Крестный отец

           Ihopewecanstraighteneverythingout.Allthisisterrible,it’snotthewayIwantedthingstohappenatall.Itshouldneverhavehappened."

           MichaelCorleonesaidquietly,"Ihopewecansettlethingstonight,Idon’twantmyfatherbotheredanymore."

           "Hewon’tbe,"Sollozzosaidsincerely."Isweartoyoubymychildrenhewon’tbe.Justkeepanopenmindwhenwetalk.Ihopeyou’renotahotheadlikeyourbrotherSonny.It’simpossibletotalkbusinesswithhim."

           CaptainMcCluskeygrunted."He’sagoodkid,he’sallright."HeleanedovertogiveMichaelanaffectionatepatontheshoulder."I’msorryabouttheothernight,Mike.I’mgettingtoooldformyjob,toogrouchy.IguessI’llhavetoretireprettysoon.Can’tstandtheaggravation,alldayIgetaggravation.Youknowhowitis."Thenwithadolefulsigh,hegaveMichaelathoroughfriskforaweapon.

           Michaelsawaslightsmileonthedriver’slips.Thecarwasgoingwestwithnoapparentattempttoeludeanytrailers.ItwentupontotheWestSideHighway,speedinginandoutoftraffic.Anyonefollowingwouldhavehadtodothesame.ThentoMichael’sdismayittooktheexitfortheGeorgeWashingtonBridge,theyweregoingovertoNewJersey.WhoeverhadgivenSonnytheinfoonwherethemeetingwastobeheldhadgivenhimthewrongdope.

           Thecarthreadedthroughthebridgeapproachesandthenwasonit,leavingtheblazingcitybehind.Michaelkepthisfaceimpassive.