mp.godfather-第7章

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　solved。　He　patted　his　godson　on　the　shoulder。　〃You're　discouraged。　Nobody　cares　about　you；　so　you　think。　And　you've　lost　a　lot　of　weight。　You　drink　a　lot；　eh？　You　don't　sleep　and　you　take　pills？〃　He　shook　his　head　disapprovingly。
　
　〃Now　I　want　you　to　follow　my　orders；〃　the　Don　said。　〃I　want　you　to　stay　in　my　house　for　one　month。　I　want　you　to　eat　well；　to　rest　and　sleep。　I　want　you　to　be　my　panion；　I　enjoy　your　pany；　and　maybe　you　can　learn　something　about　the　world　from　your　Godfather　that　might　even　help　you　in　the　great　Hollywood。　But　no　singing；　no　drinking　and　no　women。　At　the　end　of　the　month　you　can　go　back　to　Hollywood　and　this　pezzonovante；　this　。90　caliber　will　give　you　that　job　you　want。　Done？〃
　
　Johnny　Fontane　could　not　altogether　believe　that　the　Don　had　such　power。　But　his　Godfather　had　never　said　such　and　such　a　thing　could　be　done　without　having　it　done。　〃This　guy　is　a　personal　friend　of　J。　Edgar　Hoover；〃　Johnny　said。　〃You　can't　even　raise　your　voice　to　him。〃
　
　〃He's　a　businessman；〃　the　Don　said　blandly。　〃I'll　make　him　an　offer　he　can't　refuse。〃
　
　〃It's　too　late；〃　Johnny　said。　〃All　the　contracts　have　been　signed　and　they　start　shooting　in　a　week。　It's　absolutely　impossible。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　said；　〃Go；　go　back　to　the　party。　Your　friends　are　waiting　for　you。　Leave　everything　to　me。〃　He　pushed　Johnny　Fontane　out　of　the　room。
　
　Hagen　sat　behind　the　desk　and　made　notes。　The　Don　heaved　a　sigh　and　asked；　〃Is　there　anything　else？〃
　
　〃Sollozzo　can't　be　put　off　any　more。　You'll　have　to　see　him　this　week。〃　Hagen　held　his　pen　over　the　calendar。
　
　The　Don　shrugged。　〃Now　that　the　wedding　is　over；　whenever　you　like。〃
　
　This　answer　told　Hagen　two　things。　Most　important；　that　the　answer　to　Virgil　Sollozzo　would　be　no。　The　second；　that　Don　Corleone；　since　he　would　not　give　the　answer　before　his　daughter's　wedding；　expected　his　no　to　cause　trouble。
　
　Hagen　said　cautiously；　〃Shall　I　tell　Clemenza　to　have　some　men　e　live　in　the　house？〃
　
　The　Don　said　impatiently；　〃For　what？　I　didn't　answer　before　the　wedding　because　on　an　important　day　like　that　there　should　be　no　cloud；　not　even　in　the　distance。　Also　I　wanted　to　know　beforehand　what　he　wanted　to　talk　about。　We　know　now。　What　he　will　propose　is　an　infamita。〃
　
　Hagen　asked；　〃Then　you　will　refuse？〃　When　the　Don　nodded；　Hagen　said；　〃I　think　we　should　all　discuss　it…　the　whole　Family…　before　you　give　your　answer。〃
　
　The　Don　smiled。　〃You　think　so？　Good；　we　will　discuss　it。　When　you　e　back　from　California。　I　want　you　to　fly　there　tomorrow　and　settle　this　business　for　Johnny。　See　that　movie　pezzonovante。　Tell　Sollozzo　I　will　see　him　when　you　get　back　from　California。　Is　there　anything　else？〃
　
　Hagen　said　formally；　〃The　hospital　called。　Consigliere　Abbandando　is　dying；　he　won't　last　out　the　night。　His　family　was　told　to　e　and　wait。〃
　
　Hagen　had　filled　the　Consigliere's　post　for　the　past　year；　ever　since　the　cancer　had　imprisoned　Genco　Abbandando　in　his　hospital　bed。　Now　he　waited　to　hear　Don　Corleone　say　the　post　was　his　permanently。　The　odds　were　against　it。　So　high　a　position　was　traditionally　given　only　to　a　man　descended　from　two　Italian　parents。　There　had　already　been　trouble　about　his　temporary　performance　of　the　duties。　Also；　he　was　only　thirty…five；　not　old　enough；　supposedly；　to　have　acquired　the　necessary　experience　and　cunning　for　a　successful　Consigliere。
　
　But　the　Don　gave　him　no　encouragement。　He　asked；　〃When　does　my　daughter　leave　with　her　bridegroom？〃
　
　Hagen　looked　at　his　wristwatch。　〃In　a　few　minutes　they'll　cut　the　cake　and　then　a　half　hour　after　that。〃　That　reminded　him　of　something　else。　〃Your　new　son…in…law。　Do　we　give　him　something　important；　inside　the　Family？〃
