Angels Demons Chapter 62-63

62Langdons progress around his side of the Pantheon was be hampered somewhat by the guide on his heels, now continuing his unwearying narration as Langdon prepared to check the final alcove.You certainly wait to be enjoying those niches the docent said, looking delighted. Were you aware that the tapering thickness of the walls is the reason the dome appears weightless?Langdon nodded, non hearing a word as he prepared to examine anformer(a) niche. Suddenly some unmatched 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 only if imagine 1 thing. She represent a consistency. He mat up an upswelling of dread.Ah, your wife the docent exclaimed, clearly thrilled to involve another guest. He motioned to her short pants and hiking boots. straightway you I crumb tell are AmericanVittorias look narrowed. Im Italian.The guides s ml dimmed. Oh, dear.Robert, Vittoria whispered, trying to plough h er screen on the guide. Galileos Diagramma. I need to see it.Diagramma? the docent said, wheedling abide in. My You two certainly hunch over your history Unfortunately that archive is not viewable. It is under secret preservation in the Vatican Arc Could you excuse us? Langdon said. He was confused by Vittorias panic. He took her aside and reached in his pocket, conservatively extracting the Diagramma folio. Whats going on?Whats the date on this thing? Vittoria de humanded, scanning the sheet.The docent was on them again, staring at the folio, mouth agape. Thats not actuallyTourist reproduction, Langdon quipped. thank you for your help. Please, my wife and I would wish a mo workforcet alone.The docent backed off, eyeball never leaving the story.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 deciphitherd the number. 1639?Yes. Whats wrong?Vittorias eyes filled with foreboding. Were in trouble, Robert. Big trouble. The dates dont match.What dates dont match?Raphaels grave accent. He wasnt interred here until 1759. A century after Diagramma was published.Langdon stared at her, trying to make awareness of the words. No, he replied. Raphael died in 1520, long before Diagramma.Yes, alone he wasnt buried here until much later.Langdon was lost. What are you talking virtually?I vindicatory read it. Raphaels body was relocated to the Pantheon in 1758. It was part of some historic tribute to eminent Italians.As the words settled in, Langdon felt like a rug had bonny been yanked out from under him.When that poem was written, Vittoria declared, Raphaels grave was somewhere else. Back then, the Pantheon had nothing at all to do with RaphaelLangdon could not breathe. provided that closesYes It means were in the wrong placeLangdon felt himself sway. Impossible I was certainVittoria ran over and grabbed the docent, pulling him back. Signore, exc use us. Where was Raphaels body in the 1600s?Urb Urbino, he stammered, now looking bewildered. His birthplace.Impossible Langdon cursed to himself. The Illuminati altars of light 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 tomb. In Rome. bath you tell us what that might be?The docent looked unsettled. This was Raphaels only 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 hole? What the hell is it? approximateWas there another artist called Santi? Vittoria asked.The docent shrugged. Not that I distinguish of.How most anyone famous at all? Maybe a scientist or a poet or an astronomer named Santi?The docent now looked like he wanted to leave. No, maam. The only Santi Ive ever hear of is Raphael t he architect.Architect? Vittoria said. I intellection he was a key fruiterHe 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 there the advancement of thoughts fell like dominoes. Renaissance architects lived for only two reasons to glorify matinee idol 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 turned. What?Its not a recognition to where Raphael is buried, its referring to a tomb he designed.What are you talking about?I misunderstood the clue. Its not Raphaels burial site were looking for, its a tomb Raphael designed for someone else. I cant believe I missed it. one-half of the sculpting done in Renaissance and Baroque Rome was for the funeraries. Langdon smiled with the revelation. Raphael must fall in 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 adjudge 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. obviously 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 safe.Are any of Raphaels tombs or chapels considered earthly?The man shrugged. Im sorry. I dont know what you mean. Earthly really doesnt suck up anything I know of. I should be going.Vittoria held his arm and read from the spinning top line of the folio. From Santis earthly tomb with demons hole. 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 endure an oculus in them?The docent move 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 gift 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 believe a demons hole is an old-fashioned term for a massive burial cavity located in a chapel underneath another tomb.An ossuary annex? 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 jumble to an awkward dilemma. When churches honored their most distinguished members with ornate tombs inside the sanctuary, surviving family members often demanded the family be buried together thus ensuring they too would have a coveted burial spot inside the church. However, if the church did not have space or funds to create tombs for an entire family, they sometimes dug an ossuary annex a hole in the floor tight fitting the tomb where they buried the less worthy family members. The hole was then cover with the Renaissance equivalent of a manhole cover. Although convenient, the ossuary ann ex went out of style apace 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 question 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.Only one? Langdon could not have dreamed of a better response. Where Vittoria almost shouted.The docent eye them strangely. Its called the Chigi chapel. Tomb of Agostino Chigi and his brother, wealthy 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 arc hitecture. Raphael was only the architect. Some other sculptor did the interior adornments. I cant remember who.Langdon was now all ears. The unnamed 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 merely 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 make 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 genus Gallinago della Terra.Chapel of the Land? Langdon asked.No, Vittoria said, heading for the penetration. Chapel of the Earth .Vittoria Vetra whipped out her cell band as she dashed into Piazza della Rotunda. Commander Olivetti, she said. This is the wrong placeOlivetti sounded bewildered. treat? 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. bum your men over there now Weve got four minutesBut my men are in position here I cant possibly 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 hold by the curb. She pounded on the hood of the first car in line. The quiescency driver bolted upright with a startled yelp. Vittoria yanked open the rear door and pushed Langdon inside. Then she jumped in behind him.Santa Maria del Popolo, she ordered. PrestoLooking mad and half terrified, the driver hit the accelerator, peeling out down the street.63Gunther Glick had assumed cont rol of the computer from Chinita Macri, who now stood hunched in the back of the cramped BBC van staring in confusion over Glicks shoulder.I told you, Glick said, typing some more keys. The British blabbermouth 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 half a dozen 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 passim 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 published a statement condemning the Illuminati and warning Brits of a worldwide conspiracy against morality?Macri was dubious. Where did it run? In the British Tattler?Glick smiled. London 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, reading 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 power so organized, so subtle, so complete, so pervasive, that none had better speak 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 jab in stride. She knew her years were showing. At forty-three, her bushy sinister curls were streaked with gray. She was too proud for dye. Her mom, a Southern 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. turn out tall, smile bright, and let em wonder what secrets 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 according 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. parliam ent Committee Chair, Chris Mullin, required all members of British Parliament who were Masons to declare their affiliation.Macri remembered it. The rules of order 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 joined the Masons for networking and charity work. They had no clue about the brotherhoods past affiliations. assert 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. biography has a way of rewriting itself.Fine, you want something current? Have a look at this. Heres an Illuminati reference from a recent Wall cours e Journal.This caught Macris ear. The Journal?Guess what the most popular Internet computer spicy in America is right now?Pin the tail 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 infernal brotherhood from Bavaria sets out to take over the world. You can find them online at Macri looked up, feeling ill. What do these Illuminati guys have against Christianity?Not just Christianity, Glick said. devotion 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 pull down four cardinals? Glick smiled. I sure hope so.