Chapter 23

           Kohlerwasstaringintotheannihilationchamberwithalookofutteramazementatthespectaclehehadjustseen.RobertLangdonwasbesidehim,lookingevenmoredazed.

           "Iwanttoseemyfather,"Vittoriademanded."Ishowedyouthelab.NowIwanttoseemyfather."

           Kohlerturnedslowly,apparentlynothearingher."Whydidyouwaitsolong,Vittoria?Youandyourfathershouldhavetoldmeaboutthisdiscoveryimmediately."

           Vittoriastaredathim.Howmanyreasonsdoyouwant?"Director,wecanargueaboutthislater.Rightnow,Iwanttoseemyfather."

           "Doyouknowwhatthistechnologyimplies?"

           "Sure,"Vittoriashotback."RevenueforCERN.Alotofit.NowIwant—"

           "Isthatwhyyoukeptitsecret?"Kohlerdemanded,clearlybaitingher."BecauseyoufearedtheboardandIwouldvotetolicenseitout?"

           "Itshouldbelicensed,"Vittoriafiredback,feelingherselfdraggedintotheargument."Antimatterisimportanttechnology.Butit’salsodangerous.MyfatherandIwantedtimetorefinetheproceduresandmakeitsafe."

           "Inotherwords,youdidn’ttrusttheboardofdirectorstoplaceprudentsciencebeforefinancialgreed."

           VittoriawassurprisedwiththeindifferenceinKohler’stone."Therewereotherissuesaswell,"shesaid."Myfatherwantedtimetopresentantimatterintheappropriatelight."

           "Meaning?"

           WhatdoyouthinkImean?"Matterfromenergy?Somethingfromnothing?It’spracticallyproofthatGenesisisascientificpossibility."

           "Sohedidn’twantthereligiousimplicationsofhisdiscoverylostinanonslaughtofcommercialism?"

           "Inamannerofspeaking.