mp.godfather-第79章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


green　stalks　of　scallion　fenced　everything　in。　At　the　foot　of　the　garden　a　spouted　barrel　stood　guard。　It　was　filled　with　liquidy　cow　manure；　the　finest　garden　fertilizer。　Also　in　that　lower　part　of　the　garden　were　the　square　wooden　frames　he　had　built　with　his　own　hands；　the　sticks　cross…tied　with　thick　white　string。　Over　these　frames　crawled　the　tomato　vines。
　
　The　Don　hastened　to　water　his　garden。　It　must　be　done　before　the　sun　waxed　too　hot　and　turned　the　water　into　a　prism　of　fire　that　could　burn　his　lettuce　leaves　like　paper。　Sun　was　more　important　than　water；　water　also　was　important；　but　the　two；　imprudently　mixed；　could　cause　great　misfortune。
　
　The　Don　moved　through　his　garden　hunting　for　ants。　If　ants　were　present；　it　meant　that　lice　were　in　his　vegetables　and　the　ants　were　going　after　the　lice　and　he　would　have　to　spray。
　
　He　had　watered　just　in　time。　The　sun　was　being　hot　and　the　Don　thought；　〃Prudence。　Prudence。〃　But　there　were　just　a　few　more　plants　to　be　supported　by　sticks　and　he　bent　down　again。　He　would　go　back　into　the　house　when　he　finished　this　last　row。
　
　Quite　suddenly　it　felt　as　if　the　sun　had　e　down　very　close　to　his　head。　The　air　filled　with　dancing　golden　specks。　Michael's　oldest　boy　came　running　through　the　garden　toward　where　the　Don　knelt　and　the　boy　was　enveloped　by　a　yellow　shield　of　blinding　light。　But　the　Don　was　not　to　be　tricked；　he　was　too　old　a　hand。　Death　hid　behind　that　flaming　yellow　shield　ready　to　pounce　out　on　him　and　the　Don　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　warned　the　boy　away　from　his　presence。　Just　in　time。　The　sledgehammer　blow　inside　his　chest　made　him　choke　for　air。　The　Don　pitched　forward　into　the　earth。
　
　The　boy　raced　away　to　call　his　father。　Michael　Corleone　and　some　men　at　the　mall　gate　ran　to　the　garden　and　found　the　Don　lying　prone；　clutching　handfuls　of　earth。　They　lifted　the　Don　up　and　carried　him　to　the　shade　of　his　stone…flagged　patio。　Michael　knelt　beside　his　father；　holding　his　hand；　while　the　other　men　called　for　an　ambulance　and　doctor。
　
　With　a　great　effort　the　Don　opened　his　eyes　to　see　his　son　once　more。　The　massive　heart　attack　had　turned　his　ruddy　face　almost　blue。　He　was　in　extremis。　He　smelled　the　garden；　the　yellow　shield　of　light　smote　his　eyes；　and　he　whispered；　〃Life　is　so　beautiful。〃
　
　He　was　spared　the　sight　of　his　women's　tears；　dying　before　they　came　back　from　church；　dying　before　the　ambulance　arrived；　or　the　doctor。　He　died　surrounded　by　men；　holding　the　hand　of　the　son　he　had　most　loved。
　
　The　funeral　was　royal。　The　Five　Families　sent　their　Dons　and　caporegimes；　as　did　the　Tessio　and　Clemenza　Families。　Johnny　Fontane　made　the　tabloid　headlines　by　attending　the　funeral　despite　the　advice　of　Michael　not　to　appear。　Fontane　gave　a　statement　to　the　newspapers　that　Vito　Corleone　was　his　Godfather　and　the　finest　man　he　had　ever　known　and　that　he　was　honored　to　be　permitted　to　pay　his　last　respects　to　such　a　man　and　didn't　give　a　damn　who　knew　it。
　
　The　wake　was　held　in　the　house　of　the　mall；　in　the　old…fashioned　style。　Amerigo　Bonasera　had　never　done　finer　work；　had　discharged　all　obligations；　by　preparing　his　old　friend　and　Godfather　as　lovingly　as　a　mother　prepares　a　bride　for　her　wedding。　Everyone　mented　on　how　not　even　death　itself　had　been　able　to　erase　the　nobility　and　the　dignity　of　the　great　Don's　countenance　and　such　remarks　made　Amerigo　Bonasera　fill　with　knowing　pride；　a　curious　sense　of　power。　Only　he　knew　what　a　terrible　massacre　death　had　perpetrated　on　the　Don's　appearance。
　
