danbrown.angels&demons-第81章

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　It　was　only　10：46　P。M。　when　a　black　van　emerged　from　the　alleyway　on　the　far　side　of　the　piazza。　Langdon　would　not　have　given　it　a　second　look　except　that　the　van　drove　with　no　headlights。　Like　a　shark　patrolling　a　moonlit　bay；　the　vehicle　circled　the　perimeter　of　the　piazza。　
　Langdon　hunkered　lower；　crouched　in　the　shadows　beside　the　huge　stairway　leading　up　to　the　Church　of　St。　Agnes　in　Agony。　He　gazed　out　at　the　piazza；　his　pulse　climbing。
　After　making　two　plete　circuits；　the　van　banked　inward　toward　Bernini's　fountain。　It　pulled　abreast　of　the　basin；　moving　laterally　along　the　rim　until　its　side　was　flush　with　the　fountain。　Then　it　parked；　its　sliding　door　positioned　only　inches　above　the　churning　water。
　Mist　billowed。
　Langdon　felt　an　uneasy　premonition。　Had　the　Hassassin　arrived　early？　Had　he　e　in　a　van？　Langdon　had　imagined　the　killer　escorting　his　last　victim　across　the　piazza　on　foot；　like　he　had　at　St。　Peter's；　giving　Langdon　an　open　shot。　But　if　the　Hassassin　had　arrived　in　a　van；　the　rules　had　just　changed。
　Suddenly；　the　van's　side　door　slid　open。
　On　the　floor　of　the　van；　contorted　in　agony；　lay　a　naked　man。　The　man　was　wrapped　in　yards　of　heavy　chains。　He　thrashed　against　the　iron　links；　but　the　chains　were　too　heavy。　One　of　the　links　bisected　the　man's　mouth　like　a　horse's　bit；　stifling　his　cries　for　help。　It　was　then　that　Langdon　saw　the　second　figure；　moving　around　behind　the　prisoner　in　the　dark；　as　though　making　final　preparations。
　Langdon　knew　he　had　only　seconds　to　act。
　Taking　the　gun；　he　slipped　off　his　jacket　and　dropped　it　on　the　ground。　He　didn't　want　the　added　encumbrance　of　a　tweed　jacket；　nor　did　he　have　any　intention　of　taking　Galileo's　Diagramma　anywhere　near　the　water。　The　document　would　stay　here　where　it　was　safe　and　dry。
　Langdon　scrambled　to　his　right。　Circling　the　perimeter　of　the　fountain；　he　positioned　himself　directly　opposite　the　van。　The　fountain's　massive　centerpiece　obscured　his　view。　Standing；　he　ran　directly　toward　the　basin。　He　hoped　the　thundering　water　was　drowning　his　footsteps。　When　he　reached　the　fountain；　he　climbed　over　the　rim　and　dropped　into　the　foaming　pool。
　The　water　was　waist　deep　and　like　ice。　Langdon　grit　his　teeth　and　plowed　through　the　water。　The　bottom　was　slippery；　made　doubly　treacherous　by　a　stratum　of　coins　thrown　for　good　luck。　Langdon　sensed　he　would　need　more　than　good　luck。　As　the　mist　rose　all　around　him；　he　wondered　if　it　was　the　cold　or　the　fear　that　was　causing　the　gun　in　his　hand　to　shake。
　He　reached　the　interior　of　the　fountain　and　circled　back　to　his　left。　He　waded　hard；　clinging　to　the　cover　of　the　marble　forms。　Hiding　himself　behind　the　huge　carved　form　of　a　horse；　Langdon　peered　out。　The　van　was　only　fifteen　feet　away。　The　Hassassin　was　crouched　on　the　floor　of　the　van；　hands　planted　on　the　cardinal's　chain…clad　body；　preparing　to　roll　him　out　the　open　door　into　the　fountain。
　Waist…deep　in　water；　Robert　Langdon　raised　his　gun　and　stepped　out　of　the　mist；　feeling　like　some　sort　of　aquatic　cowboy　making　a　final　stand。　〃Don't　move。〃　His　voice　was　steadier　than　the　gun。
　The　Hassassin　looked　up。　For　a　moment　he　seemed　confused；　as　though　he　had　seen　a　ghost。　Then　his　lips　curled　into　an　evil　smile。　He　raised　his　arms　in　submission。　〃And　so　it　goes。〃
　〃Get　out　of　the　van。〃　
　〃You　look　wet。〃
　〃You're　early。〃
　〃I　am　eager　to　return　to　my　prize。〃
　Langdon　leveled　the　gun。　〃I　won't　hesitate　to　shoot。〃
　〃You've　already　hesitated。〃
　Langdon　felt　his　finger　tighten　on　the　trigger。　The　cardinal　lay　motionless　now。　He　looked　exhausted；　moribund。　〃Untie　him。〃
　〃Forget　him。　You've　e　for　the　woman。　Do　not　pretend　otherwise。〃
　Langdon　fought　the　urge　to　end　it　right　there。　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃Somewhere　safe。　Awaiting　my　return。〃
　She's　alive。　Langdon　felt　a　ray　of　hope。　〃At　the　Church　of　Illumination？〃　
　The　killer　smiled。　〃You　will　never　find　its　location。〃
　Langdon　was　incredulous。　The　lair　is　still　standing。　He　aimed　the　gun。　〃Where？〃
