¡¡the¡¡administrative¡¡security¡¡offices¡¡Langdon¡¡would¡¡have¡¡imagined¡£¡¡Ornate¡¡and¡¡impeccably¡¡furnished£»¡¡the¡¡hallways¡¡contained¡¡paintings¡¡Langdon¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡any¡¡museum¡¡worldwide¡¡would¡¡gladly¡¡have¡¡featured¡¡in¡¡its¡¡main¡¡gallery¡£
¡¡The¡¡pilot¡¡pointed¡¡down¡¡a¡¡steep¡¡set¡¡of¡¡stairs¡£¡¡¡¨Down£»¡¡please¡£¡¨
¡¡Langdon¡¡and¡¡Vittoria¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡white¡¡marble¡¡treads¡¡as¡¡they¡¡descended¡¡between¡¡a¡¡gauntlet¡¡of¡¡nude¡¡male¡¡sculptures¡£¡¡Each¡¡statue¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡fig¡¡leaf¡¡that¡¡was¡¡lighter¡¡in¡¡color¡¡than¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡body¡£¡¡
¡¡The¡¡Great¡¡Castration£»¡¡Langdon¡¡thought¡£
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡horrific¡¡tragedies¡¡in¡¡Renaissance¡¡art¡£¡¡In¡¡1857£»¡¡Pope¡¡Pius¡¡IX¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡the¡¡accurate¡¡representation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡male¡¡form¡¡might¡¡incite¡¡lust¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡Vatican¡£¡¡So¡¡he¡¡got¡¡a¡¡chisel¡¡and¡¡mallet¡¡and¡¡hacked¡¡off¡¡the¡¡genitalia¡¡of¡¡every¡¡single¡¡male¡¡statue¡¡inside¡¡Vatican¡¡City¡£¡¡He¡¡defaced¡¡works¡¡by¡¡Michelangelo£»¡¡Bramante£»¡¡and¡¡Bernini¡£¡¡Plaster¡¡fig¡¡leaves¡¡were¡¡used¡¡to¡¡patch¡¡the¡¡damage¡£¡¡Hundreds¡¡of¡¡sculptures¡¡had¡¡been¡¡emasculated¡£¡¡Langdon¡¡had¡¡often¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡crate¡¡of¡¡stone¡¡penises¡¡someplace¡£
¡¡¡¨Here£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡guard¡¡announced¡£
¡¡They¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡and¡¡dead¡ended¡¡at¡¡a¡¡heavy£»¡¡steel¡¡door¡£¡¡The¡¡guard¡¡typed¡¡an¡¡entry¡¡code£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡door¡¡slid¡¡open¡£¡¡Langdon¡¡and¡¡Vittoria¡¡entered¡£¡¡
¡¡Beyond¡¡the¡¡threshold¡¡was¡¡absolute¡¡mayhem¡£
¡¡
¡¡36
¡¡The¡¡Office¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Swiss¡¡Guard¡£
¡¡Langdon¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway£»¡¡surveying¡¡the¡¡collision¡¡of¡¡centuries¡¡before¡¡them¡£¡¡Mixed¡¡media¡£¡¡The¡¡room¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lushly¡¡adorned¡¡Renaissance¡¡library¡¡plete¡¡with¡¡inlaid¡¡bookshelves£»¡¡oriental¡¡carpets£»¡¡and¡¡colorful¡¡tapestries¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡room¡¡bristled¡¡with¡¡high¡tech¡¡gear¡banks¡¡of¡¡puters£»¡¡faxes£»¡¡electronic¡¡maps¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Vatican¡¡plex£»¡¡and¡¡televisions¡¡tuned¡¡to¡¡CNN¡£¡¡Men¡¡in¡¡colorful¡¡pantaloons¡¡typed¡¡feverishly¡¡on¡¡puters¡¡and¡¡listened¡¡intently¡¡in¡¡futuristic¡¡headphones¡£
¡¡¡¨Wait¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡guard¡¡said¡£
¡¡Langdon¡¡and¡¡Vittoria¡¡waited¡¡as¡¡the¡¡guard¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡room¡¡to¡¡an¡¡exceptionally¡¡tall£»¡¡wiry¡¡man¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡blue¡¡military¡¡uniform¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡talking¡¡on¡¡a¡¡cellular¡¡phone¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡so¡¡straight¡¡he¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡bent¡¡backward¡£¡¡The¡¡guard¡¡said¡¡something¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡man¡¡shot¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡over¡¡at¡¡Langdon¡¡and¡¡Vittoria¡£¡¡He¡¡nodded£»¡¡then¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡back¡¡on¡¡them¡¡and¡¡continued¡¡his¡¡phone¡¡call¡£
