Крестный отец

           Theremaybetrouble.Youdon’twanttogetinvolvedwiththepolice."

           HesawthelookoffearontheyoungItalian’sface.Troublewiththepolicemightmeanbeingdeportedorrefusalofcitizenship.Buttheyoungmanstoodfast.HewhisperedinItalian."Ifthere’stroubleI’llstaytohelp.IoweittotheGodfather."

           Michaelwastouched.Hewasabouttotelltheyoungmantogoawayagain,butthenhethought,whynotlethimstay?TwomeninfrontofthehospitalmightscareoffanyofSollozzo’screwsenttodoajob.Onemanalmostcertainlywouldnot.HegaveEnzoacigaretteandlititforhim.TheybothstoodunderthelamppostisthecoldDecembernight.Theyellowpanesofthehospital,bisectedbythegreensofChristmasdecorations,twinkleddownonthem.Theyhadalmostfinishedtheircigaretteswhenalonglowblackcarturnedinto30thStreetfromNinthAvenueandcruisedtowardthem,veryclosetothecurb.Italmoststopped.Michaelpeeredtoseetheirfacesinside,hisbodyflinchinginvoluntarily.Thecarseemedabouttostop,thenspeededforward.Somebodyhadrecognizedhim.MichaelgaveEnzoanothercigaretteandnoticedthatthebaker’shandswereshaking.Tohissurprisehisownhandsweresteady.

           Theystayedinthestreetsmokingforwhatwasnomorethantenminuteswhensuddenlythenightairwassplitbyapolicesiren.ApatrolcarmadeascreamingturnfromNinthAvenueandpulledupinfrontofthehospital.Twomoresquadcarsfollowedrightbehindit.