　All　the　old　friends　and　servitors　came。　Nazorine；　his　wife；　his　daughter　and　her　husband　and　their　children；　Lucy　Mancini　came　with　Freddie　from　Las　Vegas。　Tom　Hagen　and　his　wife　and　children；　the　Dons　from　San　Francisco　and　Los　Angeles；　Boston　and　Cleveland。　Rocco　Lampone　and　Albert　Neri　were　pallbearers　with　Clemenza　and　Tessio　and；　of　course；　the　sons　of　the　Don。　The　mall　and　all　its　houses　were　filled　with　floral　wreaths。
　
　Outside　the　gates　of　the　mall　were　the　newspapermen　and　photographers　and　a　small　truck　that　was　known　to　contain　FBI　men　with　their　movie　cameras　recording　this　epic。　Some　newspapermen　who　tried　to　crash　the　funeral　inside　found　that　the　gate　and　fence　were　manned　with　security　guards　who　demanded　identification　and　an　invitation　card。　And　though　they　were　treated　with　the　utmost　courtesy；　refreshment　sent　out　to　them；　they　were　not　permitted　inside。　They　tried　to　speak　with　some　of　the　people　ing　out　but　were　met　with　stony　stares　and　not　a　syllable。
　
　Michael　Corleone　spent　most　of　the　day　in　the　corner　library　room　with　Kay；　Tom　Hagen　and　Freddie。　People　were　ushered　in　to　see　him；　to　offer　their　condolences。　Michael　received　them　with　all　courtesy　even　when　some　of　them　addressed　him　as　Godfather　or　Don　Michael；　only　Kay　noticing　his　lips　tighten　with　displeasure。
　
　Clemenza　and　Tessio　came　to　join　this　inner　circle　and　Michael　personally　served　them　with　a　drink。　There　was　some　gossip　of　business。　Michael　informed　them　that　the　mall　and　all　its　houses　were　to　be　sold　to　a　development　and　construction　pany。　At　an　enormous　profit；　still　another　proof　of　the　great　Don's　genius。
　
　They　all　understood　that　now　the　whole　empire　would　be　in　the　West。　That　the　Corleone　Family　would　liquidate　its　power　in　New　York。　Such　action　had　been　awaiting　the　retirement　or　death　of　the　Don。
　
　It　was　nearly　ten　years　since　there　had　been　such　a　celebration　of　people　in　this　house；　nearly　ten　years　since　the　wedding　of　Constanzia　Corleone　and　Carlo　Rizzi；　so　somebody　said。　Michael　walked　to　the　window　that　looked　out　on　the　garden。　That　long　time　ago　he　had　sat　in　the　garden　with　Kay　never　dreaming　that　so　curious　a　destiny　was　to　be　his。　And　his　father　dying　had　said；　〃Life　is　so　beautiful。〃　Michael　could　never　remember　his　father　ever　having　uttered　a　word　about　death；　as　if　the　Don　respected　death　too　much　to　philosophize　about　it。
　
　It　was　time　for　the　cemetery。　It　was　time　to　bury　the　great　Don。　Michael　linked　his　arm　with　Kay's　and　went　out　into　the　garden　to　join　the　host　of　mourners。　Behind　him　came　the　caporegimes　followed　by　their　soldiers　and　then　all　the　humble　people　the　Godfather　had　blessed　during　his　lifetime。　The　baker　Nazorine；　the　widow　Colombo　and　her　sons　and　all　the　countless　others　of　his　world　he　had　ruled　so　firmly　but　justly。　There　were　even　some　who　had　been　his　enemies；　e　to　do　him　honor。
　
　Michael　observed　all　this　with　a　tight；　polite　smile。　He　was　not　impressed。　Yet；　he　thought；　if　I　can　die　saying；　〃Life　is　so　beautiful；〃　then　nothing　else　is　important。　If　I　can　believe　in　myself　that　much；　nothing　else　matters。　He　would　follow　his　father。　He　would　care　for　his　children；　his　family；　his　world。　But　his　children　would　grow　in　a　different　world。　They　would　be　doctors；　artists；　scientists。　Governors。　Presidents。　Anything　at　all。　He　would　see　to　it　that　they　joined　the　general　family　of　humanity；　but　he；　as　a　powerful　and　prudent　parent　would　most　certainly　keep　a　wary　eye　on　that　general　family。
　
　**********
　
　On　the　morning　after　the　funeral；　all　the　most　important　officials　of　the　Corleone　Family　assembled　on　the　mall。　Shortly　before　noon　they　were　admitted　into　the　empty　house　of　the　Don。　Michael　Corleone　received　them。
　
