mp.godfather-第8章

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　Don　Corleone　turned　his　head。　〃Why　do　you　doubt　me？〃　he　asked　Johnny　Fontane。　〃Hasn't　your　Godfather　always　done　what　he　said　he　would　do？　Have　I　ever　been　taken　for　a　fool？〃
　
　Johnny　apologized　nervously。　〃Godfather；　the　man　who　runs　it　is　a　real　。90　caliber　pezzonovante。　You　can't　budge　him；　not　even　with　money。　He　has　big　connections。　And　he　hates　me。　I　just　don't　know　how　you　can　swing　it。〃
　
　The　Don　spoke　with　affectionate　amusement。　〃I　say　to　you：　you　shall　have　it。〃　He　nudged　Michael　with　his　elbow。　〃We　won't　disappoint　my　godson；　eh；　Michael？〃
　
　Michael；　who　never　doubted　his　father　for　a　moment；　shook　his　head。
　
　As　they　walked　toward　the　hospital　entrance；　Don　Corleone　put　his　hand　on　Michael's　arm　so　that　the　others　forged　ahead。　〃When　you　get　through　with　college；　e　and　talk　to　me；〃　the　Don　said。　〃I　have　some　plans　you　will　like。〃
　
　Michael　didn't　say　anything。　Don　Corleone　grunted　in　exasperation。　〃I　know　how　you　are。　I　won't　ask　you　to　do　anything　you　don't　approve　of。　This　is　something　special。　Go　your　own　way　now；　you're　a　man　after　all。　But　e　to　me　as　a　son　should　when　you　have　finished　with　your　schooling。〃
　
　**********
　
　The　family　of　Genco　Abbandando；　wife　and　three　daughters　dressed　in　black；　clustered　like　a　flock　of　plump　crows　on　the　white　tile　floor　of　the　hospital　corridor。　When　they　saw　Don　Corleone　e　out　of　the　elevator；　they　seemed　to　flutter　up　off　the　white　tiles　in　an　instinctive　surge　toward　him　for　protection。　The　mother　was　regally　stout　in　black；　the　daughters　fat　and　plain。　Mrs。　Abbandando　pecked　at　Don　Corleone's　cheek；　sobbing；　wailing；　〃Oh；　what　a　saint　you　are；　to　e　here　on　your　daughter's　wedding　day。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　brushed　these　thanks　aside。　〃Don't　I　owe　respect　to　such　a　friend；　a　friend　who　has　been　my　right　arm　for　twenty；　years？〃　He　had　understood　immediately　that　the　soon…to…be　widow　did　not　prehend　that　her　husband　would　die　this　night。　Genco　Abbandando　had　been　in　this　hospital　for　nearly　a　year　dying　of　his　cancer　and　the　wife　had　e　to　consider　his　fatal　illness　almost　an　ordinary　part　of　life。　Tonight　was　just　another　crisis。　She　babbled　on。　〃Go　in　and　see　my　poor　husband；〃　she　said；　〃he　asks　for　you。　Poor　man；　he　wanted　to　e　to　the　wedding　to　show　his　respect　but　the　doctor　would　not　permit　it。　Then　he　said　you　would　e　to　see　him　on　this　great　day　but　I　did　not　believe　it　possible。　Ah；　men　understand　friendship　more　than　we　women。　Go　inside；　you　will　make　him　happy。〃
　
　A　nurse　and　a　doctor　came　out　of　Genco　Abbandando's　private　room。　The　doctor　was　a　young　man；　serious…faced　and　with　the　air　of　one　born　to　mand；　that　is　to　say；　the　air　of　one　who　has　been　immensely　rich　all　his　life。　One　of　the　daughters　asked　timidly；　〃Dr。　Kennedy；　can　we　go　to　see　him　now？〃
　
　Dr。　Kennedy　looked　over　the　large　group　with　exasperation。　Didn't　these　people　realize　that　the　man　inside　was　dying　and　dying　in　torturous　pain？　It　would　be　much　better　if　everyone　let　him　die　in　peace。　〃I　think　just　the　immediate　family；〃　he　said　in　his　exquisitely　polite　voice。　He　was　surprised　when　the　wife　and　daughters　turned　to　the　short；　heavy　man　dressed　in　an　awkwardly　fitted　tuxedo；　as　if　to　hear　his　decision。
　
　The　heavy　man　spoke。　There　was　just　the　slightest　trace　of　an　Italian　accent　in　his　voice。　〃My　dear　doctor；〃　said　Don　Corleone；　〃is　it　true　he　is　dying？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　said　Dr。　Kennedy。
　
　〃Then　there　is　nothing　more　for　you　to　do；〃　said　Don　Corleone。　〃We　will　take　up　the　burden。　We　will　fort　him。　We　will　close　his　eyes。　We　will　bury　him　and　weep　at　his　funeral　and　afterwards　we　will　watch　over　his　wife　and　daughters。〃　At　hearing　things　put　so　bluntly；　forcing　her　to　understand；　Mrs。　Abbandando　began　to　weep。
