Крестный отец

           "I’llsingforyou,Johnny,"hesaid,hisvoiceslurringsothathecouldbarelybeunderstood."I’mabettersingerthanyounow.Iwasalwaysabettersingerthanyou,youknowthat?"

           Johnnystoodtherethinking;sothatwasit.HeknewthatwhenhisvoicewashealthyNinosimplywasn’tinthesameleaguewithhim,neverhadbeeninthoseyearstheyhadsungtogetheraskids.HesawNinowaswaitingforananswer,weavingdrunkenlyintheCaliforniamoonlight."Fuckyou,"hesaidgently,andtheybothlaughedtogetherliketheolddayswhentheyhadbothbeenequallyyoung.

           ***

           WhenJohnnyFontanegotwordabouttheshootingofDonCorleonehenotonlyworriedabouthisGodfather,butalsowonderedwhetherthefinancingforhismoviewasstillalive.HehadwantedtogotoNewYorktopayhisrespectstohisGodfatherinthehospitalbuthehadbeentoldnottogetanybadpublicity,thatwasthelastthingDonCorleonewouldwant.Sohewaited.AweeklateramessengercamefromTomHagen.Thefinancingwasstillonbutforonlyonepictureatatime.

           MeanwhileJohnnyletNinogohisownwayinHollywoodandCalifornia,andNinowasdoingallrightwiththeyoungstarlets.SometimesJohnnycalledhimupforanightouttogetherbutneverleanedonhim.WhentheytalkedabouttheDongettingshot,NinosaidtoJohnny,"Youknow,onceIaskedtheDonforajobinhisorganizationandhewouldn’tgiveittome.IwastiredofdrivingatruckandIwantedtomakealotofdough.