In the hotel lounge, Captain Oldřich Janáček shows Robert Langdon a grainy surveillance image of the black-clad woman with a spiked headpiece and spear—the same figure Langdon saw on the bridge. Janáček presses Langdon to explain why he spoke to the woman, then abruptly fled and triggered the hotel evacuation. Langdon says the woman ignored him, but her presence and “smell of death” terrified him.

Pushed to justify the panic, Langdon recounts the previous night: after Katherine Solomon’s lecture at Prague Castle, they drank at the hotel bar with Dr. Brigita Gessner, who urged Katherine to try Bohemian absinthe. Around 1:30 a.m., Katherine woke from a nightmare, and Langdon calmed her by the fire before they returned to bed.

Langdon then explains the core of his fear: in Katherine’s nightmare, a woman matching the spiked headpiece and spear appeared in their suite, threatened that Katherine would die, and the hotel later exploded. Seeing the same woman in real life, combined with the morning bells, made Langdon worry the dream was a warning—yet Janáček points out that Langdon and Katherine were out of the hotel by 7:00 a.m., the exact scheduled detonation time, and accuses Langdon of lying.

Attaché Harris tries to restrain Janáček, insisting it is inconceivable Langdon or Katherine would plot a bombing. Janáček argues Katherine has a motive: publicity for her forthcoming book about paranormal abilities, suggesting the “prophetic dream” narrative could boost credibility and sales. He claims the bomb’s small size and placement suggest it was designed to be found safely after an anonymous tip, and implies Katherine may have staged events and used Langdon as an unwitting accessory.

Janáček demands Katherine’s location to hear her version. Langdon says Katherine is meeting Dr. Gessner at 8:00 a.m., and Janáček reveals he took Katherine’s note and both passports from their room. When Langdon asks to speak privately with Harris, Janáček threatens arrest; then Harris unexpectedly gives Janáček the destination: Crucifix Bastion, four kilometers away.