Langdon's first thought was for the Great Seal on the one…dollar bill…the triangle containing the all…seeing eye。 But it didn't make sense。 He had marked only three points。 There were supposed to be four in all。
So where the hell is Water？ Langdon knew that anywhere he placed the fourth point； the triangle would be destroyed。 The only option to retain the symmetry was to place the fourth marker inside the triangle； at the center。 He looked at the spot on the map。 Nothing。 The idea bothered him anyway。 The four elements of science were considered equal。 Water was not special； Water would not be at the center of the others。
Still； his instinct told him the systematic arrangement could not possibly be accidental。 I'm not yet seeing the whole picture。 There was only one alternative。 The four points did not make a triangle； they made some other shape。
Langdon looked at the map。 A square； perhaps？ Although a square made no symbolic sense； squares were symmetrical at least。 Langdon put his finger on the map at one of the points that would turn the triangle into a square。 He saw immediately that a perfect square was impossible。 The angles of the original triangle were oblique and created more of a distorted quadrilateral。
As he studied the other possible points around the triangle； something unexpected happened。 He noticed that the line he had drawn earlier to indicate the direction of the angel's spear passed perfectly through one of the possibilities。 Stupefied； Langdon circled that point。 He was now looking at four ink marks on the map； arranged in somewhat of an awkward； kitelike diamond。
He frowned。 Diamonds were not an Illuminati symbol either。 He paused。 Then again 。 。 。
For an instant Langdon flashed on the famed Illuminati Diamond。 The thought； of course； was ridiculous。 He dismissed it。 Besides； this diamond was oblong…like a kite…hardly an example of the flawless symmetry for which the Illuminati Diamond was revered。
When he leaned in to examine where he had placed the final mark； Langdon was surprised to find that the fourth point lay dead center of Rome's famed Piazza Navona。 He knew the piazza contained a major church； but he had already traced his finger through that piazza and considered the church there。 To the best of his knowledge it contained no Bernini works。 The church was called Saint Agnes in Agony； named for St。 Agnes； a ravishing teenage virgin banished to a life of sexual slavery for refusing to renounce her faith。
There must be something in that church！ Langdon racked his brain； picturing the inside of the church。 He could think of no Bernini works at all inside； much less anything to do with water。 The arrangement on the map was bothering him too。 A diamond。 It was far too accurate to be coincidence； but it was not accurate enough to make any sense。 A kite？ Langdon wondered if he had chosen the wrong point。 What am I missing！
The answer took another thirty seconds to hit him； but when it did； Langdon felt an exhilaration like nothing he had ever experienced in his academic career。
The Illuminati genius； it seemed； would never cease。
The shape he was looking at was not intended as a diamond at all。 The four points only formed a diamond because Langdon had connected adjacent points。 The Illuminati believe in opposites！ Connecting opposite vertices with his pen； Langdon's fingers were trembling。 There before him on the map was a giant cruciform。 It's a cross！ The four elements of science unfolded before his eyes 。 。 。 sprawled across Rome in an enormous； city…wide cross。
As he stared in wonder； a line of poetry rang in his mind 。 。 。 like an old friend with a new face。
'Cross Rome the mystic elements unfold 。 。 。
'Cross Rome 。 。 。
The fog began to clear。 Langdon saw that the answer had been in front of him all night！ The Illuminati poem had been telling him how the altars were laid out。 A cross！
'Cross Rome the mystic elements unfold！
It was cunning wordplay。 Langdon had originally read the word 'Cross as an abbreviation of Across。 He assumed it was poetic license intended to retain the meter of the poem。 But it was so much more than that！ Another hidden clue。
The cruciform on the map； Langdon realized； was the ultimate Illuminati duality。 It was a religious symbol formed by elements of science。 Galileo's path of Illumination was a tribute to both science and God！
The rest of the puzzle fell into place almost immediately。
Piazza Navona。
Dead center of Piazza Navona； outside the church of St。 Agnes in Agony； Bernini had forged one of his most celebrated sculptures。 Everyone who came to Rome went to see it。
The Fountain of the Four Rivers！
A flawless tribute to water； Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers glorified the four major rivers of the Old World…The Nile； Ganges； Danube； and Rio Plata。
Water； Langdon thought。 The final marker。 It was perfect。
And even more perfect； Langdon realized； the cherry on the cake； was that high atop Bernini's fountain stood a towering obelisk。
Leaving confused firemen in his wake； Langdon ran across the church in the direction of Olivetti's lifeless body。
10：31 P。M。； he thought。 Plenty of time。 It was the first instant all day that Langdon felt ahead of the game。
Kneeling beside Olivetti； out of sight behind some pews； Langdon discreetly took possession of the mander's semiautomatic and walkie…talkie。 Langdon knew he would call for help； but this was not the place to do it。 The final altar of science needed to remain a secret for now。 The media and fire department racing with sirens blaring to Piazza Navona would be no help at all。
Without a word； Langdon slipped out the door and skirted the press； who were now entering the church in droves。 He crossed Piazza Barberini。 In the shadows he turned on the walkie…talkie。 He tried to hail Vatican City but heard nothing but static。 He was either out of range or the transmitter needed some kind of authorization code。 Langdon adjusted the plex dials and buttons to no avail。 Abruptly； he realized his plan to get help was not going to work。 He spun； looking for a pay phone。 None。 Vatican circuits were jammed anyway。
He was alone。
Feeling his initial surge of confidence decay； Langdon stood a moment and took stock of his pitiful state…covered in bone dust； cut； deliriously exhausted； and hungry。
Langdon glanced back at the church。 Smoke spiraled over the cupola； lit by the media lights and fire trucks。 He wondered if he should go back and get help。 Instinct warned him however that extra help； especially untrained help； would be nothing but a liability。 If the Hassassin sees us ing 。 。 。 He thought of Vittoria and knew this would be his final chance to face her captor。
Piazza Navona； he thought； knowing he could get there in plenty of time and stake it out。 He scanned the area for a taxi； but the streets were almost entirely deserted。 Even the taxi drivers； it seemed； had dropped everything to find a television。 Piazza Navona was only about a mile away； but Langdon had no intention of wasting precious energy on foot。 He glanced back at the church； wondering if he could borrow a vehicle from someone。
A fire truck？ A press van？ Be serious。
Sensing options and minutes slipping away； Langdon made his decision。 Pulling the gun from his pocket； he mitted an act so out of character that he suspected his soul must now be possessed。 Running over to a lone Citroлn sedan idling at a stoplight； Langdon pointed the weapon through the driver's open window。 〃Fuori！〃 he yelled。
The trembling man got out。
Langdon jumped behind the wheel and hit the gas。
101
Gunther Glick sat on a bench in a holding tank inside the office of the Swiss Guard。 He prayed to every god he could think of。 Please let this NOT be a dream。 It had been the scoop of his life。 The scoop of anyone's life。 Every reporter on earth wished he were Glick right now。 You are awake； he told himself。 And you are a star。 Dan Rather is crying right now。
Macri was beside him； looking a little bit stunned。 Glick didn't blame her。 In addition to exclusively broadcasting the camerlegno's address； she and Glick had provided the world with gruesome photos of t