danbrown.angels&demons- 第7节

　
　〃Since　the　beginning　of　history；〃　Langdon　explained；　〃a　deep　rift　has　existed　between　science　and　religion。　Outspoken　scientists　like　Copernicus…〃
　〃Were　murdered；〃　Kohler　interjected。　〃Murdered　by　the　church　for　revealing　scientific　truths。　Religion　has　always　persecuted　science。〃
　〃Yes。　But　in　the　1500s；　a　group　of　men　in　Rome　fought　back　against　the　church。　Some　of　Italy's　most　enlightened　men…physicists；　mathematicians；　astronomers…began　meeting　secretly　to　share　their　concerns　about　the　church's　inaccurate　teachings。　They　feared　that　the　church's　monopoly　on　'truth'　threatened　academic　enlightenment　around　the　world。　They　founded　the　world's　first　scientific　think　tank；　calling　themselves　'the　enlightened　ones。'　〃
　〃The　Illuminati。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Europe's　most　learned　minds　。　。　。　dedicated　to　the　quest　for　scientific　truth。〃
　Kohler　fell　silent。　
　〃Of　course；　the　Illuminati　were　hunted　ruthlessly　by　the　Catholic　Church。　Only　through　rites　of　extreme　secrecy　did　the　scientists　remain　safe。　Word　spread　through　the　academic　underground；　and　the　Illuminati　brotherhood　grew　to　include　academics　from　all　over　Europe。　The　scientists　met　regularly　in　Rome　at　an　ultrasecret　lair　they　called　the　Church　of　Illumination。〃
　Kohler　coughed　and　shifted　in　his　chair。
　〃Many　of　the　Illuminati；〃　Langdon　continued；　〃wanted　to　bat　the　church's　tyranny　with　acts　of　violence；　but　their　most　revered　member　persuaded　them　against　it。　He　was　a　pacifist；　as　well　as　one　of　history's　most　famous　scientists。〃　
　Langdon　was　certain　Kohler　would　recognize　the　name。　Even　nonscientists　were　familiar　with　the　ill…fated　astronomer　who　had　been　arrested　and　almost　executed　by　the　church　for　proclaiming　that　the　sun；　and　not　the　earth；　was　the　center　of　the　solar　system。　Although　his　data　were　incontrovertible；　the　astronomer　was　severely　punished　for　implying　that　God　had　placed　mankind　somewhere　other　than　at　the　center　of　His　universe。　
　〃His　name　was　Galileo　Galilei；〃　Langdon　said。
　Kohler　looked　up。　〃Galileo？〃
　〃Yes。　Galileo　was　an　Illuminatus。　And　he　was　also　a　devout　Catholic。　He　tried　to　soften　the　church's　position　on　science　by　proclaiming　that　science　did　not　undermine　the　existence　of　God；　but　rather　reinforced　it。　He　wrote　once　that　when　he　looked　through　his　telescope　at　the　spinning　planets；　he　could　hear　God's　voice　in　the　music　of　the　spheres。　He　held　that　science　and　religion　were　not　enemies；　but　rather　allies…two　different　languages　telling　the　same　story；　a　story　of　symmetry　and　balance　。　。　。　heaven　and　hell；　night　and　day；　hot　and　cold；　God　and　Satan。　Both　science　and　religion　rejoiced　in　God's　symmetry　。　。　。　the　endless　contest　of　light　and　dark。〃　Langdon　paused；　stamping　his　feet　to　stay　warm。　
　Kohler　simply　sat　in　his　wheelchair　and　stared。
　〃Unfortunately；〃　Langdon　added；　〃the　unification　of　science　and　religion　was　not　what　the　church　wanted。〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　Kohler　interrupted。　〃The　union　would　have　nullified　the　church's　claim　as　the　sole　vessel　through　which　man　could　understand　God。　So　the　church　tried　Galileo　as　a　heretic；　found　him　guilty；　and　put　him　under　permanent　house　arrest。　I　am　quite　aware　of　scientific　history；　Mr。　Langdon。　But　this　was　all　centuries　ago。　What　does　it　have　to　do　with　Leonardo　Vetra？〃　
　The　million　dollar　question。　Langdon　cut　to　the　chase。　〃Galileo's　arrest　threw　the　Illuminati　into　upheaval。　Mistakes　were　made；　and　the　church　discovered　the　identities　of　four　members；　whom　they　captured　and　interrogated。　But　the　four　scientists　revealed　nothing　。　。　。　even　under　torture。〃
　〃Torture？〃
　Langdon　nodded。　〃They　were　branded　alive。　On　the　chest。　With　the　symbol　of　a　cross。〃
　Kohler's　eyes　widened；　and　he　shot　an　uneasy　glance　at　Vetra's　body。
　〃Then　the　scientists　were　brutally　murdered；　their　dead　bodies　dropped　in　the　streets　of　Rome　as　a　warning　to　others　thinking　of　joining　the　Illuminati。　With　the　church　closing　in；　the　remaining　Illuminati　fled　Italy。〃　
