Chapter 60

           TwoblocksfromthePantheon,LangdonandVittoriaapproachedonfootpastalineoftaxis,theirdriverssleepinginthefrontseats.NaptimewaseternalintheEternalCity—theubiquitouspublicdozingaperfectedextensionoftheafternoonsiestasbornofancientSpain.

           Langdonfoughttofocushisthoughts,butthesituationwastoobizarretograsprationally.SixhoursagohehadbeensoundasleepinCambridge.NowhewasinEurope,caughtupinasurrealbattleofancienttitans,packingasemiautomaticinhisHarristweed,andholdinghandswithawomanhehadonlyjustmet.

           HelookedatVittoria.Shewasfocusedstraightahead.Therewasastrengthinhergrasp—thatofanindependentanddeterminedwoman.Herfingerswrappedaroundhiswiththecomfortofinnateacceptance.Nohesitation.Langdonfeltagrowingattraction.Getreal,hetoldhimself.

           Vittoriaseemedtosensehisuneasiness."Relax,"shesaid,withoutturningherhead."We’resupposedtolooklikenewlyweds."

           "I’mrelaxed."

           "You’recrushingmyhand."

           Langdonflushedandloosenedup.

           "Breathethroughyoureyes,"shesaid.

           "I’msorry?"

           "Itrelaxesthemuscles.It’scalledpranayama."

           "Piranha?"

           "Notthefish.Pranayama.Nevermind."

           AstheyroundedthecornerintoPiazzadellaRotunda,thePantheonrosebeforethem.Langdonadmiredit,asalways,withawe.ThePantheon.Templetoallgods.Pagangods.GodsofNatureandEarth.Thestructureseemedboxierfromtheoutsidethanheremembered.Theverticalpillarsandtriangularpronausallbutobscuredthecirculardomebehindit.