Chapter 29

           Vittoriadidnotrememberhowtheyhadgottentothemainelevator,buttheywerethere.Ascending.Kohlerwasbehindher,hisbreathinglaborednow.Langdon’sconcernedgazepassedthroughherlikeaghost.Hehadtakenthefaxfromherhandandslippeditinhisjacketpocketawayfromhersight,buttheimagewasstillburnedintohermemory.

           Astheelevatorclimbed,Vittoria’sworldswirledintodarkness.Papa!Inhermindshereachedforhim.Forjustamoment,intheoasisofhermemory,Vittoriawaswithhim.Shewasnineyearsold,rollingdownhillsofedelweissflowers,theSwissskyspinningoverhead.

           Papa!Papa!

           LeonardoVetrawaslaughingbesideher,beaming."Whatisit,angel?"

           "Papa!"shegiggled,nuzzlingclosetohim."Askmewhat’sthematter!"

           "Butyoulookhappy,sweetie.WhywouldIaskyouwhat’sthematter?"

           "Justaskme."

           Heshrugged."What’sthematter?"

           Sheimmediatelystartedlaughing."What’sthematter?Everythingisthematter!Rocks!Trees!Atoms!Evenanteaters!Everythingisthematter!"

           Helaughed."Didyoumakethatup?"

           "Prettysmart,huh?"

           "MylittleEinstein."

           Shefrowned."Hehasstupidhair.Isawhispicture."

           "He’sgotasmarthead,though.Itoldyouwhatheproved,right?"

           Hereyeswidenedwithdread."Dad!No!Youpromised!"

           "E=MC2!"Hetickledherplayfully."E=MC2!"

           "Nomath!Itoldyou!Ihateit!"

           "I’mgladyouhateit.Becausegirlsaren’tevenallowedtodomath."

           Vittoriastoppedshort."Theyaren’t?"

           "Ofcoursenot.Everyoneknowsthat.Girlsplaywithdollies.Boysdomath.Nomathforgirls