Chapter 111

           KohlerwassickenedbytheopulenceoftheHallwayoftheBelvedere.Thegoldleafintheceilingaloneprobablycouldhavefundedayear’sworthofcancerresearch.RocherledKohlerupahandicappedramponacircuitousrouteintotheApostolicPalace.

           "Noelevator?"Kohlerdemanded.

           "Nopower."Rochermotionedtothecandlesburningaroundtheminthedarkenedbuilding."Partofoursearchtactic."

           "Tacticswhichnodoubtfailed."

           Rochernodded.

           Kohlerbrokeintoanothercoughingfitandknewitmightbeoneofhislast.Itwasnotanentirelyunwelcomethought.

           WhentheyreachedthetopfloorandstarteddownthehallwaytowardthePope’soffice,fourSwissGuardsrantowardthem,lookingtroubled."Captain,whatareyoudoinguphere?Ithoughtthismanhadinformationthat—"

           "Hewillonlyspeaktothecamerlegno."

           Theguardsrecoiled,lookingsuspicious.

           "Tellthecamerlegno,"Rochersaidforcefully,"thatthedirectorofCERN,MaximilianKohler,isheretoseehim.Immediately."

           "Yes,sir!"Oneoftheguardsranoffinthedirectionofthecamerlegno’soffice.Theothersstoodtheirground.TheystudiedRocher,lookinguneasy."Justonemoment,captain.Wewillannounceyourguest."

           Kohler,however,didnotstop.Heturnedsharplyandmaneuveredhischairaroundthesentinels.

           Theguardsspunandbrokeintoajogbesidehim."Fermati!Sir!Stop!"

           Kohlerfeltrepugnanceforthem.Noteventhemostelitesecurityforceintheworldwasimmunetothepityeveryonefeltforcripples.HadKohlerbeenahealthyman,theguardswouldhavetackledhim.Cripplesarepowerless,Kohlerthought.