had this been done。 Then again； Chartrand realized； never before in history had the Vatican been sitting on what amounted to some sort of neoteric nuclear warhead。
Chartrand felt forted to know the camerlegno was taking control。 The camerlegno was the person inside Vatican City for whom Chartrand held the most respect。 Some of the guards thought of the camerlegno as a beato…a religious zealot whose love of God bordered on obsession…but even they agreed 。 。 。 when it came to fighting the enemies of God； the camerlegno was the one man who would stand up and play hardball。
The Swiss Guards had seen a lot of the camerlegno this week in preparation for conclave； and everyone had mented that the man seemed a bit rough around the edges； his verdant eyes a bit more intense than usual。 Not surprisingly； they had all mented； not only was the camerlegno responsible for planning the sacred conclave； but he had to do it immediately on the heels of the loss of his mentor； the Pope。
Chartrand had only been at the Vatican a few months when he heard the story of the bomb that blew up the camerlegno's mother before the kid's very eyes。 A bomb in church 。 。 。 and now it's happening all over again。 Sadly； the authorities never caught the bastards who planted the bomb 。 。 。 probably some anti…Christian hate group they said； and the case faded away。 No wonder the camerlegno despised apathy。
A couple months back； on a peaceful afternoon inside Vatican City； Chartrand had bumped into the camerlegno ing across the grounds。 The camerlegno had apparently recognized Chartrand as a new guard and invited him to acpany him on a stroll。 They had talked about nothing in particular； and the camerlegno made Chartrand feel immediately at home。
〃Father；〃 Chartrand said； 〃may I ask you a strange question？〃
The camerlegno smiled。 〃Only if I may give you a strange answer。〃
Chartrand laughed。 〃I have asked every priest I know； and I still don't understand。〃
〃What troubles you？〃 The camerlegno led the way in short； quick strides； his frock kicking out in front of him as he walked。 His black； crepe…sole shoess seemed befitting； Chartrand thought； like reflections of the man's essence 。 。 。 modern but humble； and showing signs of wear。
Chartrand took a deep breath。 〃I don't understand this omnipotent…benevolent thing。〃
The camerlegno smiled。 〃You've been reading Scripture。〃
〃I try。〃
〃You are confused because the Bible describes God as an omnipotent and benevolent deity。〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃Omnipotent…benevolent simply means that God is all…powerful and well…meaning。〃
〃I understand the concept。 It's just 。 。 。 there seems to be a contradiction。〃
〃Yes。 The contradiction is pain。 Man's starvation； war； sickness 。 。 。〃
〃Exactly！〃 Chartrand knew the camerlegno would understand。 〃Terrible things happen in this world。 Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all…powerful and well…meaning。 If He loves us and has the power to change our situation； He would prevent our pain； wouldn't He？〃
The camerlegno frowned。 〃Would He？〃
Chartrand felt uneasy。 Had he overstepped his bounds？ Was this one of those religious questions you just didn't ask？ 〃Well 。 。 。 if God loves us； and He can protect us； He would have to。 It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring； or benevolent and powerless to help。〃
〃Do you have children； Lieutenant？〃
Chartrand flushed。 〃No； signore。〃
〃Imagine you had an eight…year…old son 。 。 。 would you love him？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Would you do everything in your power to prevent pain in his life？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Would you let him skateboard？〃
Chartrand did a double take。 The camerlegno always seemed oddly 〃in touch〃 for a clergyman。 〃Yeah； I guess；〃 Chartrand said。 〃Sure； I'd let him skateboard； but I'd tell him to be careful。〃
〃So as this child's father； you would give him some basic； good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes？〃
〃I wouldn't run behind him and mollycoddle him if that's what you mean。〃
〃But what if he fell and skinned his knee？〃
〃He would learn to be more careful。〃
The camerlegno smiled。 〃So although you have the power to interfere and prevent your child's pain； you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons？〃
〃Of course。 Pain is part of growing up。 It's how we learn。〃
The camerlegno nodded。 〃Exactly。〃
90
Langdon and Vittoria observed Piazza Barberini from the shadows of a small alleyway on the western corner。 The church was opposite them； a hazy cupola emerging from a faint cluster of buildings across the square。 The night had brought with it a wele cool； and Langdon was surprised to find the square deserted。 Above them； through open windows； blaring televisions reminded Langdon where everyone had disappeared to。
〃。 。 。 no ment yet from the Vatican 。 。 。 Illuminati murders of two cardinals 。 。 。 satanic presence in Rome 。 。 。 speculation about further infiltration 。 。 。〃
The news had spread like Nero's fire。 Rome sat riveted； as did the rest of the world。 Langdon wondered if they would really be able to stop this runaway train。 As he scanned the piazza and waited； Langdon realized that despite the encroachment of modern buildings； the piazza still looked remarkably elliptical。 High above； like some sort of modern shrine to a bygone hero； an enormous neon sign blinked on the roof of a luxurious hotel。 Vittoria had already pointed it out to Langdon。 The sign seemed eerily befitting。
HOTEL BERNINI
〃Five of ten；〃 Vittoria said； cat eyes darting around the square。 No sooner had she spoken the words than she grabbed Langdon's arm and pulled him back into the shadows。 She motioned into the center of the square。
Langdon followed her gaze。 When he saw it； he stiffened。
Crossing in front of them； beneath a street lamp； two dark figures appeared。 Both were cloaked； their heads covered with dark mantles； the traditional black covering of Catholic widows。 Langdon would have guessed they were women； but he couldn't be sure in the dark。 One looked elderly and moved as if in pain； hunched over。 The other； larger and stronger； was helping。
〃Give me the gun；〃 Vittoria said。
〃You can't just…〃
Fluid as a cat； Vittoria was in and out of his pocket once again。 The gun glinted in her hand。 Then； in absolute silence； as if her feet never touched the cobblestone； she was circling left in the shadows； arching across the square to approach the couple from the rear。 Langdon stood transfixed as Vittoria disappeared。 Then； swearing to himself； he hurried after her。
The couple was moving slowly； and it was only a matter of half a minute before Langdon and Vittoria were positioned behind them； closing in from the rear。 Vittoria concealed the gun beneath casually crossed arms in front of her； out of sight but accessible in a flash。 She seemed to float faster and faster as the gap lessened； and Langdon battled to keep up。 When his shoes scuffed a stone and sent it skittering； Vittoria shot him a sideways glare。 But the couple did not seem to hear。 They were talking。
At thirty feet； Langdon could start to hear voices。 No words。 Just faint murmurings。 Beside him； Vittoria moved faster with every step。 Her arms loosened before her； the gun starting to peek out。 Twenty feet。 The voices were clearer…one much louder than the other。 Angry。 Ranting。 Langdon sensed it was the voice of an old woman。 Gruff。 Androgynous。 He strained to hear what she was saying； but another voice cut the night。
〃Mi scusi！〃 Vittoria's friendly tone lit the square like a torch。
Langdon tensed as the cloaked couple stopped short and began to turn。 Vittoria kept striding toward them； even faster now； on a collision course。 They would have no time to react。 Langdon realized his own feet had stopped moving。 From behind； he saw Vittoria's arms loosening； her hand ing free； the gun swinging forward。 Then； over her shoulder； he saw a face； lit now in the street lamp。 The panic surged to his legs； and he lunged forward。 〃Vittoria； no！〃
Vittoria； however； seemed to exist a split second ahead of him。 In a motion as swift as it was casual； Vittoria's arms were raised again； the gun disappearing as she clutched h