Крестный отец

           Underneaththetablehisrighthandmovedtotheguntuckedintohiswaistbandandhedrewitfree.AtthatmomentthewaitercametotaketheirorderandSollozzoturnedhisheadtospeaktothewaiter.MichaelthrustthetableawayfromhimwithhislefthandandhisrighthandshovedthegunalmostagainstSollozzo’shead.Theman’scoordinationwassoacutethathehadalreadybeguntoflinghimselfawayatMichael’smotion.ButMichael,younger,hisreflexessharper,pulledthetrigger.ThebulletcaughtSollozzosquarelybetweenhiseyeandhisearandwhenitexitedontheothersideblastedoutahugegoutofbloodandskullfragmentsontothepetrifiedwaiter’sjacket.InstinctivelyMichaelknewthatonebulletwasenough.Sollozzohadturnedhisheadinthatlastmomentandhehadseenthelightoflifedieintheman’seyesasclearlyasacandlegoesout.

           OnlyonesecondhadgonebyasMichaelpivotedtobringtheguntobearonMcCluskey.ThepolicecaptainwasstaringatSollozzowithphlegmaticsurprise,asifthishadnothingtodowithhim.Hedidnotseemtobeawareofhisowndanger.Hisveal-coveredforkwassuspendedinhishandandhiseyeswerejustturningonMichael.Andtheexpressiononhisface,inhiseyes,heldsuchconfidentoutrage,asifnowheexpectedMichaeltosurrenderortorunaway,thatMichaelsmiledathimashepulledthetrigger.Thisshotwasbad,notmortal.ItcaughtMeCluskeyinhisthickbull-likethroatandhestartedtochokeloudlyasifhehadswallowedtoolargeabiteoftheveal.