Крестный отец

           "Christ,"SonnysaidtoMichaelwhentheyleftFreddie’sroom,"helookslikehegotpluggedworsethantheoldman."

           Michaelshrugged.Hehadseensoldiersinthesameconditiononthebattlefield.ButhehadneverexpectedittohappentoFreddie.Herememberedthemiddlebrotherasbeingphysicallythetoughestoneinthefamilywhenallofthemwerekids.Buthehadalsobeenthemostobedientsontohisfather.AndyeteveryoneknewthattheDonhadgivenuponthismiddlesoneverbeingimportanttothebusiness.Hewasn’tquitesmartenough,andfailingthat,notquiteruthlessenough.Hewastooretiringaperson,didnothaveenoughforce.

           Lateintheafternoon,MichaelgotacallfromJohnnyFontaneinHollywood.Sonnytookthephone."Nah,Johnny,nousecomingbackheretoseetheoldman.He’stoosickanditwouldgiveyoualotofbadpublicity,andIknowtheoldmanwouldn’tlikethat.Waituntilhe’sbetterandwecanmovehimhome,thencomeseehim.OK,I’llgivehimyourregards."Sonnyhungupthephone.HeturnedtoMichaelandsaid."That’llmakePophappy,thatJohnnywantedtoflyfromCaliforniatoseehowhewas."

           Latethatafternoon,MichaelwascalledtothelistedphoneinthekitchenbyoneofClemenza’smen.ItwasKay.

           "Isyourfatherallright?"sheasked.Hervoicewasalittlestrained,alittleunnatural.Michaelknewthatshecouldn’tquitebelievewhathadhappened,thathisfatherreallywaswhatthenewspaperscalledagangster.

           "He’llbeOK,"Michaelsaid.