Chapter 32

           LangdonheldhisbreathastheX-33spiraledintoRome’sLeonardodaVinciInternationalAirport.Vittoriasatacrossfromhim,eyesclosedasiftryingtowillthesituationintocontrol.Thecrafttoucheddownandtaxiedtoaprivatehangar.

           "Sorryfortheslowflight,"thepilotapologized,emergingfromthecockpit."Hadtotrimherback.Noiseregulationsoverpopulatedareas."

           Langdoncheckedhiswatch.Theyhadbeenairbornethirty-sevenminutes.

           Thepilotpoppedtheouterdoor."Anybodywanttotellmewhat’sgoingon?"

           NeitherVittorianorLangdonresponded.

           "Fine,"hesaid,stretching."I’llbeinthecockpitwiththeair-conditioningandmymusic.JustmeandGarth."

           Thelate-afternoonsunblazedoutsidethehangar.Langdoncarriedhistweedjacketoverhisshoulder.Vittoriaturnedherfaceskywardandinhaleddeeply,asifthesun’srayssomehowtransferredtohersomemysticalreplenishingenergy.

           Mediterraneans,Langdonmused,alreadysweating.

           "Littleoldforcartoons,aren’tyou?"Vittoriaasked,withoutopeninghereyes.

           "I’msorry?"

           "Yourwristwatch.Isawitontheplane."

           Langdonflushedslightly.Hewasaccustomedtohavingtodefendhistimepiece.Thecollector’seditionMickeyMousewatchhadbeenachildhoodgiftfromhisparents.DespitethecontortedfoolishnessofMickey’soutstretchedarmsdesignatingthehour,itwastheonlywatchLangdonhadeverworn.Waterproofandglow-in-the-dark,itwasperfectforswimminglapsorwalkingunlitcollegepathsatnight.