Chapter 129

           InthehallwayoutsidetheSistineChapel,VittoriaVetrasatbenumbedonabenchatthefootoftheRoyalStaircase.Whenshesawthefigurecomingthroughthereardoor,shewonderedifshewereseeinganotherspirit.Hewasbandaged,limping,andwearingsomekindofmedicalsuit.

           Shestood…unabletobelievethevision."Ro…bert?"

           Heneveranswered.Hestrodedirectlytoherandwrappedherinhisarms.Whenhepressedhislipstohers,itwasanimpulsive,longingkissfilledwiththankfulness.

           Vittoriafeltthetearscoming."Oh,God…oh,thankGod…"

           Hekissedheragain,morepassionately,andshepressedagainsthim,losingherselfinhisembrace.Theirbodieslocked,asiftheyhadknowneachotherforyears.Sheforgotthefearandpain.Sheclosedhereyes,weightlessinthemoment.

           "ItisGod’swill!"someonewasyelling,hisvoiceechoingintheSistineChapel."Whobutthechosenonecouldhavesurvivedthatdiabolicalexplosion?"

           "Me,"avoicereverberatedfromthebackofthechapel.

           Mortatiandtheothersturnedinwonderatthebedraggledformcomingupthecenteraisle."Mr….Langdon?"

           Withoutaword,Langdonwalkedslowlytothefrontofthechapel.VittoriaVetraenteredtoo.Thentwoguardshurriedin,pushingacartwithalargetelevisiononit.Langdonwaitedwhiletheypluggeditin,facingthecardinals.ThenLangdonmotionedfortheguardstoleave.Theydid,closingthedoorbehindthem.

           NowitwasonlyLangdon,Vittoria,andthecardinals.LangdonpluggedtheSonyRUVI’soutputintothetelevision.ThenhepressedPlay.

           Thetelevisionblaredtolife.