Chapter 118

           Eleven-forty-twoP.M.

           ThefrenziedconvoythatplungedbackintothebasilicatoretrievethecamerlegnowasnotoneLangdonhadeverimaginedhewouldbepartof…muchlessleading.Buthehadbeenclosesttothedoorandhadactedoninstinct.

           He’lldieinhere,Langdonthought,sprintingoverthethresholdintothedarkenedvoid."Camerlegno!Stop!"

           ThewallofblacknessthathitLangdonwasabsolute.Hispupilswerecontractedfromtheglareoutside,andhisfieldofvisionnowextendednofartherthanafewfeetbeforehisface.Heskiddedtoastop.Somewhereintheblacknessahead,heheardthecamerlegno’scassockrustleasthepriestranblindlyintotheabyss.

           Vittoriaandtheguardsarrivedimmediately.Flashlightscameon,butthelightswerealmostdeadnowanddidnotevenbegintoprobethedepthsofthebasilicabeforethem.Thebeamssweptbackandforth,revealingonlycolumnsandbarefloor.Thecamerlegnowasnowheretobeseen.

           "Camerlegno!"Chartrandyelled,fearinhisvoice."Wait!Signore!"

           Acommotioninthedoorwaybehindthemcausedeveryonetoturn.ChinitaMacri’slargeframelurchedthroughtheentry.Hercamerawasshouldered,andtheglowingredlightontoprevealedthatitwasstilltransmitting.Glickwasrunningbehindher,microphoneinhand,yellingforhertoslowdown.

           Langdoncouldnotbelievethesetwo.Thisisnotthetime!

           "Out!"Chartrandsnapped."Thisisnotforyoureyes!"

           ButMacriandGlickkeptcoming.

           "Chinita!"Glicksoundedfearfulnow."Thisissuicide!I’mnotcoming!"

           Macriignoredhim.Shethrewaswitchonhercamera.