Chapter 91 Chapter Ninety

Langdon and Victoria watched Piazza Barberini closely from an alley on the west corner.Directly opposite them was the church, its dome looming between the buildings on the opposite side of the square.There was a refreshingly cool night breeze, and Langdon was surprised to find that the square was empty.Above them, through the open windows, the blaring of the television set reminded Langdon where the men had gone. "...So far, the Holy See has not made any comment...The Illuminati murdered two cardinals...The demon appeared in Rome...Presumably, further infiltration..." The news spread like a conflagration, attracting the attention of all Rome and the world.Langdon wondered if they could actually stop the runaway train.He waited there and looked around the square, and found that although there were several modern buildings on the square, it still looked distinctly oval.High above, a giant neon sign glows atop a luxury hotel like a modern-day shrine to a hero of yesteryear.Victoria had pointed it out to Langdon.The logo seemed appropriate, but a bit weird.

Hotel Bernini "Five minutes to ten," said Victoria, her almond-eyed eyes scanning the square quickly.As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed Langdon by the arm and dragged him back into the darkness.She motioned him to look at the center of the square. Following her gaze, Langdon was stunned. Two dark figures appeared under a streetlight ahead of them.Both wore cloaks and veils, the traditional veil worn by Catholic widows.Langdon guessed it was two women, but in the dark he couldn't be sure.One of them looked older and walked with a hunchback, as if in pain.The other, tall and strong, supported her.

"Give me the gun," Victoria said. "You can't just—" Vittoria reached into his pocket again as nimbly as a cat, and pulled out the pistol.The pistol gleamed in her hand.Then, as if her feet were not touching the ground, she walked around to the shadow on the left, and hunched across the square to the back of the two people.Langdon stood transfixed as Victoria disappeared.Then, he cursed in a low voice, and hurriedly followed. The two men in black walked very slowly, Langdon and Victoria only took half a minute to follow, and followed closely behind.Victoria folded her hands on her chest and hid the pistol underneath. Although others could not see it, she could draw it out quickly.She seemed to be walking faster and faster, the distance was getting closer, and Langdon struggled to keep up with her.He hit a rock and kicked it away, and Victoria gave him a sideways glare.But the two people didn't seem to hear the sound. They were talking.

When they were thirty feet away, Langdon heard voices.The voice was indistinct, just a murmured whisper.Beside her, Victoria walked faster and faster, she gradually opened her arms, the gun was revealed, and at twenty feet away, the voices of the conversation became clear—one was much louder than the other, the man was angry, It looked very rough.Langdon thought it was an old woman's voice.The voice was hoarse, and it was hard to tell whether it was a man or a woman.He tried his best to hear what she was saying, but another voice cut through the silent night. "Excuse me!" Victoria's gentle tone lit up the entire square like a torch.

The cloaked man stopped suddenly and turned, Langdon tensed.Victoria continued to stride closer to them, getting faster and faster, almost bumping into them.They haven't reacted yet. Langdon had stopped.He watched from behind as Victoria let go of her arm and the gun slid out. Just then, in the light of the street lamps, he saw a face behind Victoria.He was terrified, and hurried forward, "Victoria, don't!" Victoria seemed to be one step ahead of him.She raised her arm quickly, as if inadvertently, and the gun was gone.She hugged herself tightly with her arms, like a woman shivering in the cold night.Langdon staggered up to her, nearly colliding with the two cloaked figures.

"Good evening," Victoria blurted out, shocked and flinching in her tone. Langdon breathed a sigh of relief.Two older women stood before them, scowling behind veils.One of them was so old that she could barely stand, and the other was helping her by the side.Both held rosary beads in their hands.They seemed bewildered by this sudden interruption. Although she looked a little trembling, Victoria smiled and said, "Where is Victoria Momu Church?" The two of them pointed at the huge shadow of a building on the slope they had just walked over at the same time, and said, "Over there."

"Thank you," Langdon said, and put his hand on Victoria's shoulder and pulled back gently.He could hardly believe that they almost hurt two old ladies. "It's not allowed to enter now," a woman reminded, "It's closed early." "Closed early?" Victoria looked surprised. "why?" The two women immediately explained why.It sounded like they were very angry.They complained in Italian, Langdon only understood a few words.Apparently, fifteen minutes earlier they were in church praying for the beleaguered Vatican when a man showed up and told them the church was closing early.

"Do you know that person?" Victoria asked, her tone tense. The two women shook their heads.It was an unknown foreigner, they continued, who forced everyone in the church to leave, even the young pastor and the janitor.The pastor said to call the police, but the trespasser just laughed and told them to make sure the police had their cameras on. With a camera?Langdon was taken aback. The women babbled angrily, calling the man.Then, the two continued on their way, still muttering. "Arabs?" Langdon asked Victoria. "barbarian?" Victoria suddenly looked tense. "Not quite. Baara is a pejorative pun. It means...Arabs."

Langdon shivered and turned to face the church.He glimpsed something in the stained glass of the church.The sight made him shudder. Victoria didn't pay attention. She took out her mobile phone and pressed the automatic dial button. "I want to warn Olivetti." Without saying a word, Langdon reached out and touched her arm.With trembling hands, he pointed to the church. Victoria let out a short cry of surprise. Through the stained-glass windows, they saw what seemed to be the eyes of demons shining in the church... The dazzling fire grew bigger and bigger.

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