Chapter 46 Chapter Forty-Five

"It's useless." Victoria said, pacing back and forth in the Pope's office, and she looked up at the Pope's servant. "Even if the Swiss Guards were able to filter out the electronic interference, they would have to be almost at the top of the reservoir to detect the signal... and not be blocked by other obstacles. If it is placed What if it's buried under you in a metal box or hidden in a ventilation duct above? If that's the case, you won't be able to find it at all. Besides, what if the other party's people in the Swiss Guard have sneaked in? Who can say that this search is thorough?"

The pope's chamberlain looked exhausted. "Then what do you say, Ms. Witterer?" Victoria was a little flustered.Isn't that obvious! "Sir, I advise you to take other precautions immediately. We can hope that the Commander's search is successful. In the meantime, please look out of the window. Do you see those people? The building across the square? Those interview cars? And Tourists? They are likely within range of the blast. You need to act now." The Pope's chamberlain nodded indifferently. Victoria was frustrated.Olivetti convinced everyone that there was more than enough time, but Vittoria knew that if word got out that the Vatican was in danger, the entire square would be filled with onlookers within minutes.She has seen the situation outside the Swiss Parliament Building.In one hostage case involving a bomb threat, thousands of onlookers gathered outside the building to see what would happen.Although the police warned them of danger, they got closer and closer.Nothing excites human interest more than human tragedy.

"Sir," Victoria urged, "the man who killed my father is out there somewhere. Every cell in me wants to rush out of here to find him. But I'm still standing in your office... because I There is a responsibility to you, to you and to others. Your lives are at stake, sir, do you understand?" The pope's chamberlain did not answer. Victoria felt her heart beating violently.Why can't the Swiss Guard track down the damn caller?The killer of the Illuminati is the key!He knows where the antimatter is... damn it, he knows where the Cardinal is!Catching the killer solves everything.

Victoria felt as if she was going insane, and she felt a strange distress, a distress she had experienced as a child, a sense of powerless frustration in her days in the orphanage.You can, she thought to herself, you always can.But it didn't work, and her thoughts came out of nowhere, suffocating her.She is a researcher, a problem solver.But there is no solution to this problem.What data did you get?What result do you want?She reminded herself to take a deep breath, but, for the first time in her life, she failed.She felt suffocated. Langdon's head throbbed, and at the same time he felt as if he was teetering on the edge of sanity.He looked at Victoria and the Pope's chamberlain, but something horrific blurred his vision: explosions, media swarms, tumbling images, four branded men.

Sedan...Lucifer...Lightbringer...Satan... He did not think about these horrific sights.It was a well-planned act of terror, he reminded himself, to be realistic, to create chaos.He recalled sitting in on a seminar on Radcliffe while studying the symbolism of ancient Roman magistrates.He had never seen terrorists like that. "Terrorism," said the professor, "has a single purpose. What is it?" "Killing innocent people?" a student boldly said. "No. Death is just a by-product of terror." "Show their power?" "Wrong. Weak organizations don't exist."

"causing panic?" "That's right. Quite simply, the purpose of terrorism is to create terror and fear. Fear can make people lose trust in the authorities. It weakens the enemy from within... unsettling the population. Write this down. Terrorism is not about anger, It's a political weapon. Tear off the veil of infallibility and you rob the government of the people's trust in it." loss of trust... Is this it?Langdon wondered how Catholics around the world would react to seeing the scarred cardinals.If a priest's faith doesn't keep him safe from Satan's scourges, what hope is there for the rest of us?Langdon's head throbbed, worse than before... small voices were arguing fiercely in his ears.

Faith will not protect you.Medicines and air bags...these are the things that protect you.God will not protect you.Wisdom protects you.wisdom.Believe in those things that will produce real results.How long is the legend of the Waterwalker?The miracles of modern society belong to science...computers, vaccines, space stations...even miracles of creation with divine nature.Creating matter from nothing...in the lab.Who needs God?unnecessary!Science is God. The killer's words echoed in Langdon's mind.Twelve o'clock in the middle of the night...the mathematical progression of death...dedicate these pure beings to the altar of science.

However, like a gunshot that scattered the crowd, the voice suddenly disappeared. Robert Langdon stood up with a jerk, and the chair fell back, slamming heavily on the marble floor. Victoria and the pope's chamberlain were taken aback. "I didn't expect," Langdon murmured, as if under a spell, "right under my nose..." "Didn't expect anything?" Victoria asked. Langdon turned to the priest. "Father, for three years I have been applying here for access to the Vatican Archives and have been rejected seven times." "Mr. Langdon, I'm sorry, but this doesn't seem like the time to complain."

"I must go at once. For the sake of the four missing cardinals, I may be able to work out where they will be killed." Victoria stared at him, as if not understanding what he was talking about. The pope's chamberlain looked disturbed, as if he felt himself the number one subject of jokes and sarcasm. "Do you want me to believe that this lead is in our files?" "I can't promise I'll find it in time, but if you let me..." "Mr. Langdon, I'm supposed to be in the Sistine Chapel in four minutes. Those files are on the other side of Vatican City."

"You're serious, aren't you?" Victoria interrupted, looking deeply into Langdon's eyes, as if sensing his sincerity. "This is no time for jokes," Langdon said. "Father," Victoria said, turning to the Pope's chamberlain, "if there is a chance . "Files?" the Pope's servant insisted, "How could there be clues in those files?" "Explaining this problem," Langdon said, "it will take a long time, but if my judgment is not wrong, we can catch the black evil star based on the clues." The Pope's chamberlain seemed to want to believe Langdon's words, but for some reason, he had trouble doing so. "The most sacred ancient texts of Christianity are in the archives. Those treasures are not even worthy of my desire to see."

"I know." "Access to the archives requires written permission from the director and the Vatican Library Council." "Or," Langdon said, "the Pope ordered. Your curator says so in every letter I reject." The Pope's chamberlain nodded. "With all due respect," Langdon urged, "but if I'm not mistaken, the Pope's bull came from this office, and as far as I know, you have the authority of this position tonight. Consider your current situation." Bar……" The pope's chamberlain took out a pocket watch from his robes and looked at it. "Mr. Langdon, it is no exaggeration to say that I would give my life tonight to save the church." Langdon sensed loyalty in the man's eyes. "This document," said the Pope's chamberlain, "do you really believe it is here? Will it help us find these four churches?" "If I wasn't sure I wouldn't be asking again and again to get into the Archives. It's a little farther away to have fun in Italy on a teacher's salary. That file of yours is an old—" "I'm sorry," interposed the Pope's chamberlain, "I'm sorry, but my mind doesn't have time to dwell on so many details at the moment. Do you know where the Secret Archives are?" Langdon felt a thrill. "It's right behind the Santa Ana gate." "I admire it. Many scholars thought it was behind the secret door behind St. Peter's throne." "No, that's the archives of St. Peter's Church. That's a common misconception." "At any time, everyone who enters the Archives is accompanied by a docent. But tonight, they're all gone, and all you're asking for is complete freedom of entry, not even our cardinal went in alone. " "I will have the utmost respect and love for your treasures. Your archivists will not find a trace of my visit." The great bell of St. Peter's Basilica rang overhead.The Pope's chamberlain checked his pocket watch. "I have to go," he paused, looking up nervously at Langdon. "I'll send a Swiss guard to meet you at the archives gate. I trust you, Mr. Langdon, go now." Langdon was too excited to speak. The young priest seemed to display an eerie composure at this time.He reached out and squeezed Langdon's shoulder with surprising strength. "I hope you find what you're looking for, and find it quickly."