Chapter 65 Chapter 64
It took Langdon and Victoria a little more than a minute to cover the mile in a taxi that sped down the wide Scroofa Avenue.Just before eight o'clock, they came to a stop just south of Piazza del Popolo.Without lira, Langdon overpaid the driver in dollars.He and Victoria jumped out of the car and found that the square was quiet except for the laughter of a few locals sitting outside the popular Café Rosati, a place frequented by Italian literati. .Scents of espresso and pastries on the breeze.
Langdon was still reeling from the mistakes he had made at the Pantheon.However, after just a cursory glance at the square, his sixth sense was already excited.Subtle allusions to the importance of the Illuminati seem to be everywhere in this square.Not only does the square appear as a perfect oval, but in the middle stands high an Egyptian obelisk - a square column with a peculiar pyramid-shaped tip.As the spoils of the Roman Empire, obelisks are scattered all over Rome, and are regarded by semioticians as "tall pyramids", the sacred pagoda shape stretching into the sky.
As Langdon looked up the monolith, his eyes were suddenly drawn to something else in the background, something more deserving of his attention.
"We're in the right place," he whispered, feeling a sudden wariness. "Look at that." Langdon pointed to the magnificent Porta Popolo, the tall stone arch at the far end of the square.For centuries, that arch has overlooked the square, and at the center of the arch's highest point is a symbolic sculpture. "Does it look familiar?"
Victoria looked up at the huge statue. "Is it a shining star on a triangular stone?"
Langdon shook his head. "A source of light on a pyramid."
Victoria turned her head and suddenly opened her eyes wide: "It's like... the Great Seal of the United States."
"That's right, the Masonic symbol on the dollar bill."
Victoria took a deep breath and glanced at the square, "So where is that damn church?"
The Church of Our Lady of Popolo stands there like a misplaced battleship, leaning at the foot of the hill at the southeastern corner of the square.Towering scaffolding hides the facade of the eleventh-century stone castle, making it even more unwieldy.
As they ran toward the building, Langdon's mind was in a turmoil.He stared at the church in amazement.
Is a murder really going to happen here?He wished Olivetti would hurry up.The gun in his pocket made him feel very uncomfortable.
The front steps of the church fanned out as if to welcome them with open arms, but at this point there was something ironic about it.These steps are blocked by scaffolding, a construction device, and there is a warning sign that reads: building maintenance, no entry.
Langdon realized that a church closed for renovation meant absolute secrecy for a killer.It's not like the Pantheon, no fancy tricks are needed here, just finding a way in.
Without hesitation Victoria slipped through the sawhorses and went straight up the steps.
"Victoria," Langdon reminded, "if he's still inside..."
Victoria didn't seem to hear him, and ran up the main porch, which led to the church's only wooden door.Langdon hurried up the steps after her.Before he could say a word, Victoria grabbed the doorknob and pushed it up.Langdon held his breath, but the door did not budge.
"There must be other populations," Victoria said.
"Possibly," Langdon breathed out, "but Olivetti won't be here until a moment later, and it's too dangerous to go in like this. We should keep an eye on the church from this place outside until—"
Victoria turned her head and glared at him: "If there is another way in, there will be another way out. If this guy runs away, we will be in trouble."
Langdon knew enough of his Italian to understand that she spoke well.
The aisle on the right side of the church was narrow and dark, with high walls on either side, and the air stank of urine—a common smell in a city where bars outnumbered sanitation facilities by twenty to one. odor.
Langdon and Victoria sprinted into the stinking darkness.They walked for about fifteen yards when suddenly Victoria tugged at Langdon's arm and pointed to something.
Langdon saw it too.Straight ahead was an unassuming wooden door with heavy hinges.Langdon recognized it as the standard holy door—a wicket for the clergy.Constant building expansion and limited real estate squeezed these side doors into rather inconvenient laneways, most of which had been abandoned for many years.
Victoria hurried towards the door, stepped to the door and stared at the doorknob below, visibly bewildered.Langdon followed closely to the door, examining the peculiar hoop hanging over what should have been the doorknob. "A ring," Langdon whispered, reaching out and gently lifting the ring.He pulled the ring toward him, and the knocker clicked.Victoria twisted, suddenly looking uncomfortable.Langdon quietly twisted the ring clockwise, but it loosely turned three hundred and sixty degrees and did not engage.He frowned and tried to turn in the opposite direction, but the result was still the same as before.
Victoria looked down at the other passages and asked, "Do you think there are other doors?"
Langdon was suspicious.Most Renaissance-designed cathedrals served as temporary castles in case the city was attacked, so these churches had as few entrances as possible. "If there's another way in," he said, "it's probably embedded in the rear bastions, more of an escape route than an entrance."
Victoria is gone.
Langdon followed her into the depths of the passage.The walls on both sides are towering.Somewhere a bell rang, and it was eight o'clock...
Robert Langdon didn't hear Victoria calling him at first.He moved slowly to a stained-glass window blocked by a railing, and was about to look into the church.
"Robert!" she called softly, raising her voice.
Langdon looked up. Victoria was at the end of the passage.She pointed to the back of the church and waved to him again.Langdon reluctantly jogged toward her.At the base of the rear wall, a stone rampart juts out to cover a narrow hole—a flat passage cut directly into the church's foundation.
"A population?" Victoria asked.
Langdon nodded.Actually an exit, but let's not be too picky about words.
Victoria knelt down and looked into the tunnel with difficulty. "Let's check the door and see if it's open."
Langdon opened his mouth to protest, but Victoria took his hand and dragged him to the hole.
"Wait," Langdon said.
She turned to look at him impatiently.
Langdon sighed, "I'll go in first."
Victoria looked surprised. "Chivalry?"
"The old ones come before the pretty ones."
"Is that a compliment?"
Langdon smiled and walked past her into the dark hole. "Wait carefully on the steps."
He leaned on the wall with one hand and moved slowly in the darkness.The rock felt sharp to his fingertips.
For a while, he recalled that ancient myth, and remembered how the young man held on to the wall with one hand when he crossed the maze he lived in. He knew that as long as he kept holding on to the wall, he would definitely be able to walk to the end.Langdon walked forward, not too eager to find the end.
The tunnel gradually narrowed, and Langdon slowed his pace.He became aware of Victoria following him, and as the wall turned to the left the tunnel opened into a semicircular alcove.The weird thing is.There's a little glimmer here.In the shadows, Langdon saw the outline of a heavy wooden door.
"Alas," he said.
"Is it locked?"
"Previously."
"Before?" Victoria came beside him.
Langdon pointed.The door was ajar, and a beam of light shone through it... The hinges of the door were cracked by an old crossbar and stuck in the wood.
They stood for a while in silence.Then, in the darkness, Langdon felt Victoria's hands groping across his chest, slipping quietly into his coat.
"Relax, Professor," she said, "I'm just looking for a gun."
At that very moment, a task force of Swiss guards spread out in all directions inside the Vatican Museums.The museum was pitch black, and the guards wore U.S. Navy military infrared glasses.
Wearing this kind of glasses, I see everything with a weird green shadow.Each guard wears headphones, and an antenna-like detector is connected to the headset. The detector shakes rhythmically in front of him-this is the device they use twice a week to detect wiretapping inside the Holy See. device.They methodically examined behind statues, in alcoves and closets, and under furniture.Those antennas would chime when they detected even the smallest magnetic field.
But tonight, they didn't detect anything.
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