Chapter 72

           Langdonswungoffthescaffoldinganddroppedbacktotheground.Hebrushedtheplasterdustfromhisclothes.Vittoriawastheretogreethim.

           "Noluck?"shesaid.

           Heshookhishead.

           "Theyputthecardinalinthetrunk."

           LangdonlookedovertotheparkedcarwhereOlivettiandagroupofsoldiersnowhadamapspreadoutonthehood."Aretheylookingsouthwest?"

           Shenodded."Nochurches.FromherethefirstoneyouhitisSt.Peter’s."

           Langdongrunted.Atleasttheywereinagreement.HemovedtowardOlivetti.Thesoldierspartedtolethimthrough.

           Olivettilookedup."Nothing.Butthisdoesn’tshoweverylastchurch.Justthebigones.Aboutfiftyofthem."

           "Wherearewe?"Langdonasked.

           OlivettipointedtoPiazzadelPopoloandtracedastraightlineexactlysouthwest.Thelinemissed,byasubstantialmargin,theclusterofblacksquaresindicatingRome’smajorchurches.Unfortunately,Rome’smajorchurcheswerealsoRome’solderchurches…thosethatwouldhavebeenaroundinthe1600s.

           "I’vegotsomedecisionstomake,"Olivettisaid."Areyoucertainofthedirection?"

           Langdonpicturedtheangel’soutstretchedfinger,theurgencyrisinginhimagain."Yes,sir.Positive."

           Olivettishruggedandtracedthestraightlineagain.ThepathintersectedtheMargheritaBridge,ViaColadiRiezo,andpassedthroughPiazzadelRisorgimento,hittingnochurchesatalluntilitdead-endedabruptlyatthecenterofSt.Peter’sSquare.

           "What’swrongwithSt.Peter’s?"oneofthesoldierssaid.Hehadadeepscarunderhislefteye."It’sachurch."

           Langdonshookhishead."Needstobeapublicplace.