Chapter 36

           TheOfficeoftheSwissGuard.

           Langdonstoodinthedoorway,surveyingthecollisionofcenturiesbeforethem.Mixedmedia.TheroomwasalushlyadornedRenaissancelibrarycompletewithinlaidbookshelves,orientalcarpets,andcolorfultapestries…andyettheroombristledwithhigh-techgear—banksofcomputers,faxes,electronicmapsoftheVaticancomplex,andtelevisionstunedtoCNN.Menincolorfulpantaloonstypedfeverishlyoncomputersandlistenedintentlyinfuturisticheadphones.

           "Waithere,"theguardsaid.

           LangdonandVittoriawaitedastheguardcrossedtheroomtoanexceptionallytall,wirymaninadarkbluemilitaryuniform.Hewastalkingonacellularphoneandstoodsostraighthewasalmostbentbackward.Theguardsaidsomethingtohim,andthemanshotaglanceoveratLangdonandVittoria.Henodded,thenturnedhisbackonthemandcontinuedhisphonecall.

           Theguardreturned."CommanderOlivettiwillbewithyouinamoment."

           "Thankyou."

           Theguardleftandheadedbackupthestairs.

           LangdonstudiedCommanderOlivettiacrosstheroom,realizinghewasactuallytheCommanderinChiefofthearmedforcesofanentirecountry.VittoriaandLangdonwaited,observingtheactionbeforethem.BrightlydressedguardsbustledaboutyellingordersinItalian.

           "Continuacercando!"oneyelledintoatelephone.

           "Probastiilmusèo?"anotherasked.

           LangdondidnotneedfluentItaliantodiscernthatthesecuritycenterwascurrentlyinintensesearchmode.Thiswasthegoodnews.Thebadnewswasthattheyobviouslyhadnotyetfoundtheantimatter.

           "Youokay?"LangdonaskedVittoria.