Chapter 40

           "Isthistrue?"thecamerlegnodemanded,lookingamazedasheturnedfromVittoriatoOlivetti.

           "Signore,"Olivettiassured,"I’lladmitthereissomesortofdevicehere.Itisvisibleononeofoursecuritymonitors,butasforMs.Vetra’sclaimsastothepowerofthissubstance,Icannotpossibly—"

           "Waitaminute,"thecamerlegnosaid."Youcanseethisthing?"

           "Yes,signore.Onwirelesscamera#86."

           "Thenwhyhaven’tyourecoveredit?"Thecamerlegno’svoiceechoedangernow.

           "Verydifficult,signore."Olivettistoodstraightasheexplainedthesituation.

           Thecamerlegnolistened,andVittoriasensedhisgrowingconcern."AreyoucertainitisinsideVaticanCity?"thecamerlegnoasked."Maybesomeonetookthecameraoutandistransmittingfromsomewhereelse."

           "Impossible,"Olivettisaid."Ourexternalwallsareshieldedelectronicallytoprotectourinternalcommunications.Thissignalcanonlybecomingfromtheinsideorwewouldnotbereceivingit."

           "AndIassume,"hesaid,"thatyouarenowlookingforthismissingcamerawithallavailableresources?"

           Olivettishookhishead."No,signore.Locatingthatcameracouldtakehundredsofmanhours.Wehaveanumberofothersecurityconcernsatthemoment,andwithallduerespecttoMs.Vetra,thisdropletshetalksaboutisverysmall.Itcouldnotpossiblybeasexplosiveassheclaims."

           Vittoria’spatienceevaporated."ThatdropletisenoughtolevelVaticanCity!DidyouevenlistentoawordItoldyou?"

           "Ma’am,"Olivettisaid,hisvoicelikesteel,"myexperiencewithexplosivesisextensive.