Chapter 75

           Langdonwasthefirsttoreachthescreaminggirl.

           Theterrifiedyoungsterstoodfrozen,pointingatthebaseoftheobeliskwhereashabby,decrepitdrunksatslumpedonthestairs.Themanwasamiserablesight…apparentlyoneofRome’shomeless.Hisgrayhairhungingreasystrandsinfrontofhisface,andhisentirebodywaswrappedinsomesortofdirtycloth.Thegirlkeptscreamingasshescamperedoffintothecrowd.

           Langdonfeltanupsurgeofdreadashedashedtowardtheinvalid.Therewasadark,wideningstainspreadingacrosstheman’srags.Fresh,flowingblood.

           Then,itwasasifeverythinghappenedatonce.

           Theoldmanseemedtocrumpleinthemiddle,totteringforward.Langdonlunged,buthewastoolate.Themanpitchedforward,toppledoffthestairs,andhitthepavementfacedown.Motionless.

           Langdondroppedtohisknees.Vittoriaarrivedbesidehim.Acrowdwasgathering.

           Vittoriaputherfingersontheman’sthroatfrombehind."There’sapulse,"shedeclared."Rollhim."

           Langdonwasalreadyinmotion.Graspingtheman’sshoulders,herolledthebody.Ashedid,thelooseragsseemedtosloughawaylikedeadflesh.Themanfloppedlimpontohisback.Deadcenterofhisnakedchestwasawideareaofcharredflesh.

           Vittoriagaspedandpulledback.

           Langdonfeltparalyzed,pinnedsomewherebetweennauseaandawe.Thesymbolhadaterrifyingsimplicitytoit.

           "Air,"Vittoriachoked."It’s…him."

           SwissGuardsappearedfromoutofnowhere,shoutingorders,racingafteranunseenassassin