　
　He　was　surprised　at　the　vehemence　of　the　Don's　answer。　〃Never。〃　The　Don　hit　the　desk　with　the　flat　of　his　hand。　〃Never。　Give　him　something　to　earn　his　living；　a　good　living。　But　never　let　him　know　the　Family's　business。　Tell　the　others；　Sonny；　Fredo；　Clemenza。〃
　
　The　Don　paused。　〃Instruct　my　sons；　all　three　of　them；　that　they　will　acpany　me　to　the　hospital　to　see　poor　Genco。　I　want　them　to　pay　their　last　respects。　Tell　Freddie　to　drive　the　big　car　and　ask　Johnny　if　he　will　e　with　us；　as　a　special　favor　to　me。〃　He　saw　Hagen　look　at　him　questioningly。　〃I　want　you　to　go　to　California　tonight。　You　won't　have　time　to　go　see　Genco。　But　don't　leave　until　I　e　back　from　the　hospital　and　speak　with　you。　Understood？〃
　
　〃Understood；〃　Hagen　said。　〃What　time　should　Fred　have　the　car　waiting？〃
　
　〃When　the　guests　have　left；〃　Don　Corleone　said。　〃Genco　will　wait　for　me。〃
　
　〃The　Senator　called；〃　Hagen　said。　〃Apologizing　for　not　ing　personally　but　that　you　would　understand。　He　probably　means　those　two　FBI　men　across　the　street　taking　down　license　numbers。　But　he　sent　his　gift　over　by　special　messenger。〃
　
　The　Don　nodded。　He　did　not　think　it　necessary　to　mention　that　he　himself　had　warned　the　Senator　not　to　e。　〃Did　he　send　a　nice　present？〃
　
　Hagen　made　a　face　of　impressed　approval　that　was　very　strangely　Italian　on　his　German…Irish　features。　〃Antique　silver；　very　valuable。　The　kids　can　sell　it　for　a　grand　at　least。　The　Senator　spent　a　lot　of　time　getting　exactly　the　right　thing。　For　those　kind　of　people　that's　more　important　than　how　much　it　costs。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　did　not　hide　his　pleasure　that　so　great　a　man　as　the　Senator　had　shown　him　such　respect。　The　Senator；　like　Luca　Brasi；　was　one　of　the　great　stones　in　the　Don's　power　structure；　and　he　too；　with　this　gift；　had　resworn　his　loyalty。
　
　**********
　
　When　Johnny　Fontane　appeared　in　the　garden；　Kay　Adams　recognized　him　immediately。　She　was　truly　surprised。　〃You　never　told　me　your　family　knew　Johnny　Fontane；〃　she　said。　〃Now　I'm　sure　I'll　marry　you。〃
　
　〃Do　you　want　to　meet　him？〃　Michael　asked。
　
　〃Not　now；〃　Kay　said。　She　sighed。　〃I　was　in　love　with　him　for　three　years。　I　used　to　e　down　to　New　York　whenever　he　sang　at　the　Capitol　and　scream　my　head　off。　He　was　so　wonderful。〃
　
　〃We'll　meet　him　later；〃　Michael　said。
　
　When　Johnny　finished　singing　and　vanished　into　the　house　with　Don　Corleone；　Kay　said　archly　to　Michael；　〃Don't　tell　me　a　big　movie　star　like　Johnny　Fontane　has　to　ask　your　father　for　a　favor？〃
　
　〃He's　my　father's　godson；〃　Michael　said。　〃And　if　it　wasn't　for　my　father　he　might　not　be　a　big　movie　star　today。〃
　
　Kay　Adams　laughed　with　delight。　〃That　sounds　like　another　great　story。〃
　
　Michael　shook　his　head　〃I　can't　tell　that　one；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Trust　me；〃　she　said。
　
　He　told　her。　He　told　her　without　being　funny。　He　told　it　without　pride。　He　told　it　without　any　sort　of　explanation　except　that　eight　years　before　his　father　had　been　more　impetuous；　and　because　the　matter　concerned　his　godson；　the　Don　considered　it　an　affair　of　personal　honor。
　
　The　story　was　quickly　told。　Eight　years　ago　Johnny　Fontane　had　made　an　extraordinary　success　singing　with　a　popular　dance　band。　He　had　bee　a　top　radio　attraction。　Unfortunately　the　band　leader；　a　well…known　show　business　personality　named　Les　Halley；　had　signed　Johnny　to　a　five…year　personal　services　contract。　It　was　a　mon　show　business　practice。　Les　Halley　could　now　loan　Johnny　out　and　pocket　most　of　the　money。
　