　
　Dr。　Kennedy　shrugged。　It　was　impossible　to　explain　to　these　peasants。　At　the　same　time　he　recognized　the　crude　justice　in　the　man's　remarks。　His　role　was　over。　Still　exquisitely　polite；　he　said；　〃Please　wait　for　the　nurse　to　let　you　in；　she　has　a　few　necessary　things　to　do　with　the　patient。〃　He　walked　away　from　them　down　the　corridor；　his　white　coat　flapping。
　
　The　nurse　went　back　into　the　room　and　they　waited。　Finally　she　came　out　again；　holding　the　door　for　them　to　enter。　She　whispered；　〃He's　delirious　with　the　pain　and　fever；　try　not　to　excite　him。　And　you　can　stay　only　a　few　minutes；　except　for　the　wife。〃　She　recognized　Johnny　Fontane　as　he　went　by　her　and　her　eyes　opened　wide。　He　gave　her　a　faint　smile　of　acknowledgment　and　she　stared　at　him　with　frank　invitation。　He　filed　her　away　for　future　reference；　then　followed　the　others　into　the　sick　man's　room。
　
　Genco　Abbandando　had　run　a　long　race　with　death；　and　now；　vanquished；　he　lay　exhausted　on　the　raised　bed。　He　was　wasted　away　to　no　more　than　a　skeleton；　and　what　had　once　been　vigorous　black　hair　had　turned　into　obscene　stringy　wisps。　Don　Corleone　said　cheerily；　〃Genco；　dear　friend；　I　have　brought　my　sons　to　pay　their　respects；　and　look；　even　Johnny；　all　the　way　from　Hollywood。〃
　
　The　dying　man　raised　his　fevered　eyes　gratefully　to　the　Don。　He　let　the　young　men　clasp　his　bony　hand　in　their　fleshy　ones。　His　wife　and　daughters　ranged　themselves　along　his　bed；　kissing　his　cheek；　taking　his　other　hand　in　turn。
　
　The　Don　pressed　his　old　friend's　hand。　He　said　fortingly；　〃Hurry　up　and　get　better　and　we'll　take　a　trip　back　to　Italy　together　to　our　old　village。　We'll　play　boccie　in　front　of　the　wineshop　like　our　fathers　before　us。〃
　
　The　dying　man　shook　his　head。　He　motioned　the　young　men　and　his　family　away　from　his　bedside；　with　the　other　bony　claw　he　hung　fast　to　the　Don。　He　tried　to　speak。　The　Don　put　his　head　down　and　then　sat　on　the　bedside　chair。　Genco　Abbandando　was　babbling　about　their　childhood。　Then　his　coal…black　eyes　became　sly。　He　whispered。　The　Don　bent　closer。　The　others　in　the　room　were　astonished　to　see　tears　running　down　Don　Corleone's　face　as　he　shook　his　head。　The　quavering　voice　grew　louder；　filling　the　room。　With　a　tortured；　superhuman　effort；　Abbandando　lifted　his　head　off　his　pillow；　eyes　unseeing；　and　pointed　a　skeletal　forefinger　at　the　Don。　〃Godfather；　Godfather；〃　he　called　out　blindly；　〃save　me　from　death；　I　beg　of　you。　My　flesh　is　burning　off　my　bones　and　I　can　feel　the　worms　eating　away　my　brain。　Godfather；　cure　me；　you　have　the　power；　dry　the　tears　of　my　poor　wife。　In　Corleone　we　played　together　as　children　and　now　will　you　let　me　die　when　I　fear　hell　for　my　sins？〃
　
　The　Don　was　silent。　Abbandando　said；　〃It　is　your　daughter's　wedding　day；　you　cannot　refuse　me。〃
　
　The　Don　spoke　quietly；　gravely；　to　pierce　through　the　blasphemous　delirium。　〃Old　friend；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　no　such　powers。　If　I　did　I　would　be　more　merciful　than　God；　believe　me。　But　don't　fear　death　and　don't　fear　hell。　I　will　have　a　mass　said　for　your　soul　every　night　and　every　morning。　Your　wife　and　your　children　will　pray　for　you。　How　can　God　punish　you　with　so　many　pleas　for　mercy？〃
　
　The　skeleton　face　took　on　a　cunning　expression　that　was　obscene。　Abbandanda　said　slyly；　〃It's　been　arranged　then？〃
　
　When　the　Don　answered；　his　voice　was　cold；　without　fort。　〃You　blaspheme。　Resign　yourself。〃
　
