A lithe figure slashed like a knife through the water, doing laps. The swimmer was the only one in the pool, but still pushed like he's got someone to beat. His strokes echoed off vacant bleachers in an oldish college natatorium. It had been his tenth round as he suddenly took notice of a clacking sound caused by heels on tiles. The around fifty year old man didn't stop swimming but rather watched the young woman from the corner of his eyes as she made her way to the end of the pool. He stopped as he reached her, took off his goggles and supported himself on the edge of the pool. "A swim might help your jet lag," he said as he surveyed her for a moment. Sara looked at him confused. "I beg your pardon?"

"You got bags under your eyes. It's five in the morning and you're from the Vatican." Even more confused she raised her eyebrows. Tired wasn't even beginning to describe how she felt at the moment. Two days had passed since she arrived in New York. Two days filled with endless boring discussions at the UN headquarters. On her third night Ernesto had called her with news that shocked her to the very core. "Crossed keys under the triregnum," the man explained and pulled her out of her thoughts. Sara looked at her black briefcase and then turned her attention back to the man in front of her as he said: "It's a papal symbol."

As she looked back up, she noticed the irritated look on his face and instantly thought that he was judging her, but she was too tired to give in to that now. "Sara Agnelli. Corpo della Gendarmeria Vaticano." Again the startled look in his eyes as she said her name, but she ignored it. "Vatican police? I was expecting another letter," he stated. Now it was her turn to look startled. "My request for access to your archives. Shouldn't you be in Rome? A kind of busy time for you guys, isn't it?"

"In fact, I was in New York. Detailed to the UN. I received a phone call in the middle of the night: find Professor Robert Langdon. A matter of great urgency," Sara explained and opened her briefcase. "They said to show you this." She held the copy of the image Ernesto had sent her in front of his face. His eyes widened as they fixed onto the paper. Sara had guessed that as soon as he saw the symbols he would immediately be as keen as a mustard. She tried to suppress a grin as he climbed out of the pool and told her to wait outside while he changed. The indoor aquatic centre was located at campus so they weren't far from his office. Sara was casually leaning against the wall, enjoying the warm rays of the Massachusetts sunshine and trying not to fall asleep, as Robert came back to her. With his hand he gestured for her to follow. "You're American?" he wanted to know. "You speak without Italian accent." Sara smiled slightly. "Half American heritage, yes. I also studied here in America, which would explain my accent, but my home is Italy."

Robert nodded before she turned the subject back to the main point. "The Illuminati?" Sara wanted to know, handing him the paper once more. "They disappeared hundreds of years ago."

"Did they? Look at that again. It's an ambigram. It's the same image forward and backward. Now, that's common for a symbol like a yin and yang or a swastika… but that's a word. That Illuminati ambigrammatic symbol has been considered a myth for 400 years. Supposedly, in the sixteenth century some artist created it as a tribute to Galileo's love for symmetry. It was only gonna be revealed when the Illuminati had amassed enough power to resurface and carry out their final goal. I wrote a book about it… Which is why you're here…?"

"The Art of the Illuminati by Robert Langdon," Sara stated. Yes, she had done a little research about him on the way here. "Part one. Haven't been able to finish part two because I'm not allowed access to your archives."

Sara sighed. Technically, she had nothing to do with the Swiss Guard and their rules, but if he were to ask, she would put in a word for him with Ernesto.

About two minutes later, they had arrived at his office. It was beautifully decorated and filled with old books. Robert took one out and quickly opened a page, on which various amigrams where printed. "It's remarkable. Singular. Someone is trying to make you believe the Illuminati themselves have returned to Rome. An ancient brotherhood, enemies of the church, surfacing just after the death of a Pope? I'd pull you off vacation too."

Sara lowered her head before she spoke. "It's worse than just that. Four cardinals were kidnapped from inside the Vatican sometimes between three and five a.m. this morning. Shortly afterward that document was sent to the Office of the Swiss Guard along with the threat the cardinals will be publicly executed one per hour, beginning at 8pm tonight in Rome."

Robert listened carefully and Sara noticed a flash of shock in his eyes before he spoke again: "Conclave…"

"Was to begin today. We've postponed its start for a few hours, a story of illness. There are no suspicions… yet…"

"What do you want from me?" Robert then wanted to know.

"These criminals who sent this ambigram meant it as a taunt, a provocation. But Captain Olivetti thinks if you can use it to learn their identity perhaps we can stop this abomination."

"Why me?"

Sara sighed. "Your expertise… your erudition… Your recent involvements with certain Church… shall we say mysteries?"

"I wasn't under the impression that episode had endeared me to the Vatican."

The young woman smiled slightly. "Oh it didn't. But it did make you… formidable. A Vatican jet is standing by 20 minutes from here. Will you come with me?"

Robert looked away, clearly deeply in thought and Sara continued. "Professor Langdon, you've spent your life searching for symbols like the one you now hold in your hand. How much longer are we going to pretend you've not already decided to come?" He didn't even have to answer. The look in his eyes told her that she had hit the right spot. So, she took out her BlackBerry and informed the pilot that they were on their way.