Крестный отец

           WhenshecameoutSonnyCorleonewasonthelandingabove,beckoningherupward.

           FrombehindtheclosedwindowofDonCorleone’s"office,"aslightlyraisedcornerroom,ThomasHagenwatchedtheweddingpartyinthefestoonedgarden.Thewallsbehindhimwerestackedwithlawbooks.HagenwastheDon’slawyerandactingConsigliere,orcounselor,andassuchheldthemostvitalsubordinatepositioninthefamilybusiness.HeandtheDonhadsolvedmanyaknottyprobleminthisroom,andsowhenhesawtheGodfatherleavethefestivitiesandenterthehouse,heknew,weddingorno,therewouldbealittleworkthisday.TheDonwouldbecomingtoseehim.ThenHagensawSonnyCorleonewhisperinLucyMancini’searandtheirlittlecomedyashefollowedherintothehouse.Hagengrimaced,debatedwhethertoinformtheDon,anddecidedagainstit.HewenttothedeskandpickedupahandwrittenlistofthepeoplewhohadbeengrantedpermissiontoseeDonCorleoneprivately.WhentheDonenteredtheroom,Hagenhandedhimthelist.DonCorleonenoddedandsaid,"LeaveBonaseratotheend."

           HagenusedtheFrenchdoorsandwentdirectlyoutintothegardentowherethesupplicantsclusteredaroundthebarrelofwine.Hepointedtothebaker,thepudgyNazorine.

           DonCorleonegreetedthebakerwithanembrace.TheyhadplayedtogetheraschildreninItalyandhadgrownupinfriendship.EveryEasterfreshlybakedclotted-cheeseandwheat-germpies,theircrustsyolk-gold,bigaroundastruckwheels,arrivedatDonCorleone’shome.