Ангелы и демоны

Chapter 33

           

           TothewestthewidebasinoftheTiberRiverwoundenormousarcsacrossthecity.EvenfromtheairLangdoncouldtellthewaterwasdeep.Thechurningcurrentswerebrown,filledwithsiltandfoamfromheavyrains.

           "Straightahead,"thepilotsaid,climbinghigher.

           LangdonandVittorialookedoutandsawit.Likeamountainpartingthemorningfog,thecolossaldomeroseoutofthehazebeforethem:St.Peter’sBasilica.

           "Nowthat,"LangdonsaidtoVittoria,"issomethingMichelangelogotright."

           LangdonhadneverseenSt.Peter’sfromtheair.Themarblefaçadeblazedlikefireintheafternoonsun.Adornedwith140statuesofsaints,martyrs,andangels,theHerculeanedificestretchedtwofootballfieldswideandastaggeringsixlong.Thecavernousinteriorofthebasilicahadroomforover60,000worshipers…overonehundredtimesthepopulationofVaticanCity,thesmallestcountryintheworld.

           Incredibly,though,notevenacitadelofthismagnitudecoulddwarfthepiazzabeforeit.Asprawlingexpanseofgranite,St.Peter’sSquarewasastaggeringopenspaceinthecongestionofRome,likeaclassicalCentralPark.Infrontofthebasilica,borderingthevastovalcommon,284columnssweptoutwardinfourconcentricarcsofdiminishingsize…anarchitecturaltrompedel’oielusedtoheightenthepiazza’ssenseofgrandeur.

           Ashestaredatthemagnificentshrinebeforehim,LangdonwonderedwhatSt.Peterwouldthinkifhewereherenow.TheSainthaddiedagruesomedeath,crucifiedupsidedownonthisveryspot.

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