Крестный отец

           Theurinalhadapinkbarofsoapinitsecuredbyawirenet.Hewentintothebooth.Hereallyhadtogo,hisbowelswereloose.Hediditveryquickly,thenreachedbehindtheenamelwatercabinetuntilhishandtouchedthesmall,blunt-nosedgunfastenedwithtape.Herippedthegunloose,rememberingthatClemenzahadsaidnottoworryaboutleavingprintsonthetape.Heshovedthegunintohiswaistbandandbuttonedhisjacketoverit.Hewashedhishandsandwethishair.Hewipedhisprintsoffthefaucetwithhishandkerchief.Thenheleftthetoilet.

           Sollozzowassittingdirectlyfacingthedoorofthetoilet,hisdarkeyesblazingwithalertness.Michaelgaveasmile."NowIcantalk,"hesaidwithasighofrelief.

           CaptainMcCluskeywaseatingtheplateofvealandspaghettithathadarrived.Themanonthefarwallhadbeenstiffwithattention,nowhetoorelaxedvisibly.

           Michaelsatdownagain.HerememberedClemenzahadtoldhimnottodothis,tocomeoutofthetoiletandblazeaway.Buteitheroutofsomewarninginstinctorsheerfunkhehadnotdoneso.Hehadfeltthatifhehadmadeoneswiftmovehewouldhavebeencutdown.Nowhefeltsafeandhemusthavebeenscaredbecausehewasgladhewasnolongerstandingonhislegs.Theyhadgoneweakwithtrembling.

           Sollozzowasleaningtowardhim.Michael,hisbellycoveredbythetable,unbuttonedhisjacketandlistenedintently.Hecouldnotunderstandawordthemanwassaying.Itwasliterallygibberishtohim.Hismindwassofilledwithpoundingbloodthatnowordregistered.