Крестный отец

           DarknesshadfallenandtheDecemberwindwhippedthroughthemall.Sonnyhadnofearaboutsteppingoutintothenight.AlleighthouseswereownedbyDonCorleone.Atthemouthofthemallthetwohousesoneithersidewererentedbyfamilyretainerswiththeirownfamiliesandstarboarders,singlemenwholivedinthebasementapartments.Oftheremainingsixhousesthatformedtherestofthehalfcircle;onewasinhabitedbyTomHagenandhisfamily,hisown,andthesmallestandleastostentatiousbytheDonhimself.Theotherthreehousesweregivenrent-freetoretiredfriendsoftheDonwiththeunderstandingthattheywouldbevacatedwheneverherequested.Theharmless-lookingmallwasanimpregnablefortress.

           Alleighthouseswereequippedwithfloodlightswhichbathedthegroundsaroundthemandmadethemallimpossibletolurkin.Sonnywentacrossthestreettohisfather’shouseandlethimselfinsidewithhisownkey.Heyelledout,"Ma,whereareyou?"andhismothercameoutofthekitchen.Behindherrosethesmelloffryingpeppers.Beforeshecouldsayanything,Sonnytookherbythearmandmadehersitdown."Ijustgotacall,"hesaid."Nowdon’tgetworried.Pop’sinthehospital,he’shurt.Getdressedandgetreadytogetdownthere.I’llhaveacarandadriverforyouinalittlewhile.OK?"

           HismotherlookedathimsteadilyforamomentandthenaskedinItalian,"Havetheyshothim?"

           Sonnynodded.Hismotherbowedherheadforamoment.Thenshewentbackintothekitchen.Sonnyfollowedher.