Chapter 79

           VittoriaVetrasippedaglassofwaterandnibbledabsentlyatsometeasconesjustsetoutbyoneoftheSwissGuards.Sheknewsheshouldeat,butshehadnoappetite.TheOfficeofthePopewasbustlingnow,echoingwithtenseconversations.CaptainRocher,CommanderOlivetti,andhalfadozenguardsassessedthedamageanddebatedthenextmove.

           RobertLangdonstoodnearbystaringoutatSt.Peter’sSquare.Helookeddejected.Vittoriawalkedover."Ideas?"

           Heshookhishead.

           "Scone?"

           Hismoodseemedtobrightenatthesightoffood."Hellyes.Thanks."Heatevoraciously.

           TheconversationbehindthemwentquietsuddenlywhentwoSwissGuardsescortedCamerlegnoVentrescathroughthedoor.Ifthechamberlainhadlookeddrainedbefore,Vittoriathought,nowhelookedempty.

           "Whathappened?"thecamerlegnosaidtoOlivetti.Fromthelookonthecamerlegno’sface,heappearedtohavealreadybeentoldtheworstofit.

           Olivetti’sofficialupdatesoundedlikeabattlefieldcasualtyreport.Hegavethefactswithflatefficacy."CardinalEbnerwasfounddeadinthechurchofSantaMariadelPopolojustaftereighto’clock.Hehadbeensuffocatedandbrandedwiththeambigrammaticword‘Earth.’CardinalLamasséwasmurderedinSt.Peter’sSquaretenminutesago.Hediedofperforationstothechest.Hewasbrandedwiththeword‘Air,’alsoambigrammatic.Thekillerescapedinbothinstances."

           ThecamerlegnocrossedtheroomandsatheavilybehindthePope’sdesk.Hebowedhishead.

           "CardinalsGuideraandBaggia,however,arestillalive."

           Thecamerlegno’sheadshotup,hisexpressionpained.