Крестный отец

           SonnyturnedtoTessio.TheBrooklyncaporegimeshrugged."Anymancanturntraitor.Lucawasverytouchy.MaybetheDonoffendedhimsomeway.Thatcouldbe.IthinkthoughthatSollozzogavehimalittlesurprise.ThatfitsinwithwhattheConsiglieresays.Weshouldexpecttheworst."

           Sonnysaidtoallofthem,"SollozzoshouldgetthewordsoonaboutPaulieGatto.Howwillthataffecthim?"

           Clemenzasaidgrimly,"Itwillmakehimthink.HewillknowtheCorleoneFamilyarenotfools.Hewillrealizethathewasveryluckyyesterday."

           Sonnysaidsharply,"Thatwasn’tluck.Sollozzowasplanningthatforweeks.Theymusthavetailedtheoldmantohisofficeeverydayandwatchedhisroutine.ThentheyboughtPaulieoffandmaybeLuca.TheysnatchedTomrightonthebutton.Theydideverythingtheywantedtodo.Theywereunlucky,notlucky.Thosebuttonmentheyhiredweren’tgoodenoughandtheoldmanmovedtooquick.Iftheyhadkilledhim,IwouldhavehadtomakeadealandSollozzowouldhavewon.Fornow.Iwouldhavewaitedmaybeandgothimfive,tenyearsfromnow.Butdon’tcallhimlucky,Pete,that’sunderratinghim.Andwe’vedonethattoomuchlately."

           Oneofthebuttonmenbroughtabowlofspaghettiinfromthekitchenandthensomeplates,forksandwine.Theyateastheytalked.Michaelwatchedinamazement.Hedidn’teatandneitherdidTom,butSonny,ClemenzaandTessiodugin,moppingupsaucewithcrustsofbread.Itwasalmostcomical.Theycontinuedtheirdiscussion.