　Don　Corleone　entered　the　negotiations　personally。　He　offered　Les　Halley　twenty　thousand　dollars　to　release　Johnny　Fontane　from　the　personal　services　contract。　Halley　offered　to　take　only　fifty　percent　of　Johnny's　earnings。　Don　Corleone　was　amused。　He　dropped　his　offer　from　twenty　thousand　dollars　to　ten　thousand　dollars。　The　band　leader；　obviously　not　a　man　of　the　world　outside　his　beloved　show　business；　pletely　missed　the　significance　of　this　lower　offer。　He　refused。
　
　The　next　day　Don　Corleone　went　to　see　the　band　leader　personally。　He　brought　with　him　his　two　best　friends；　Genco　Abbandando；　who　was　his　Consigliere；　and　Luca　Brasi。　With　no　other　witnesses　Don　Corleone　persuaded　Les　Halley　to　sign　a　document　giving　up　all　rights　to　all　services　from　Johnny　Fontane　upon　payment　of　a　certified　check　to　the　amount　of　ten　thousand　dollars。　Don　Corleone　did　this　by　putting　a　pistol　to　the　forehead　of　the　band　leader　and　assuring　him　with　the　utmost　seriousness　that　either　his　signature　or　his　brains　would　rest　on　that　document　in　exactly　one　minute。　Les　Halley　signed。　Don　Corleone　pocketed　his　pistol　and　handed　over　the　certified　check。
　
　The　rest　was　history。　Johnny　Fontane　went　on　to　bee　the　greatest　singing　sensation　in　the　country。　He　made　Hollywood　musicals　that　earned　a　fortune　for　his　studio。　His　records　made　millions　of　dollars。　Then　he　divorced　his　childhood…sweetheart　wife　and　left　his　two　children；　to　marry　the　most　glamorous　blond　star　in　motion　pictures。　He　soon　learned　that　she　was　a　〃whore。〃　He　drank；　he　gambled；　he　chased　other　women。　He　lost　his　singing　voice。　His　records　stopped　selling。　The　studio　did　not　renew　his　contract。　And　so　now　he　had　e　back　to　his　Godfather。
　
　Kay　said　thoughtfully；　〃Are　you　sure　you're　not　jealous　of　your　father？　Everything　you've　told　me　about　him　shows　him　doing　something　for　other　people。　He　must　be　goodhearted。〃　She　smiled　wryly。　〃Of　course　his　methods　are　not　exactly　constitutional。〃
　
　Michael　sighed。　〃I　guess　that's　the　way　it　sounds；　but　let　me　tell　you　this。　You　know　those　Arctic　explorers　who　leave　caches　of　food　scattered　on　the　route　to　the　North　Pole？　Just　in　case　they　may　need　them　someday？　That's　my　father's　favors。　Someday　he'll　be　at　each　one　of　those　people's　houses　and　they　had　better　e　across。〃
　
　**********
　
　It　was　nearly　twilight　before　the　wedding　cake　was　shown；　exclaimed　over　and　eaten。　Specially　baked　by　Nazorine；　it　was　cleverly　decorated　with　shells　of　cream　so　dizzyingly　delicious　that　the　bride　greedily　plucked　them　from　the　corpse　of　the　cake　before　she　whizzed　away　on　her　honeymoon　with　her　blond　groom。　The　Don　politely　sped　his　guests'　departure；　noting　meanwhile　that　the　black　sedan　with　its　FBI　men　was　no　longer　visible。
　
　Finally　the　only　car　left　in　the　driveway　was　the　long　black　Cadillac　with　Freddie　at　the　wheel。　The　Don　got　into　the　front　seat；　moving　with　quick　coordination　for　his　age　and　bulk。　Sonny；　Michael　and　Johnny　Fontane　got　into　the　back　seat。　Don　Corleone　said　to　his　son　Michael；　〃Your　girl　friend；　she'll　get　back　to　the　city　by　herself　all　right？〃
　
　Michael　nodded。　〃Tom　said　he'd　take　care　of　it。〃　Don　Corleone　nodded　with　satisfaction　at　Hagen's　efficiency。
　
　Because　of　the　gas　rationing　still　in　effect；　there　was　little　traffic　on　the　Belt　Parkway　to　Manhattan。　In　less　than　an　hour　the　Cadillac　rolled　into　the　street　of　French　Hospital。　During　the　ride　Don　Corleone　asked　his　youngest　son　if　he　was　doing　well　in　school。　Michael　nodded。　Then　Sonny　in　the　back　seat　asked　his　father；　〃Johnny　says　you're　getting　him　squared　away　with　that　Hollywood　business。　Do　you　want　me　to　go　out　there　and　help？〃
　
　Don　Corleone　was　curt。　〃Tom　is　going　tonight。　He　won't　need　any　help；　it's　a　simple　affair。〃
　
　Sonny　Corleone　laughed。　〃Johnny　thinks　you　can't　fix　it；　that's　why　I　thought　you　might　want　me　to　go　out　there。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　turned　his　head。　〃Why　do　you　doubt　me？〃　he　asked　Johnny　Fontane。　〃Hasn't　your　Godfather　al