Ангелы и демоны

Chapter 125

           

           Asheplummetedtowardearth,RobertLangdonfeltsomethinghehadnotexperiencedsincehisyearsonthehighdive—theinexorablepullofgravityduringadeaddrop.Thefasterhefell,thehardertheearthseemedtopull,suckinghimdown.Thistime,however,thedropwasnotfiftyfeetintoapool.Thedropwasthousandsoffeetintoacity—anendlessexpanseofpavementandconcrete.

           Somewhereinthetorrentofwindanddesperation,Kohler’svoiceechoedfromthegrave…wordshehadspokenearlierthismorningstandingatCERN’sfree-falltube.Onesquareyardofdragwillslowafallingbodyalmosttwentypercent.Twentypercent,Langdonnowrealized,wasnotevenclosetowhatonewouldneedtosurviveafalllikethis.Nonetheless,moreoutofparalysisthanhope,heclenchedinhishandsthesoleobjecthehadgrabbedfromthechopperonhiswayoutthedoor.Itwasanoddmemento,butitwasonethatforafleetinginstanthadgivenhimhope.

           Thewindshieldtarphadbeenlyinginthebackofthehelicopter.Itwasaconcaverectangle—aboutfouryardsbytwo—likeahugefittedsheet…thecrudestapproximationofaparachuteimaginable.Ithadnoharness,onlybungieloopsateitherendforfasteningittothecurvatureofthewindshield.Langdonhadgrabbedit,slidhishandsthroughtheloops,heldon,andleaptoutintothevoid.

           Hislastgreatactofyouthfuldefiance.

           Noillusionsoflifebeyondthismoment.

           Langdonfelllikearock.Feetfirst.Armsraised.Hishandsgrippingtheloops.Thetarpbillowedlikeamushroomoverhead.Thewindtorepasthimviolently.

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