Dan Brown's Novels >> Angels and Demons Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Sowieja stranger Reged: 06/26/04 Posts: 2 Falling from the sky       #1388 - 06/26/04 08:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I don't know if it is just me, or if I missed it in the book. During the part where Robert and the camerlengo both fall from the sky, was it ever hinted at as to how the camerlengo survived? I finished the book less than a week ago and that thought has been driving me nuts since. Post Extras:       poia The Modeleter Reged: 01/25/04 Posts: 168 Loc: NJ Re: Falling from the sky [Re: Sowieja]       #1389 - 06/26/04 10:25 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If you read more carefully page 189 you would remember that the camerlengo spend 2 years in the army... where he learned how to fly a helicopter and how to parachute... Then...:) page 505 where he parachutes himself into the night... -------------------- "OK, so what's the speed of dark?"S.W. Post Extras:       Sowieja stranger Reged: 06/26/04 Posts: 2 Re: Falling from the sky [Re: poia]       #1392 - 06/27/04 02:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I sort of caught that aspect, but does that mean he was able to get to the building rooftop before the bomb exploded? He would have to have been moving pretty quickly considering the time that was left on that bomb. Post Extras:       poia The Modeleter Reged: 01/25/04 Posts: 168 Loc: NJ Re: Falling from the sky [Re: Sowieja]       #1393 - 06/27/04 03:07 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   He appeared on the rooftop after the bomb exploded...;) -------------------- "OK, so what's the speed of dark?"S.W. Post Extras:       RivetGrrl stranger Reged: 09/05/04 Posts: 2 Loc: Michigan USA Re: Falling from the sky [Re: poia]       #1797 - 09/06/04 11:15 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I believe it says something about him climbing up stairs to the rooftop... this happened after the explosion. So, I take it that he must have landed somewhere other than the roof and then went up there for everyone to see... Post Extras:       sdrmike stranger Reged: 02/24/05 Posts: 2 Loc: Florida Re: Falling from the sky [Re: RivetGrrl]       #2982 - 02/24/05 04:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   In the spanish version of the book (the one I just finished reading) it says that the camerlengo landed on a garden behind the church, where he then walked upstairs to the rooftop. Mike Post Extras:       Invulnerable stranger Reged: 03/04/05 Posts: 4 Re: Falling from the sky [Re: sdrmike]       #3183 - 03/22/05 12:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sorry if this is off topic, but what I don't get is if the camerlengo lit himself on fire at the end with the oil lanterns, why were there no remains? Wouldn't he have bones and teeth left? Post Extras:       lovinglangdon stranger Reged: 02/07/05 Posts: 16 Loc: Madison WI Re: Falling from the sky [Re: Invulnerable]       #3186 - 03/24/05 12:48 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My understanding was that the mix of chemicals from the oil lamps -- the butane included -- was so volatile that it burned him to ash. It is possible to burn bones and teeth and leave practically nothing of a body. That's what cremation does, and that's what happens when body fat burns, too -- it's called the "wicking effect." The mix of the chemicals and the fat in the Camerlengo's body (if he had any...) burned at a very high temperature, is my guess. The remains that were there were the ashes that Cardinal Mortati buried with the Pope. Otherwise, the rain swept the rest away. That Ventresca -- what a nut. And yes, he landed in the gardens: "He wondered if it was his body or just his spirit that had floated down from heaven toward the soft, darkened expanse of the Vatican City Gardens . . . alighting like a silent angel on the deserted lawns, his black parachute shrouded from the madness by the towering shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica. He wondered if it was his body or his spirit that had possessed the strength to climb the ancient Stairway of Medallions to the rooftop terrace where he now stood." Post Extras:       Invulnerable stranger Reged: 03/04/05 Posts: 4 Re: Falling from the sky [Re: lovinglangdon]       #3188 - 03/24/05 05:59 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Does Dan Brown actually mention the butane or wicking effect? Where can I read about this online? Post Extras:       lovinglangdon stranger Reged: 02/07/05 Posts: 16 Loc: Madison WI Re: Falling from the sky [Re: Invulnerable]       #3189 - 03/25/05 12:24 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   No I don't think Dan mentions the wick effect, but the butane, yes -- when he describes the concoction that's in the lamps: “What’s that smell?” [Chartrand] asked, turning away from the grate. The niche smelled intoxicatingly sweet. “Fumes from the lamps,” one of them replied. Chartrand was surprised. “Smells more like cologne than kerosene.” “It’s not kerosene. These lamps are close to the papal altar, so they take a special, ambiental mixture-ethanol, sugar, butane, and perfume.” “Butane?” Chartrand eyed the lamps uneasily. The guard nodded. “Don’t spill any. Smells like heaven, but burns like hell.” As for the wick effect, run a Google search for "Human Combustion" and Dr. John DeHaan. He's a great guy, an excellent fire scientist, and he's done a lot of research on this phenomenon -- basically the clothing acts as a wick, drawing the body fat and burning it at a very high temperature. Now, don't go trying anything silly. Post Extras:       Invulnerable stranger Reged: 03/04/05 Posts: 4 Re: Falling from the sky [Re: lovinglangdon]       #3190 - 03/25/05 12:45 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks a lot. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

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