Крестный отец

           TheyoungVito,however,feltacoldangerforthedreadedFanucci.Henevershowedthisangerinanywaybutbidedhistime.Heworkedintherailroadforafewmonthsandthen,whenthewarended,workbecameslowandhecouldearnonlyafewdays’payamonth.Also,mostoftheforemenwereIrishandAmericanandabusedtheworkmeninthefoulestlanguage,whichVitoalwaysborestone-facedasifhedidnotcomprehend,thoughheunderstoodEnglishverywelldespitehisaccent.

           OneeveningasVitowashavingsupperwithhisfamilytherewasaknockonthewindowthatledtotheopensirshaftthatseparatedthemfromthenextbuilding.WhenVitopulledasidethecurtainhesawtohisastonishmentoneoftheyoungmenintheneighborhood,PeterClemenza,leaningoutfromawindowontheothersideoftheairshaft.Hewasextendingawhite-sheetedbundle.

           "Hey,paisan,"Clemenzasaid."HoldtheseformeuntilIaskforthem.Hurryup."AutomaticallyVitoreachedovertheemptyspaceoftheairshaftandtookthebundle.Clemenza’sfacewasstrainedandurgent.HewasinsomesortoftroubleandVito’shelpingactionwasinstinctive.Butwhenheuntiedthebundleinhiskitchen,therewerefiveoilygunsstainingthewhitecloth.Heputtheminhisbedroomclosetandwaited.HelearnedthatClemenzahadbeentakenawaybythepolice.Theymusthavebeenknockingonhisdoorwhenhehandedthegunsovertheairshaft.