　〃The　location　has　remained　secret　for　centuries。　Even　to　me　it　was　only　revealed　recently。　I　would　die　before　I　break　that　trust。〃
　〃I　can　find　it　without　you。〃　
　〃An　arrogant　thought。〃
　Langdon　motioned　to　the　fountain。　〃I've　e　this　far。〃
　〃So　have　many。　The　final　step　is　the　hardest。〃
　Langdon　stepped　closer；　his　footing　tentative　beneath　the　water。　The　Hassassin　looked　remarkably　calm；　squatting　there　in　the　back　of　the　van　with　his　arms　raised　over　his　head。　Langdon　aimed　at　his　chest；　wondering　if　he　should　simply　shoot　and　be　done　with　it。　No。　He　knows　where　Vittoria　is。　He　knows　where　the　antimatter　is。　I　need　information！　
　
　From　the　darkness　of　the　van　the　Hassassin　gazed　out　at　his　aggressor　and　couldn't　help　but　feel　an　amused　pity。　The　American　was　brave；　that　he　had　proven。　But　he　was　also　untrained。　That　he　had　also　proven。　Valor　without　expertise　was　suicide。　There　were　rules　of　survival。　Ancient　rules。　And　the　American　was　breaking　all　of　them。
　You　had　the　advantage…the　element　of　surprise。　You　squandered　it。　
　The　American　was　indecisive　。　。　。　hoping　for　backup　most　likely　。　。　。　or　perhaps　a　slip　of　the　tongue　that　would　reveal　critical　information。
　Never　interrogate　before　you　disable　your　prey。　A　cornered　enemy　is　a　deadly　enemy。　
　The　American　was　talking　again。　Probing。　Maneuvering。　
　The　killer　almost　laughed　aloud。　This　is　not　one　of　your　Hollywood　movies　。　。　。　there　will　be　no　long　discussions　at　gunpoint　before　the　final　shoot…out。　This　is　the　end。　Now。　
　Without　breaking　eye　contact；　the　killer　inched　his　hands　across　the　ceiling　of　the　van　until　he　found　what　he　was　looking　for。　Staring　dead　ahead；　he　grasped　it。
　Then　he　made　his　play。
　
　The　motion　was　utterly　unexpected。　For　an　instant；　Langdon　thought　the　laws　of　physics　had　ceased　to　exist。　The　killer　seemed　to　hang　weightless　in　the　air　as　his　legs　shot　out　from　beneath　him；　his　boots　driving　into　the　cardinal's　side　and　launching　the　chain…laden　body　out　the　door。　The　cardinal　splashed　down；　sending　up　a　sheet　of　spray。　
　Water　dousing　his　face；　Langdon　realized　too　late　what　had　happened。　The　killer　had　grasped　one　of　the　van's　roll　bars　and　used　it　to　swing　outward。　Now　the　Hassassin　was　sailing　toward　him；　feet…first　through　the　spray。
　Langdon　pulled　the　trigger；　and　the　silencer　spat。　The　bullet　exploded　through　the　toe　of　the　Hassassin's　left　boot。　Instantly　Langdon　felt　the　soles　of　the　Hassassin's　boots　connect　with　his　chest；　driving　him　back　with　a　crushing　kick。
　The　two　men　splashed　down　in　a　spray　of　blood　and　water。
　As　the　icy　liquid　engulfed　Langdon's　body；　his　first　cognition　was　pain。　Survival　instinct　came　next。　He　realized　he　was　no　longer　holding　his　weapon。　It　had　been　knocked　away。　Diving　deep；　he　groped　along　the　slimy　bottom。　His　hand　gripped　metal。　A　handful　of　coins。　He　dropped　them。　Opening　his　eyes；　Langdon　scanned　the　glowing　basin。　The　water　churned　around　him　like　a　frigid　Jacuzzi。　
　Despite　the　instinct　to　breathe；　fear　kept　him　on　the　bottom。　Always　moving。　He　did　not　know　from　where　the　next　assault　would　e。　He　needed　to　find　the　gun！　His　hands　groped　desperately　in　front　of　him。　
　You　have　the　advantage；　he　told　himself。　You　are　in　your　element。　Even　in　a　soaked　turtleneck　Langdon　was　an　agile　swimmer。　Water　is　your　element。　
　When　Langdon's　fingers　found　metal　a　second　time；　he　was　certain　his　luck　had　changed。　The　object　in　his　hand　was　no　handful　of　coins。　He　gripped　it　and　tried　to　pull　it　toward　him；　but　when　he　did；　he　found　himself　gliding　through　the　water。　The　object　was　stationary。
　Langdon　realized　even　before　he　coasted　over　the　cardinal's　writhing　body　that　he　had　grasped　part　of　the　metal　chain　that　was　weighing　the　man　down。　Langdon　hovered　a　moment；　immobilized　by　the　sight　of　the　terrified　face　staring　up　at　him　from　the　floor　of　the　fountain。　
　Jolted　by　the　life　in　the　man's　eyes；　Langdon　reached　down　and　grabbed　the　chains；　trying　to　heave　him　toward　the　surface。　The　body　came　slowly　。　。　。　like　an　anchor。　Langdon　pulled　harder。　When　the　cardinal's　head　broke　the　surface；　the　old　man　gasped　a　few　sucking；　desperate　breaths。　Then；　violently；　his　body　rolled；　causing　Langdon　to　lose　h