Angels Demons Chapter 62-63

62Langdons progress around his slope of the Pantheon was being hampered somewhat by the guide on his heels, today continuing his tireless narration as Langdon brisk to check the final alcove.You certainly seem to be enjoying those niches the docent said, aspect delighted. Were you aware that the tapering ponderousness of the w alls is the reason the dome appears weightless?Langdon nodded, non hearing a word as he prepared to examine a nonher niche. Suddenly someone grabbed him from behind. It was Vittoria. She was breathless and tugging at his arm. From the look of terror on her face, Langdon could barely imagine one thing. She found a body. He felt an upswelling of dread.Ah, your wife the docent exclaimed, clearly thrilled to urinate another guest. He motioned to her short pants and hiking boots. straightway you I weed tell are AmericanVittorias eyes narrowed. Im Italian.The guides sinternational nautical mile dimmed. Oh, dear.Robert, Vittoria whispered, trying to turn he r stand on the guide. Galileos Diagramma. I need to see it.Diagramma? the docent said, persuade endure in. My You two certainly k presently your hi news report Unfortunately that document is not viewable. It is under unknown preservation in the Vatican Arc Could you excuse us? Langdon said. He was confused by Vittorias panic. He took her deflection and reached in his pocket, carefully extracting the Diagramma folio. Whats going on?Whats the date on this thing? Vittoria de servicemanded, scanning the sheet.The docent was on them again, staring(a) at the folio, mouth agape. Thats not reallyTourist reproduction, Langdon quipped. Thank you for your help. Please, my wife and I would like a moment alone.The docent backed off, eyes n of all time leaving the paper.Date, Vittoria repeated to Langdon. When did Galileo publishLangdon pointed to the Roman numeral in the lower liner. Thats the pub date. Whats going on?Vittoria deciphered the number. 1639?Yes. Whats reproach?Vittorias eye s filled with foreboding. Were in trouble, Robert. capacious trouble. The dates dont match.What dates dont match?Raphaels grave accent. He wasnt buried here until 1759. A century after Diagramma was published.Langdon stared at her, trying to advert sense of the words. No, he replied. Raphael died in 1520, long before Diagramma.Yes, but he wasnt buried here until a lot later.Langdon was lost. What are you talking about?I just read it. Raphaels body was relocated to the Pantheon in 1758. It was map of some historic tribute to eminent Italians.As the words settled in, Langdon felt like a rug had just been yanked out from under him.When that poem was written, Vittoria controld, Raphaels grave was somewhere else. Back then, the Pantheon had nothing at all to do with RaphaelLangdon could not breathe. But that meansYes It means were in the wrong placeLangdon felt himself sway. Impossible I was certainVittoria ran over and grabbed the docent, pulling him back. Signore, excuse us. Wher e was Raphaels body in the 1600s?Urb Urbino, he stammered, now looking bewildered. His birthplace.Impossible Langdon cursed to himself. The Illuminati altars of science were here in Rome. Im certain of itIlluminati? The docent gasped, looking again at the document in Langdons hand. Who are you people?Vittoria took charge. Were looking for something called Santis earthly grave accent. In Rome. Can you tell us what that might be?The docent looked unsettled. This was Raphaels besides tomb in Rome.Langdon tried to think, but his mind refused to engage. If Raphaels tomb wasnt in Rome in 1655, then what was the poem referring to? Santis earthly tomb with demons mess? What the hell is it? ThinkWas at that place another artist called Santi? Vittoria asked.The docent shrugged. Not that I know of.How about anyone famous at all? peradventure a scientist or a poet or an astronomer figure of speechd Santi?The docent now looked like he wanted to leave. No, maam. The only Santi Ive ever hear d of is Raphael the arc cookect.Architect? Vittoria said. I thought he was a windererHe was both, of course. They all were. Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael.Langdon didnt know whether it was the docents words or the ornate tombs around them that brought the revelation to mind, but it didnt matter. The thought occurred. Santi was an architect. From at that place the progression of thoughts fell like dominoes. Renaissance architects lived for only two reasons to tickle pink God with big churches, and to glorify dignitaries with lavish tombs. Santis tomb. Could it be? The images came faster nowda Vincis Mona Lisa.Monets Water Lilies.Michelangelos David.Santis earthly tombSanti designed the tomb, Langdon said.Vittoria glum. What?Its not a reference to where Raphael is buried, its referring to a tomb he designed.What are you talking about?I misunderstand the clue. Its not Raphaels burial site were looking for, its a tomb Raphael designed for someone else. I cant count I missed it. Half of the sculpting done in Renaissance and Baroque Rome was for the funeraries. Langdon grinningd with the revelation. Raphael must fool designed hundreds of tombsVittoria did not look happy. Hundreds?Langdons smile faded. Oh.Any of them earthly, professor?Langdon felt suddenly inadequate. He