Крестный отец

           Andthey’dhavetogivehimahellofalotbettermedalsthanhe’dgotteninWorldWarIItomakehimjointhisone.

           Thinkingthismadehimfeelguiltyaboutnotfeelingmoresympathyforhisfather.HisownfathershotfallofholesandyetinacuriouswayMichael,betterthananyoneelse,understoodwhenTomhadsaiditwasjustbusiness,notpersonal.Thathisfatherhadpaidforthepowerhehadwieldedallhislife,therespecthehadextortedfromallthosearoundhim.

           WhatMichaelwantedwasout,outofallthis,toleadhisownlife.Buthecouldn’tcutloosefromthefamilyuntilthecrisiswasover.Hehadtohelpinaciviliancapacity.Withsuddenclarityherealizedthathewasannoyedwiththeroleassignedtohim,thatoftheprivilegednoncombatant,theexcusedconscientiousobjector.Thatwaswhytheword"civilian"keptpoppingintohisskullinsuchanirritatingway.

           Whenhegottothehotel,Kaywaswaitingforhiminthelobby.(AcoupleofClemenza’speoplehaddrivenhimintotownanddroppedhimoffonanearbycorneraftermakingsuretheywerenotfollowed.)

           Theyhaddinnertogetherandsomedrinks."Whattimeareyougoingtovisityourfather?"Kayasked.

           Michaellookedathiswatch."Visitinghoursendateight-thirty.IthinkI’llgoaftereverybodyhasleft.They’llletmeup.HehasaprivateroomandhisownnursessoIcanjustsitwithhimforawhile.Idon’tthinkhecantalkyetorevenknowifI’mthere.ButIhavetoshowrespect."