　Abbandando　fell　back　on　the　pillow。　His　eyes　lost　their　wild　gleam　of　hope。　The　nurse　came　back　into　the　room　and　started　shooing　them　out　in　a　very　matter…of…fact　way。　The　Don　got　up　but　Abbandando　put　out　his　hand。　〃Godfather；〃　he　said；　〃stay　here　with　me　and　help　me　meet　death。　Perhaps　if　He　sees　you　near　me　He　will　be　frightened　and　leave　me　in　peace。　Or　perhaps　you　can　say　a　word；　pull　a　few　strings；　eh？〃　The　dying　man　winked　as　if　he　were　mocking　the　Don；　now　not　really　serious。　〃You're　brothers　in　blood；　after　all。〃　Then；　as　if　fearing　the　Don　would　be　offended；　he　clutched　at　his　hand。　〃Stay　with　me；　let　me　hold　your　hand。　We'll　outwit　that　bastard　as　we've　outwitted　others。　Godfather；　don't　betray　me。〃
　
　The　Don　motioned　the　other　people　out　of　the　room。　They　left。　He　took　the　withered　claw　of　Genco　Abbandando　in　his　own　two　broad　hands。　Softly；　reassuringly；　he　forted　his　friend；　as　they　waited　for　death　together。　As　if　the　Don　could　truly　snatch　the　life　of　Gencp　Abbandando　back　from　that　most　foul　and　criminal　traitor　to　man。
　
　**********
　
　The　wedding　day　of　Connie　Corleone　ended　well　for　her。　Carlo　Rizzi　performed　his　duties　as　a　bridegroom　with　skill　and　vigor；　spurred　on　by　the　contents　of　the　bride's　gift　purse　which　totaled　up　to　over　twenty　thousand　dollars。　The　bride；　however；　gave　up　her　virginity　with　a　great　deal　more　willingness　than　she　gave　up　her　purse。　For　the　latter；　he　had　to　blacken　one　of　her　eyes。
　
　Lucy　Mancini　waited　in　her　house　for　a　call　from　Sonny　Corleone；　sure　that　he　would　ask　her　for　a　date。　Finally　she　called　his　house　and　when　she　heard　a　woman's　voice　answer　the　phone　she　hung　up。　She　had　no　way　of　knowing　that　nearly　everyone　at　the　wedding　had　remarked　the　absence　of　her　and　Sonny　for　that　fatal　half　hour　and　the　gossip　was　already　spreading　that　Santino　Corleone　had　found　another　victim。　That　he　had　〃done　the　job〃　on　his　own　sister's　maid　of　honor。
　
　Amerigo　Bonasera　had　a　terrible　nightmare。　In　his　dreams　he　saw　Don　Corleone；　in　peaked　cap；　overalls　and　heavy　gloves；　unloading　bullet…riddled　corpses　in　front　of　his　funeral　parlor　and　shouting；　〃Remember；　Amerigo；　not　a　word　to　anyone；　and　bury　them　quickly。〃　He　groaned　so　loud　and　long　in　his　sleep　that　his　wife　shook　him　awake。　〃Eh；　what　a　man　you　are；〃　she　grumbled。　〃To　have　a　nightmare　only　after　a　wedding。〃
　
　Kay　Adams　was　escorted　to　her　New　York　City　hotel　by　Paulie　Gatto　and　Clemenza。　The　car　was　large；　luxurious　and　driven　by　Gatto。　Clemenza　sat　in　the　back　seat　and　Kay　was　given　the　front　seat　next　to　the　driver。　She　found　both　men　wildly　exotic。　Their　speech　was　movie　Brooklynese　and　they　treated　her　with　exaggerated　courtliness。　During　the　ride　she　chatted　casually　with　both　men　and　was　surprised　when　they　spoke　of　Michael　with　unmistakable　affection　and　respect。　He　had　led　her　to　believe　that　he　was　an　alien　in　his　father's　world。　Now　Clemenza　was　assuring　her　in　his　wheezing　guttural　voice　that　the　〃old　man〃　thought　Mike　was　the　best　of　his　sons；　the　one　who　would　surely　inherit　the　family　business。
　
　〃What　business　is　that？〃　Kay　asked　in　the　most　natural　way。
　
　Paulie　Gatto　gave　her　a　quick　glance　as　he　turned　the　wheel。　Behind　her　Clemenza　said　in　a　surprised　voice。　〃Didn't　Mike　tell　you？　Mr。　Corleone　is　the　biggest　importer　of　Italian　olive　oil　in　the　States。　Now　that　the　war　is　over　the　business　could　get　real　rich。　He'll　need　a　smart　boy　like　Mike。〃
　
　At　the　hotel　Clemenza　insisted　on　ing　to　the　desk　with　her。　When　she　protested；　he　said　simply；　〃The　boss　said　to　make　sure　you　got　home　OK。　I　gotta　do　it。〃
　
　After　she　received　her　room　key　he　walked　her　to　the　elevator　and　waited　until　she　got　in。　She　waved　to　him；　smiling；　and　was　surprised　at　his　genuine　smile　of　pleasure　in　return。　It　was　just　as　well　she　did　not　see　him　go　back　to　the　hotel　clerk　and　ask；　〃What　name　she　registered　under？〃
　
　The　hotel　clerk　looked　at　Clemenza　coldly。　Clemenza　rolled　the　little　green　spitball　he　was　holding　in　his　hand　across　to　the　clerk；　who　picked　it　up　and　immediately　said；　〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Michael　Corleone