Крестный отец

           HelookedathiswristwatchasifheexpectedtofindthatGattowaslate.

           Theferret-facedbuttonmanwaswatchinghimintently,lookingforaclue.HeflinchedalittlewhenLamponegotintotherearseatbehindhimandsaid,"Rocco,sitontheothersite.Abigguylikeyoublocksupmyrear-viewmirror."Lamponeshifteddutifully,sothathewassittingbehindClemenza,asifsucharequestwasthemostnaturalthingintheworld.

           ClemenzasaidsourlytoGatto,"DamnthatSonny,he’srunningscared.He’salreadythinkingofgoingtothemattresses.WehavetofindaplaceontheWestSide.Paulie,youandRoccogottastaffandsupplyituntilthewordcomesdownfortherestofthesoldierstouseit.Youknowagoodlocation?"

           Ashehadexpected,Gatto’seyesbecamegreedilyinterested.PauliehadswallowedthebaitandbecausehewasthinkinghowmuchtheinformationwasworthtoSollozzo,hewasforgettingtothinkaboutwhetherhewasindanger.Also,Lamponewasactinghispartperfectly,staringoutthewindowinadisinterested,relaxedway.Clemenzacongratulatedhimselfonhischoice.

           Gattoshrugged."I’dhavetothinkaboutit,"hesaid.

           Clemenzagrunted."Drivewhileyouthink,Iwanttoget.toNewYorktoday."

           Pauliewasanexpertdriverandtrafficgoingintothecitywaslightatthistimeintheafternoon,sotheearlywinterdarknesswasjustbeginningtofallwhentheyarrived.Therewasnosmalltalkinthecar.ClemenzadirectedPaulietodriveuptotheWashingtonHeightssection.