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Chapter 1-23; pages 1-103
Robert Landon A religious and artistic symbologist is awoken and is directed to Maximilian Kohler of CERN who discoved Leonardo Vetra with his chest is branded with an ambigram of the word "Illuminati". Kohler calls Vetra's adopted daughter Vittoria to the scene, and it is determined that the Illuminati have stolen a canister of newly created anti-matter.
(pages 103, total 950) -
Chapter 23-31; pages 103-133
The stolen anti-matter is counting down 24 hours, then it will self distruct. The canister is somewhere in Vatican City, with a security camera in front of it, as its digital clock counts down to the explosion.
Langdon and Vittoria go to Vatican City, where the Pope has recently died. It is discovered that four cardinals, who are the most likely to become Pope, are missing. Langdon and Vittoria search for the Cardinals in hopes that they will also find the antimatter.
(pages 30, total 980) -
Chapter 31-48; pages 134-238
Langdon attempts to retrace the steps of the "Path of Illumination", a process used by the Illuminati as a means of inducting new members; clues left indicate the secret meeting place of the Illuminati. Langdon sets off on the Path in hopes of delivering the cardinals and antimatter unharmed.
(pages 103; total 1,083) -
Chapters 48-64: pages 239-322
Langdon and Vittoria go to the Vatican Hidden Archives to search for the document of the Path of Illumination. They find the Galleio was a poet, as well as a member of the Illuminanti. The find the "riddle/poem/document" they need and smuggle it from the archives. Then to be escorted to the 1st location on the Path, by the Swiss Guard.
(pages 82; total 1165) -
Chapters 64-83: pages 322-413
The Path leads Langdon and Vittoria to four locations in Rome, each associated with one of the elements: 'Earth', 'Air', 'Fire', and 'Water'. The first cardinal was branded with an Earth ambigram and had soil forced down his throat; the second was branded with an air ambigram and had his lungs punctured; the third was branded with a fire ambigram and was burned alive.
(pages 91; total 1,256) -
Chapter 83-101; pages 413-506
After finding the bodies of the first two Cardinals, Langdon hurries to the Santa Maria della Vittoria Basilica and finds the abductor in the act of setting the third cardinal on fire. The kidnapper is an unnamed assassin who is working under the orders of the Illuminati Master "Janus" whose true identity is unknown. The Swiss Guard Commander is killed and the assassin kidnaps Vittoria. Langdon escapes and sees the assassin's final killing at the element landmark (Water)
(pages 93; total 1,349) -
Chapter 101-107; pages 507-592
Langdon must complete the Path in order to find the assassin and rescue Vittoria. His search leads him to Castel Sant'Angelo, that hides a tunnel leading directly into the pope's chambers in the Vatican. Langdon frees Vittoria, and together they send the assassin falling several hundred feet to his death. They hurry back to St. Peter's Basilica, where they find that Kohler has arrived to confront the camerlengo in private. Langdon and Vittoria fear that Kohler is Janus.
(pages 85; total 1,434) -
Chapter 117- end; pages 593-713 CONTINUED 2
...The camerlengo manages to parachute safely onto the roof of St. Peter's just as the canister explodes harmlessly in the sky. The crowd in St. Peter's Square look in awe because of this "miracle". The papal conclave debate whether to elect the camerlengo as the new Pope. Langdon survived the explosion by using a window cover from the helicopter as a parachute, and landed in the Tiber River...
(pages 120; total 1,554) -
Chapter 117- end; pages 593-713
Kohler turns out to be Janus, and has come to murder the camerlengo. Hearing the camerlengo scream from being branded with the Illuminati Diamond, the Swiss Guards burst into the room and open fire on Kohler. Just before he dies, Kohler gives Langdon a videotape that he claims will explain everything...
(pages 120; total 1,554) -
Chapter 117- end; pages 593-713 CONTINUED 1
...With time running out, the Swiss Guard evacuates the Basilica. The camerlengo rushes back in, claiming that he has received a vision revealing the location of the antimatter canister. With Langdon in pursuit, the camerlengo ventures into the catacombs and finds the canister sitting atop the tomb of Saint Peter. Langdon and the camerlengo retrieve the antimatter and get in a helicopter with only minutes to spare...
(pages 120; total 1,554) -
Chapter 117- end; pages 593-713 CONTINUED 3
...After viewing Kohler's tape Langdon, Vittoria, and the cardinals confront the camerlengo; Shortly before the beginning of the novel, the late Pope met with Leonardo Vetra who believed that anti-matter was capable of establishing a link between Man and God. Vetra's beliefs caused great discomfort to the camerlengo. While discussing Vetra, the late Pope reveals that his support is due to science having given him a son...
(pages 120; total 1,554) -
Chapter 117- end; pages 593-713 CONTINUED 4
...Without waiting to hear the explanation (the child was the result of artificial insemination) and horrified that the Pope appeared to have broken his vow of chastity, the camerlengo plots to "rectify" the situation. He poisoned the Pope and, under the guide of (Janus), he recruited the assassin, to kill Vetra, steal the antimatter, and kidnap and murder the Cardinals. The Camerlengo planted the antimatter in St. Peter's in order to be seen as the savior...
(pages 120; total 1,554) -
Chapter 117- end; pages 593-713 CONTINUED 5
...The Illuminati "involvement" was merely a plot engineered by the camerlengo to cover his own plans. It is revealed that Camerlengo Ventresca himself was the birth son of the late Pope, conceived through artificial insemination. Overcome with guilt Ventresca soaks himself in oil and ignites himself before a crowd of onlookers in St. Peter's Square.
END OF BOOK
(pages 120; total 1,554)