Крестный отец

           Michaelaskedhesitantly,"Isitgoingtobeanall-outwar?"

           Sonny’seyeswerehard."That’showI’mgoingtoplayitassoonasTomchecksin.Untiltheoldmantellsmedifferent."

           Michaelasked,"Sowhydon’tyouwaituntiltheoldmancantellyou?"

           Sonnylookedathimcuriously."Howthehelldidyouwinthosecombatmedals?Weareunderthegun,man,wegottafight.I’mjustafraidtheywon’tletTomgo."

           Michaelwassurprisedatthis."Whynot?"

           AgainSonny’svoicewaspatient."TheysnatchedTombecausetheyfiguredtheoldmanwasfinishedandtheycouldmakeadealwithmeandTomwouldbethesit-downguyinthepreliminarystages,carrytheproposition.NowwiththeoldmanalivetheyknowIcan’tmakeadealsoTom’snogoodtothem.Theycanturnhimlooseordumphim,dependinghowSollozzofeels.Iftheydumphim,itwouldbejusttoshowustheyreallymeanbusiness,tryingtobulldozeus."

           Michaelsaidquietly,"WhatmadeSollozzothinkhecouldgetadealwithyou?"

           Sonnyflushedandhedidn’tanswerforamoment.Thenhesaid,"Wehadameetingafewmonthsago,Sollozzocametouswithapropositionondrugs.Theoldmanturnedhimdown.ButduringthemeetingIshotoffmymouthalittle,IshowedIwantedthedeal.Whichisabsolutelythewrongthingtodo;ifthere’sonethingtheoldmanhammeredintomeit’snever,todoathinglikethat,toletotherpeopleknowthere’sasplitofopinionintheFamily.