In chapter 82, at CERN in Leonardo Vetra’s apartment, Kohler had just finished reading the leather-bound journal he’s taken from Vetra’s bedside table. Now, he is watching the television reports. In Vatican City, Cardinal Mortati carried another tray of ballots to the Sistine Chapel chimney. He burns them and the smoke is black – no Pope.
In chapter 83, Vittoria, the camerlengo, and some Swiss Guards go down to the Vatican Grottoes. Vittoria and the camerlengo talk. He tells her that he is very sorry about the death of her father. He says that he never knew his father. He died before the camerlengo was born and he lost his mother when he was ten. They were both in an accident and he survived but his mother died. Vittoria asks who took care of him and the camerlengo says God. A bishop from Palermo appeared at his hospital bed and took him in. The camerlengo worked under the bishop’s tutelage for many years. The bishop then became a cardinal. He is the father that the camerlengo remembers. Vittoria asks what became of the cardinal who took him in. He tells her that the cardinal left the College of Cardinals for another position and then he passed on. Vittoria asks “Recently?” and he tells her, “Exactly fifteen days ago. We are going to see him right now.”
In chapter 84, Langdon finds a book of Bernini’s collection of work. He finds that Bernini’s sculpture of The Ecstasy of St. Teresa was moved to an obscure church by the suggestion of the artist. The sculpture also contains an angle and many references to fire, the next element. The sculpture is at the Santa Maria della Vittoria church. Just as Langdon makes his way toward the vaults electronic exit, someone killed the power.
In chapter 85, Vittoria, the camerlengo, and Swiss Guards arrive at the late Pope’s tomb. When they look at the deceased Pope, they see that his cheeks had collapsed and his mouth gaped wide. His tongue was black as death.
In chapter 86, Langdon struggles to try to open the door because the amount of oxygen in the vault is running out. He eventually manages to break the glass and survive. He finds the walkie-talkie and radios one of the guards who happened to be down in the Vatican Grottoes with the camerlengo and Vittoria. Langdon tells the camerlengo that he thinks someone just tried to kill him and also that he knows where the next killing is going to be. The voice that answered him back was Commander Olivetti’s telling him to not speak another word.
In chapter 87, Langdon arrived back at the Pope’s office to find Olivetti, Rocher, the camerlengo, Vittoria, and a handful of guards there. Rocher takes the blame for the power outage and says that he didn’t know Langdon was in the archives. Vittoria tells Langdon that the Pope was poisoned and that the Illuminati killed him. Olivetti tells Langdon that he told him not to speak because the murder of the Pope is an act that could only have been accomplished with help from within these walls. They can trust no one, not even the guards. The camerlengo tells Olivetti that he is going to break conclave. A guard emerges from the security center and tells the camerlengo that he just got word that they have detained the BBC reported, Mr. Glick. The camerlengo tells the guard to have him and his camera woman meet him outside the Sistine Chapel. Olivetti, Langdon, and Vittoria leave to find the third alter of science.
In chapter 88, on the way to the Santa Maria della Vittoria church, Vittoria gets a call from Kohler. He says that he may have some information for her about her father. He says he may know who her father told about the antimatter. Kohler says that he needs to check some security records and that he will be in touch soon. They arrive at the Piazza Barberini where the church is. At that moment, the Hassassin gets a call from Janus who tells him that his position may be known and that there is someone coming to stop him. The Hassassin tells him that they are too late and that he has already made the arrangements. Janus tells him that those who stand in his way are knowledgeable. The Hassassin says, “You speak of the American scholar?” and Janus asks, “You are aware of him?” The Hassassin tells him that he in cool-tempered but naïve and says that he spoke to him on the phone earlier. He also says that the female he is with seems quite the opposite. Janus tells the Hassassin to eliminate them if need be. The Hassassin says, “Consider it done,” while thinking “Although the woman I may keep as a prize.”
In chapter 89, the Swiss Guard continues to search for the antimatter. Lieutenant Chartrand remembers a conversation he had with the camerlengo when he first arrived in Vatican City and he feels comforted knowing that the camerlengo was taking control.
In chapter 90, Langdon and Vittoria run into two nuns and ask where the church is. They point to it, but say that it closed early. They tell them that they had been inside the church fifteen minutes ago praying for the Vatican in its time of need, when some Arabic man appeared and told them the church was closing early. Vittoria presses the auto dial on her phone to warn Olivetti who had already gone inside. Langdon, who is speechless, points to the church which is on fire.
In chapter 91, Langdon and Vittoria run into the church and see a naked man suspended from cables. Each wrist had been connected to an opposite cable, his arms outstretched in a spread-eagle. The man was alive and he gazed down in a silent plea for help. He had been branded. As the flames climbed higher, lapping at his feet, the victim let out a cry of pain. Langdon tries to get him down somehow while Vittoria looks for Olivetti. She finds him dead, with his head twisted 180 degrees in the wrong direction. She hears breathing behind her and turns around, but it is too late. The killer’s elbow crashes down on the back of her neck. He says, “Now, you are mine.” Langdon realizes that Olivetti and Vittoria are nowhere to be found and then he sees the Hassassin. Langdon recognizes the gun in his hand as the one Vittoria had been carrying when they came in. He shoots at Langdon, but he dives under some pews. High above, Cardinal Guidera endures his last torturous moments of consciousness. He thinks that he is in hell. He reads the word branded to his chest, Fire.
In chapter 92, the doors of the Sistine Chapel open. Cardinal Mortati thinks that the preferiti are coming, but when the door opened, a gasp echoed through the chapel. For the first time in Vatican history, a camerlengo had just crossed the sacred threshold of conclave after sealing the doors. The camerlengo goes up to the altar and says, “Signori, I have waited as long as I can. There is something you have a right to know.”
Wow, that would be such an awful way to die! Being burned alive is just horrible. I also feel bad for Olivetti. I was just starting to like him. I also wonder what the Hassassin is going to do with Vittoria. Langdon is really in trouble now. It’s just he and the Hassassin. I know he can’t die because he is the main character of the novel, but I wonder how he escapes. I think it’s good that the camerlengo is telling all of the cardinals the truth.
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