¡¡The¡¡guard¡¡returned¡£¡¡¡¨mander¡¡Olivetti¡¡will¡¡be¡¡with¡¡you¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡guard¡¡left¡¡and¡¡headed¡¡back¡¡up¡¡the¡¡stairs¡£¡¡
¡¡Langdon¡¡studied¡¡mander¡¡Olivetti¡¡across¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡realizing¡¡he¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡the¡¡mander¡¡in¡¡Chief¡¡of¡¡the¡¡armed¡¡forces¡¡of¡¡an¡¡entire¡¡country¡£¡¡Vittoria¡¡and¡¡Langdon¡¡waited£»¡¡observing¡¡the¡¡action¡¡before¡¡them¡£¡¡Brightly¡¡dressed¡¡guards¡¡bustled¡¡about¡¡yelling¡¡orders¡¡in¡¡Italian¡£
¡¡¡¨Continua¡¡cercando£¡¡¨¡¡one¡¡yelled¡¡into¡¡a¡¡telephone¡£
¡¡¡¨Probasti¡¡il¡¡museo£¿¡¨another¡¡asked¡£
¡¡Langdon¡¡did¡¡not¡¡need¡¡fluent¡¡Italian¡¡to¡¡discern¡¡that¡¡the¡¡security¡¡center¡¡was¡¡currently¡¡in¡¡intense¡¡search¡¡mode¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡good¡¡news¡£¡¡The¡¡bad¡¡news¡¡was¡¡that¡¡they¡¡obviously¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡found¡¡the¡¡antimatter¡£
¡¡¡¨You¡¡okay£¿¡¨¡¡Langdon¡¡asked¡¡Vittoria¡£
¡¡She¡¡shrugged£»¡¡offering¡¡a¡¡tired¡¡smile¡£
¡¡When¡¡the¡¡mander¡¡finally¡¡clicked¡¡off¡¡his¡¡phone¡¡and¡¡approached¡¡across¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡with¡¡each¡¡step¡£¡¡Langdon¡¡was¡¡tall¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡not¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡looking¡¡up¡¡at¡¡many¡¡people£»¡¡but¡¡mander¡¡Olivetti¡¡demanded¡¡it¡£¡¡Langdon¡¡sensed¡¡immediately¡¡that¡¡the¡¡mander¡¡was¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡weathered¡¡tempests£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡hale¡¡and¡¡steeled¡£¡¡His¡¡dark¡¡hair¡¡was¡¡cropped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡military¡¡buzz¡¡cut£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡burned¡¡with¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡hardened¡¡determination¡¡only¡¡attainable¡¡through¡¡years¡¡of¡¡intense¡¡training¡£¡¡He¡¡moved¡¡with¡¡ramrod¡¡exactness£»¡¡the¡¡earpiece¡¡hidden¡¡discreetly¡¡behind¡¡one¡¡ear¡¡making¡¡him¡¡look¡¡more¡¡like¡¡U¡£S¡£¡¡Secret¡¡Service¡¡than¡¡Swiss¡¡Guard¡£
¡¡The¡¡mander¡¡addressed¡¡them¡¡in¡¡accented¡¡English¡£¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡startlingly¡¡quiet¡¡for¡¡such¡¡a¡¡large¡¡man£»¡¡barely¡¡a¡¡whisper¡£¡¡It¡¡bit¡¡with¡¡a¡¡tight£»¡¡military¡¡efficiency¡£¡¡¡¨Good¡¡afternoon£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡mander¡¡Olivetti¡andante¡¡Principale¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Swiss¡¡Guard¡£¡¡I'm¡¡the¡¡one¡¡who¡¡called¡¡your¡¡director¡£¡¨
¡¡Vittoria¡¡gazed¡¡upward¡£¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡seeing¡¡us£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡mander¡¡did¡¡not¡¡respond¡£¡¡He¡¡motioned¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡and¡¡led¡¡them¡¡through¡¡the¡¡tangle¡¡of¡¡electronics¡¡to¡¡a¡¡door¡¡in¡¡the¡¡side¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chamber¡£¡¡¡¨Enter£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡door¡¡for¡¡them¡£
¡¡Langdon¡¡and¡¡Vittoria¡¡walked¡¡through¡¡and¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡a¡¡darkened¡¡control¡¡room¡¡where¡¡a¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡video¡¡monitors¡¡was¡¡cycling¡¡lazily¡¡through¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡black¡and¡white¡¡images¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plex¡£¡¡A¡¡young¡¡guard¡¡sat¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡images¡¡intently¡£