Chapter 87

           Langdon’swatch,nowsmearedwithblood,read9:41P.M.asheranacrosstheCourtyardoftheBelvedereandapproachedthefountainoutsidetheSwissGuardsecuritycenter.Hishandhadstoppedbleedingandnowfeltworsethanitlooked.Ashearrived,itseemedeveryoneconvenedatonce—Olivetti,Rocher,thecamerlegno,Vittoria,andahandfulofguards.

           Vittoriahurriedtowardhimimmediately."Robert,you’rehurt."

           BeforeLangdoncouldanswer,Olivettiwasbeforehim."Mr.Langdon,I’mrelievedyou’reokay.I’msorryaboutthecrossedsignalsinthearchives."

           "Crossedsignals?"Langdondemanded."Youknewdamnwell—"

           "Itwasmyfault,"Rochersaid,steppingforward,soundingcontrite."Ihadnoideayouwereinthearchives.Portionsofourwhitezonesarecross-wiredwiththatbuilding.Wewereextendingoursearch.I’mtheonewhokilledpower.IfIhadknown…"

           "Robert,"Vittoriasaid,takinghiswoundedhandinhersandlookingitover,"thePopewaspoisoned.TheIlluminatikilledhim."

           Langdonheardthewords,buttheybarelyregistered.Hewassaturated.AllhecouldfeelwasthewarmthofVittoria’shands.

           ThecamerlegnopulledasilkhandkerchieffromhiscassockandhandedittoLangdonsohecouldcleanhimself.Themansaidnothing.Hisgreeneyesseemedfilledwithanewfire.

           "Robert,"Vittoriapressed,"yousaidyoufoundwherethenextcardinalisgoingtobekilled?"

           Langdonfeltflighty."Ido,it’satthe—"

           "No,"Olivettiinterrupted."Mr.Langdon,whenIaskedyounottospeakanotherwordonthewalkie-talkie,itwasforareason.