Ангелы и демоны

Chapter 38

           Ofcourse,last-minutedissensionintherankscouldprolongtheceremonythroughdawn…orbeyond.Theconclaveof1831hadlastedfifty-fourdays.Nottonight,hetoldhimself;rumorwasthisconclavewouldbea"smoke-watch."

           Theoperator’sthoughtsevaporatedwiththebuzzofaninsidelineonhisswitchboard.Helookedattheblinkingredlightandscratchedhishead.That’sodd,hethought.Thezero-line.Whoontheinsidewouldbecallingoperatorinformationtonight?Whoiseveninside?

           "CittàdelVaticano,prego?"hesaid,pickingupthephone.

           ThevoiceonthelinespokeinrapidItalian.TheoperatorvaguelyrecognizedtheaccentasthatcommontoSwissGuards—fluentItaliantaintedbytheFranco-Swissinfluence.Thiscaller,however,wasmostdefinitelynotSwissGuard.

           Onhearingthewoman’svoice,theoperatorstoodsuddenly,almostspillinghistea.Heshotalookbackdownattheline.Hehadnotbeenmistaken.Aninternalextension.Thecallwasfromtheinside.Theremustbesomemistake!hethought.AwomaninsideVaticanCity?Tonight?

           Thewomanwasspeakingfastandfuriously.Theoperatorhadspentenoughyearsonthephonestoknowwhenhewasdealingwithapazzo.Thiswomandidnotsoundcrazy.Shewasurgentbutrational.Calmandefficient.Helistenedtoherrequest,bewildered.

           "Ilcamerlegno?"theoperatorsaid,stilltryingtofigureoutwherethehellthecallwascomingfrom."Icannotpossiblyconnect…yes,IamawareheisinthePope’sofficebut…whoareyouagain?…andyouwanttowarnhimof…"Helistened,moreandmoreunnerved

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