Chapter 13

           Langdonstaredinbewildermentatthestudybeforehim."Whatisthisplace?"Despitethewelcomeblastofwarmaironhisface,hesteppedthroughthedoorwithtrepidation.

           KohlersaidnothingashefollowedLangdoninside.

           Langdonscannedtheroom,nothavingtheslightestideawhattomakeofit.Itcontainedthemostpeculiarmixofartifactshehadeverseen.Onthefarwall,dominatingthedecor,wasanenormouswoodencrucifix,whichLangdonplacedasfourteenth-centurySpanish.Abovethecruciform,suspendedfromtheceiling,wasametallicmobileoftheorbitingplanets.TotheleftwasanoilpaintingoftheVirginMary,andbesidethatwasalaminatedperiodictableofelements.Onthesidewall,twoadditionalbrasscruciformsflankedaposterofAlbertEinstein,hisfamousquotereading:

           GodDoesNotPlayDiceWiththeUniverse

           Langdonmovedintotheroom,lookingaroundinastonishment.Aleather-boundBiblesatonVetra’sdeskbesideaplasticBohrmodelofanatomandaminiaturereplicaofMichelangelo’sMoses.

           Talkabouteclectic,Langdonthought.Thewarmthfeltgood,butsomethingaboutthedecorsentanewsetofchillsthroughhisbody.Hefeltlikehewaswitnessingtheclashoftwophilosophicaltitans…anunsettlingblurofopposingforces.Hescannedthetitlesonthebookshelf:

           TheGodParticle

           TheTaoofPhysics

           God:TheEvidence

           Oneofthebookendswasetchedwithaquote:

           TruesciencediscoversGodwaitingbehindeverydoor.

           PopePiusXII

           "LeonardowasaCatholicpriest,"Kohlersaid.

           Langdonturned."Apriest?Ithoughtyousaidhewasaphysicist."

           "Hewasboth.