Chapter 80

           WhenLangdonhadlefttheVaticanSecretArchivesonlytwohoursago,hehadneverimaginedhewouldseethemagain.Now,windedfromhavingjoggedtheentirewaywithhisSwissGuardescort,Langdonfoundhimselfbackatthearchivesonceagain.

           Hisescort,theguardwiththescar,nowledLangdonthroughtherowsoftranslucentcubicles.Thesilenceofthearchivesfeltsomehowmoreforbiddingnow,andLangdonwasthankfulwhentheguardbrokeit.

           "Overhere,Ithink,"hesaid,escortingLangdontothebackofthechamberwhereaseriesofsmallervaultslinedthewall.Theguardscannedthetitlesonthevaultsandmotionedtooneofthem."Yes,hereitis.Rightwherethecommandersaiditwouldbe."

           Langdonreadthetitle.AttiviVaticani.Vaticanassets?Hescannedthelistofcontents.Realestate…currency…VaticanBank…antiquities…Thelistwenton.

           "PaperworkofallVaticanassets,"theguardsaid.

           Langdonlookedatthecubicle.Jesus.Eveninthedark,hecouldtellitwaspacked.

           "MycommandersaidthatwhateverBerninicreatedwhileunderVaticanpatronagewouldbelistedhereasanasset."

           Langdonnodded,realizingthecommander’sinstinctsjustmightpayoff.InBernini’sday,everythinganartistcreatedwhileunderthepatronageofthePopebecame,bylaw,propertyoftheVatican.Itwasmorelikefeudalismthanpatronage,buttopartistslivedwellandseldomcomplained."IncludingworksplacedinchurchesoutsideVaticanCity?"

           Thesoldiergavehimanoddlook."Ofcourse.AllCatholicchurchesinRomearepropertyoftheVatican."

           Langdonlookedatthelistinhishand