　Langdon　paused　to　make　his　point。　He　looked　directly　into　Kohler's　dead　eyes。　〃The　Illuminati　went　deep　underground；　where　they　began　mixing　with　other　refugee　groups　fleeing　the　Catholic　purges…mystics；　alchemists；　occultists；　Muslims；　Jews。　Over　the　years；　the　Illuminati　began　absorbing　new　members。　A　new　Illuminati　emerged。　A　darker　Illuminati。　A　deeply　anti…Christian　Illuminati。　They　grew　very　powerful；　employing　mysterious　rites；　deadly　secrecy；　vowing　someday　to　rise　again　and　take　revenge　on　the　Catholic　Church。　Their　power　grew　to　the　point　where　the　church　considered　them　the　single　most　dangerous　anti…Christian　force　on　earth。　The　Vatican　denounced　the　brotherhood　as　Shaitan。〃
　〃Shaitan？〃　
　〃It's　Islamic。　It　means　'adversary'　。　。　。　God's　adversary。　The　church　chose　Islam　for　the　name　because　it　was　a　language　they　considered　dirty。〃　Langdon　hesitated。　〃Shaitan　is　the　root　of　an　English　word　。　。　。Satan。〃　
　An　uneasiness　crossed　Kohler's　face。
　Langdon's　voice　was　grim。　〃Mr。　Kohler；　I　do　not　know　how　this　marking　appeared　on　this　man's　chest　。　。　。　or　why　。　。　。　but　you　are　looking　at　the　long…lost　symbol　of　the　world's　oldest　and　most　powerful　satanic　cult。〃
　
　10

　The　alley　was　narrow　and　deserted。　The　Hassassin　strode　quickly　now；　his　black　eyes　filling　with　anticipation。　As　he　approached　his　destination；　Janus's　parting　words　echoed　in　his　mind。　Phase　two　begins　shortly。　Get　some　rest。　
　The　Hassassin　smirked。　He　had　been　awake　all　night；　but　sleep　was　the　last　thing　on　his　mind。　Sleep　was　for　the　weak。　He　was　a　warrior　like　his　ancestors　before　him；　and　his　people　never　slept　once　a　battle　had　begun。　This　battle　had　most　definitely　begun；　and　he　had　been　given　the　honor　of　spilling　first　blood。　Now　he　had　two　hours　to　celebrate　his　glory　before　going　back　to　work。
　Sleep？　There　are　far　better　ways　to　relax　。　。　。　
　An　appetite　for　hedonistic　pleasure　was　something　bred　into　him　by　his　ancestors。　His　ascendants　had　indulged　in　hashish；　but　he　preferred　a　different　kind　of　gratification。　He　took　pride　in　his　body…a　well…tuned；　lethal　machine；　which；　despite　his　heritage；　he　refused　to　pollute　with　narcotics。　He　had　developed　a　more　nourishing　addiction　than　drugs　。　。　。　a　far　more　healthy　and　satisfying　reward。　
　Feeling　a　familiar　anticipation　swelling　within　him；　the　Hassassin　moved　faster　down　the　alley。　He　arrived　at　the　nondescript　door　and　rang　the　bell。　A　view　slit　in　the　door　opened；　and　two　soft　brown　eyes　studied　him　appraisingly。　Then　the　door　swung　open。
　〃Wele；〃　the　well…dressed　woman　said。　She　ushered　him　into　an　impeccably　furnished　sitting　room　where　the　lights　were　low。　The　air　was　laced　with　expensive　perfume　and　musk。　〃Whenever　you　are　ready。〃　She　handed　him　a　book　of　photographs。　〃Ring　me　when　you　have　made　your　choice。〃　Then　she　disappeared。
　The　Hassassin　smiled。　
　As　he　sat　on　the　plush　divan　and　positioned　the　photo　album　on　his　lap；　he　felt　a　carnal　hunger　stir。　Although　his　people　did　not　celebrate　Christmas；　he　imagined　that　this　is　what　it　must　feel　like　to　be　a　Christian　child；　sitting　before　a　stack　of　Christmas　presents；　about　to　discover　the　miracles　inside。　He　opened　the　album　and　examined　the　photos。　A　lifetime　of　sexual　fantasies　stared　back　at　him。
　Marisa。　An　Italian　goddess。　Fiery。　A　young　Sophia　Loren。
　Sachiko。　A　Japanese　geisha。　Lithe。　No　doubt　skilled。
　Kanara。　A　stunning　black　vision。　Muscular。　Exotic。
　He　examined　the　entire　album　twice　and　made　his　choice。　He　pressed　a　button　on　the　table　beside　him。　A　minute　later　the　woman　who　had　greeted　him　reappeared。　He　indicated　his　selection。　She　smiled。　〃Follow　me。〃
　After　handling　the　financial　arrangements；　the　woman　made　a　hushed　phone　call。　She　waited　a　few　minutes　and　then　led　him　up　a　winding　marble　staircase　to　a　luxurious　hallway。　〃It's　the　gold　door　on　the　end；〃　she　said。　〃You　have　expensive　taste。〃
　I　should；　he　thought。　I　am　a　connoisseur。　
　The　Hassassin　padded　the　length　of　the　hallway　like　a　panther　anticipating　a　long　overdue　meal。　When　he　reached　the　doorway　he　smiled　to　himself。　It　was　already　ajar　。　。　。　weling　him　in。　He　pushed；　and　the　door　swung　noiselessly　open。
　When　he　saw　his　selection；　he　knew　he　had　chosen　well。　She　was　exactly　as　he　h