Chapter 114

           Theconfrontationlastedonlyseconds.

           CamerlegnoVentrescawasstillscreamingwhenChartrandsteppedpastRocherandblewopenthedoorofthePope’soffice.Theguardsdashedin.LangdonandVittoriaraninbehindthem.

           Thescenebeforethemwasstaggering.

           Thechamberwaslitonlybycandlelightandadyingfire.Kohlerwasnearthefireplace,standingawkwardlyinfrontofhiswheelchair.Hebrandishedapistol,aimedatthecamerlegno,wholayonthefloorathisfeet,writhinginagony.Thecamerlegno’scassockwastornopen,andhisbarechestwassearedblack.Langdoncouldnotmakeoutthesymbolfromacrosstheroom,butalarge,squarebrandlayonthefloornearKohler.Themetalstillglowedred.

           TwooftheSwissGuardsactedwithouthesitation.Theyopenedfire.ThebulletssmashedintoKohler’schest,drivinghimbackward.Kohlercollapsedintohiswheelchair,hischestgurglingblood.Hisgunwentskitteringacrossthefloor.

           Langdonstoodstunnedinthedoorway.

           Vittoriaseemedparalyzed."Max…"shewhispered.

           Thecamerlegno,stilltwistingonthefloor,rolledtowardRocher,andwiththetranceliketerroroftheearlywitchhunts,pointedhisindexfingeratRocherandyelledasingleword."ILLUMINATUS!"

           "Youbastard,"Rochersaid,runningathim."Yousanctimoniousbas—"

           ThistimeitwasChartrandwhoreactedoninstinct,puttingthreebulletsinRocher’sback.Thecaptainfellfacefirstonthetilefloorandslidlifelessthroughhisownblood.Chartrandandtheguardsdashedimmediatelytothecamerlegno,wholayclutchinghimself,convulsinginpain.