Chapter 43

           LangdonstoodmotionlessatthePope’sbulletproofwindowandgazeddownatthebustleofmediatrailersinSt.Peter’sSquare.Theeeriephoneconversationhadlefthimfeelingturgid…distendedsomehow.Nothimself.

           TheIlluminati,likeaserpentfromtheforgottendepthsofhistory,hadrisenandwrappedthemselvesaroundanancientfoe.Nodemands.Nonegotiation.Justretribution.Demonicallysimple.Squeezing.Arevenge400yearsinthemaking.Itseemedthataftercenturiesofpersecution,sciencehadbittenback.

           Thecamerlegnostoodathisdesk,staringblanklyatthephone.Olivettiwasthefirsttobreakthesilence."Carlo,"hesaid,usingthecamerlegno’sfirstnameandsoundingmorelikeawearyfriendthananofficer."Fortwenty-sixyears,Ihaveswornmylifetotheprotectionofthisoffice.ItseemstonightIamdishonored."

           Thecamerlegnoshookhishead."YouandIserveGodindifferentcapacities,butservicealwaysbringshonor."

           "Theseevents…Ican’timaginehow…thissituation…"Olivettilookedoverwhelmed.

           "Yourealizewehaveonlyonepossiblecourseofaction.IhavearesponsibilityforthesafetyoftheCollegeofCardinals."

           "Ifearthatresponsibilitywasmine,signore."

           "Thenyourmenwilloverseetheimmediateevacuation."

           "Signore?"

           "Otheroptionscanbeexercisedlater—asearchforthisdevice,amanhuntforthemissingcardinalsandtheircaptors.Butfirstthecardinalsmustbetakentosafety.Thesanctityofhumanlifeweighsaboveall.Thosemenarethefoundationofthischurch.