Chapter 62

           Langdon’sprogressaroundhissideofthePantheonwasbeinghamperedsomewhatbytheguideonhisheels,nowcontinuinghistirelessnarrationasLangdonpreparedtocheckthefinalalcove.

           "Youcertainlyseemtobeenjoyingthoseniches!"thedocentsaid,lookingdelighted."Wereyouawarethatthetaperingthicknessofthewallsisthereasonthedomeappearsweightless?"

           Langdonnodded,nothearingawordashepreparedtoexamineanotherniche.Suddenlysomeonegrabbedhimfrombehind.ItwasVittoria.Shewasbreathlessandtuggingathisarm.Fromthelookofterroronherface,Langdoncouldonlyimagineonething.Shefoundabody.Hefeltanupswellingofdread.

           "Ah,yourwife!"thedocentexclaimed,clearlythrilledtohaveanotherguest.Hemotionedtohershortpantsandhikingboots."NowyouIcantellareAmerican!"

           Vittoria’seyesnarrowed."I’mItalian."

           Theguide’ssmiledimmed."Oh,dear."

           "Robert,"Vittoriawhispered,tryingtoturnherbackontheguide."Galileo’sDiagramma.Ineedtoseeit."

           "Diagramma?"thedocentsaid,wheedlingbackin."My!Youtwocertainlyknowyourhistory!Unfortunatelythatdocumentisnotviewable.ItisundersecretpreservationintheVaticanArc—"

           "Couldyouexcuseus?"Langdonsaid.HewasconfusedbyVittoria’spanic.Hetookherasideandreachedinhispocket,carefullyextractingtheDiagrammafolio."What’sgoingon?"

           "What’sthedateonthisthing?"Vittoriademanded,scanningthesheet.

           Thedocentwasonthemagain,staringatthefolio,mouthagape."That’snot…really…"

           "Touristreproduction,"Langdonquipped.