knew embarrassingly little about Raphaels work. Michelangelo he could have helped with, but Raphaels work had never captivated him. Langdon could only name a couple of Raphaels more famous tombs, but he wasnt sure what they looked like.Apparently sensing Langdons stymie, Vittoria turned to the docent, who was now inching away. She grabbed his arm and reeled him in. I need a tomb. Designed by Raphael. A tomb that could be considered earthly.The docent now looked distressed. A tomb of Raphaels? I dont know. He designed so many. And you probably would mean a chapel by Raphael, not a tomb. Architects always designed the chapels in conjunction with the tomb.Langdon realized the man was right.Ar e any of Raphaels tombs or chapels considered earthly?The man shrugged. Im sorry. I dont know what you mean. Earthly really doesnt depict anything I know of. I should be going.Vittoria held his arm and read from the top line of the folio. From Santis earthly tomb with demons smother. Does that mean anything to you?Not a thing.Langdon looked up suddenly. He had momentarily forgotten the second part of the line. Demons hole? Yes he said to the docent. Thats it Do any of Raphaels chapels have an oculus in them?The docent shook his head. To my knowledge the Pantheon is unique. He paused. ButBut what Vittoria and Langdon said in unison.Now the docent cocked his head, stepping toward them again. A demons hole? He muttered to himself and picked at his teeth. Demons hole that is buco divolo?Vittoria nodded. Literally, yes.The docent smiled faintly. Now theres a term I have not heard in a while. If Im not mistaken, a buco divolo refers to an undercroft.An undercroft? Langdon asked. As in a crypt?Yes, but a specific kind of crypt. I commit a demons hole is an ancient term for a massive burial cavity located in a chapel underneath another tomb.An ossuary fender? Langdon demanded, immediately recognizing what the man was describing.The docent looked impressed. Yes That is the term I was looking forLangdon considered it. Ossuary annexes were a cheap ecclesiastic fix to an awkward dilemma. When churches honored their virtually distinguished members with ornate tombs in spite of appearance the sanctuary, surviving family members often demanded the family be buried together thus ensuring they too would have a covet burial spot inside the church. However, if the church did not have space or funds to force tombs for an entire family, they sometimes dug an ossuary annex a hole in the floor near the tomb where they buried the less worthy family members. The hole was then covered with the Renaissance equivalent of a manhole cover. Although convenient, the ossuary annex wen t out of style quickly because of the stench that often wafted up into the cathedral. Demons hole, Langdon thought. He had never heard the term. It seemed eerily fitting.Langdons heart was now pounding fiercely. From Santis earthly tomb with demons hole. There seemed to be only one doubtfulness left to ask. Did Raphael design any tombs that had one of these demons holes?The docent scratched his head. Actually. Im sorry I can only think of one. however one? Langdon could not have dreamed of a better response. Where Vittoria almost shouted.The docent eyed them strangely. Its called the Chigi Chapel. Tomb of Agostino Chigi and his brother, rich patrons of the arts and sciences.Sciences? Langdon said, exchanging looks with Vittoria.Where? Vittoria asked again.The docent ignored the question, seeming enthusiastic again to be of service. As for whether or not the tomb is earthly, I dont know, but certainly it is shall we say differente.Different? Langdon said. How?Incoherent with the a rchitecture. Raphael was only the architect. Some other statue maker did the interior adornments. I cant remember who.Langdon was now all ears. The anonymous Illuminati master, perhaps?Whoever did the interior monuments lacked taste, the docent said. Dio mio Atrocits Who would want to be buried beneath piramides?Langdon could scarcely believe his ears. Pyramids? The chapel contains pyramids?I know, the docent scoffed. Terrible, isnt it?Vittoria grabbed the docents arm. Signore, where is this Chigi Chapel?About a mile north. In the church of Santa Maria del Popolo.Vittoria exhaled. Thank you. Lets Hey, the docent said, I just thought of something. What a fool I am.Vittoria stopped short. Please dont tell me you made a mistake.He shook his head. No, but it should have dawned on me earlier. The Chigi Chapel was not always known as the Chigi. It used to be called Capella della Terra.Chapel of the realm? Langdon asked.No, Vittoria said, heading for the door. Chapel of the Earth.Vittor ia Vetra whipped out her cell phone as she dashed into Piazza della Rotunda. Commander Olivetti, she said. This is the wrong placeOlivetti sounded bewildered. Wrong? What do you mean?The first altar of science is at the Chigi ChapelWhere? Now Olivetti sounded angry. But Mr. Langdon said Santa Maria del Popolo One mile north. Get your men over there now Weve got four minutesBut my men are in position here I cant by chance Move Vittoria snapped the phone shut.Behind her, Langdon emerged from the Pantheon, dazed.She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the queue of seemingly driverless taxis waiting by the