　They　almost　filled　the　corner　library　room。　There　were　the　two　caporegimes；　Clemenza　and　Tessio；　Rocco　Lampone；　with　his　reasonable；　petent　air；　Carlo　Rizzi；　very　quiet；　very　much　knowing　his　place；　Tom　Hagen　forsaking　his　strictly　legal　role　to　rally　around　in　this　crisis；　Albert　Neri　trying　to　stay　physically　close　to　Michael；　lighting　his　new　Don's　cigarette；　mixing　his　drink；　all　to　show　an　unswerving　loyalty　despite　the　recent　disaster　to　the　Corleone　Family。
　
　The　death　of　the　Don　was　a　great　misfortune　for　the　Family。　Without　him　it　seemed　that　half　their　strength　was　gone　and　almost　all　their　bargaining　power　against　the　Barzini…Tattaglia　alliance。　Everyone　in　the　room　knew　this　and　they　waited　for　what　Michael　would　say。　In　their　eyes　he　was　not　yet　the　new　Don；　he　had　not　earned　the　position　or　the　title。　If　the　Godfather　had　lived；　he　might　have　assured　his　son's　succession；　now　it　was　by　no　means　certain。
　
　Michael　waited　until　Ned　had　served　drinks。　Then　he　said　quietly；　〃I　just　want　to　tell　everybody　here　that　I　understand　how　they　feel。　I　know　you　all　respected　my　father；　but　now　you　have　to　worry　about　yourselves　and　your　families。　Some　of　you　wonder　how　what　happened　is　going　to　affect　the　planning　we've　done　and　the　promises　I　made。　Well；　the　answer　to　that　is：　nothing。　Everything　goes　on　as　before。〃
　
　Clemenza　shook　his　great　shaggy　buffalo　head。　His　hair　was　an　iron　gray　and　his　features；　more　deeply　embedded　in　added　layers　of　fat；　were　unpleasant。　〃The　Barzinis　and　Tattaglias　are　going　to　move　in　on　us　real　hard；　Mike。　You　gotta　fight　or　have　a　'sit…down'　with　them。〃　Everyone　in　the　room　noticed　that　Clemenza　had　not　used　a　formal　form　of　address　to　Michael；　much　less　the　title　of　Don。
　
　〃Let's　wait　and　see　what　happens；〃　Michael　said。　〃Let　them　break　the　peace　first。〃
　
　Tessio　spoke　up　in　his　soft　voice。　〃They　already　have；　Mike。　They　opened　up　two　'books'　in　Brooklyn　this　morning。　I　got　the　word　from　the　police　captain　who　runs　the　protection　list　at　the　station　house。　In　a　month　I　won't　have　a　place　to　hang　my　hat　in　all　Brooklyn。〃
　
　Michael　stared　at　him　thoughtfully。　〃Have　you　done　anything　about　it？〃
　
　Tessio　shook　his　small；　ferretlike　head。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　didn't　want　to　give　you　any　problems。〃
　
　〃Good；〃　Michael　said。　〃Just　sit　tight。　And　I　guess　that's　what　I　want　to　say　to　all　of　you。　Just　sit　tight。　Don't　react　to　any　provocation。　Give　me　a　few　weeks　to　straighten　things　out；　to　see　which　way　the　wind　is　going　to　blow。　Then　I'll　make　the　best　deal　I　can　for　everybody　here。　Then　we'll　have　a　final　meeting　and　make　some　final　decisions。〃
　
　He　ignored　their　surprise　and　Albert　Neri　started　ushering　them　out。　Michael　said　sharply；　〃Tom；　stick　around　a　few　minutes。〃
　
　Hagen　went　to　the　window　that　faced　the　mall。　He　waited　until　he　saw　the　caporegimes　and　Carlo　Rizzo　and　Rocco　Lampone　being　shepherded　through　the　guarded　gate　by　Neri。　Then　he　turned　to　Michael　and　said；　〃Have　you　got　all　the　political　connections　wired　into　you？〃
　
　Michael　shook　his　head　regretfully。　〃Not　all。　I　needed　about　four　more　months。　The　Don　and　I　were　working　on　it。　But　I've　got　all　the　judges；　we　did　that　first；　and　some　of　the　more　important　people　in　Congress。　And　the　big　party　boys　here　in　New　York　were　no　problem；　of　course。　The　Corleone　Family　is　a　lot　stronger　than　anybody　thinks；　but　I　hoped　to　make　it　foolproof。〃　He　smiled　at　Hagen。　〃I　guess　you've　figured　everything　out　by　now。〃
　
　Hagen　nodded。　〃It　wasn't　hard。　Except　why　you　wanted　me　out　of　the　action。　But　I　put　on　my　Sicilian　hat　and　I　finally　figured　that　too。〃
　
　Michael　laughed。　〃The　old　man　said　you　would。　But　that's　a　luxury　I　can't　afford　anymore。　I　need　you　here。　At　least　for　the　next　few　weeks。　You　better　phone　Vegas　and　talk　to　your　wife。　Just　tell　her　a　few　weeks。〃
　
　Hagen　said　musingly；　〃How　do　you　think　they'll　e　at　you？〃
　
　Michael　sighed。　〃The　Don　instructed　me。　Through　somebody　close。