Robert Langdon, #1
Angels & Demons
by Dan Brown
Contents
75
Overview
The second kidnapped cardinal is revealed at the base of the St. Peter’s Square obelisk, disguised as a homeless man and branded with the Air symbol. Vittoria’s attempted rescue fails when she discovers his lungs have been punctured, confirming that the killer has completed the second public execution.
The chapter escalates the Illuminati threat by showing the assassin’s ability to operate in a crowded, heavily guarded piazza. The BBC camerawoman captures the grisly scene, making the Vatican’s crisis even more public and harder to control.
Summary
Langdon reaches the screaming girl in St. Peter’s Square and sees what appears to be a decrepit homeless man slumped at the base of the obelisk. The man is wrapped in filthy cloth, bleeding heavily, and collapses facedown before Langdon can catch him.
Vittoria arrives and finds a pulse, so Langdon rolls the man over. As the rags fall away, they reveal a charred ambigram branded into the center of the man’s chest: Air. Vittoria realizes the victim is the next kidnapped cardinal.
Swiss Guards rush in and pursue the unseen killer. A nearby tourist explains that a dark-skinned man had recently helped the wheezing “homeless” man across the square and sat with him briefly, indicating the assassin disguised the cardinal and abandoned him in public.
Vittoria tries to revive the cardinal with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but air and blood spray from two puncture wounds beneath the ribs. Vittoria understands that the cardinal’s lungs have been pierced, making rescue impossible. The Air cardinal dies at the second altar of science.
As the guards secure the body, Langdon notices the BBC camerawoman who had been following them. Her camera is recording the scene, and after making eye contact with Langdon, she flees with the footage.
Who Appears
- Robert LangdonReaches the collapsed victim first and realizes the Air cardinal has been found.
- Vittoria VetraChecks the cardinal’s pulse and tries to revive him before discovering punctured lungs.
- The Air cardinalSecond kidnapped cardinal, disguised as a homeless man and murdered at the obelisk.
- BBC camerawomanSecretly films the cardinal’s death and flees after Langdon notices her.
- The assassinUnseen killer who posed as a helper and left the dying cardinal in public.
- Swiss GuardsRush into the square, secure the area, and pursue the unseen assassin.