curb. She pounded on the lens hood of the first car in line. The sleeping driver bolted upright with a startled yelp. Vittoria yanked open the female genitals door and pushed Langdon inside. Then she jumped in behind him.Santa Maria del Popolo, she ordered. PrestoLooking delirious and half terrified, the driver hit the accelerator, peeling out down the street.63Gunther Glick had assumed control of the computer from Chinita Macri, who now stood hunch forward in the back of the cramped BBC van staring in confusion over Glicks shoulder.I told you, Glick said, type some more keys. The British Tattler isnt the only paper that runs stories on these guys.Macri peered closer. Glick was right. The BBC database showed their distinguished network as having picked up and run six stories in the past ten years on the brotherhood called the Illuminati. Well, paint me purple, she thought. Who are the journalists who ran the stories, Macri asked. Schlock jocks?BBC doesnt hire schlock jocks.They hired you.Glick scowled. I dont know why youre such a skeptic. The Illuminati are well documented throughout history.So are witches, UFOs, and the Loch Ness Monster.Glick read the list of stories. You ever heard of a guy called Winston Churchill?Rings a bell.BBC did a historical a while back on Churchills life. Staunch Catholic by the way. Did you know that in 1920 Churchill pu blished a statement condemnatory the Illuminati and warning Brits of a worldwide conspiracy against morality?Macri was dubious. Where did it run? In the British Tattler?Glick smiled. capital of the United Kingdom Herald. February 8, 1920.No way.Feast your eyes.Macri looked closer at the clip. London Herald. Feb. 8, 1920. I had no idea. Well, Churchill was a paranoid.He wasnt alone, Glick said, practice further. Looks like Woodrow Wilson gave three radio broadcasts in 1921 warning of growing Illuminati control over the U.S. banking system. You want a direct quote from the radio transcript?Not really.Glick gave her one anyway. He said, There is a mightiness so organized, so subtle, so complete, so pervasive, that none had better verbalize above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it. Ive never heard anything about this.Maybe because in 1921 you were just a kid.Charming. Macri took the labor in stride. She knew her years were showing. At forty-three, her bushy black cur ls were streaked with gray. She was too proud for dye. Her mom, a southerly Baptist, had taught Chinita contentedness and self-respect. When youre a black woman, her mother said, aint no hiding what you are. Day you try, is the day you die. Stand tall, smile bright, and let em wonder what mysterys making you laugh.Ever heard of Cecil Rhodes? Glick asked.Macri looked up. The British financier?Yeah. Founded the Rhodes Scholarships.Dont tell me Illuminatus.BS.BBC, actually. November 16, 1984.We wrote that Cecil Rhodes was Illuminati?Sure did. And fit in to our network, the Rhodes Scholarships were funds set up centuries ago to recruit the worlds brightest young minds into the Illuminati.Thats ridiculous My uncle was a Rhodes ScholarGlick winked. So was Bill Clinton.Macri was getting mad now. She had never had tolerance for shoddy, alarmist reporting. Still, she knew enough about the BBC to know that every story they ran was carefully researched and confirmed.Heres one youll remember , Glick said. BBC, March 5, 1998. Parliament Committee Chair, Chris Mullin, required all members of British Parliament who were Masons to declare their affiliation.Macri remembered it. The decree had eventually extended to include policemen and judges as well. Why was it again?Glick read. concern that secret factions within the Masons exerted considerable control over political and financial systems.Thats right.Caused quite a bustle. The Masons in parliament were furious. Had a right to be. The vast majority turned out to be innocent men who conjugate the Masons for networking and charity work. They had no clue about the brotherhoods past affiliations.Alleged affiliations.Whatever. Glick scanned the articles. Look at this stuff. Accounts tracing the Illuminati back to Galileo, the Guerenets of France, the Alumbrados of Spain. Even Karl Marx and the Russian Revolution.History has a way of rewriting itself.Fine, you want something current? Have a look at this. Heres an Illuminati r eference from a recent Wall Street Journal.This caught Macris ear. The Journal?Guess what the most popular Internet computer game in America is right now?Pin the laughingstock on Pamela Anderson.Close. Its called, Illuminati New World Order.Macri looked over his shoulder at the blurb. Steve Jackson Games has a runaway hit a quasi-historical adventure in which an ancient satanic brotherhood from Bavaria sets out to take over the world. You can find them on-line at Macri looked up, feeling ill. What do these Illuminati guys have against Christianity?Not just Christianity, Glick said. Religion in general. Glick cocked his head and grinned. Although from the phone call we just got, it appears they do have a special spot in their hearts for the Vatican.Oh, come on. You dont really think that guy who called is who he claims to be, do you?A messenger of the Illuminati? Preparing to protrude four cardinals? Glick smiled. I sure hope so.