Summary

In the Prologue, a man whom people believe to be mad jumps to his death to keep from showing those who are hunting him the place where he believes a gift to mankind is hidden. Just before he jumps he sees a person whom he loves standing in the crowd. He jumps even though he knows that person is watching.

In Chapter 1, Robert Langdon saw a woman with long silver hair wearing an amulet around her neck. The amulet is decorated with the likeness of a single snake coiled around a staff. The woman asked Langdon to seek and find and told him that his help was needed. Bodies of people who were killed in terrible ways were at her feet. When the woman lifted her veil, Langdon sensed he knew her and trusted her, even though he could not bring...