Крестный отец

           Fanuccialivewasnotworthsevenhundreddollarstohim.HewouldnotpaysevenhundreddollarstokeepFanuccialive.IfFanuccineededsevenhundreddollarsforanoperationtosavehislife,hewouldnotgiveFanuccisevenhundreddollarsforthesurgeon.HeowedFanuccinopersonaldebtofgratitude,theywerenotbloodrelatives,hedidnotloveFanucci.Why,then,shouldhegiveFanuccisevenhundreddollars?

           Anditfollowedinevitably,thatsinceFanucciwishedtotakesevenhundreddollarsfromhimbyforce,whyshouldhenotkillFanucci?Surelytheworldcoulddowithoutsuchaperson.

           Therewereofcoursesomepracticalreasons.Fanuccimightindeedhavepowerfulfriendswhowouldseekvengeance.Fanuccihimselfwasadangerousman,notsoeasilykilled.Therewerethepoliceandtheelectricchair.ButVitoCorleonehadlivedunderasentenceofdeathsincethemurderofhisfather.Asaboyoftwelvehehadfledhisexecutionersandcrossedtheoceanintoastrangeland,takingastrangename.Andyearsofquietobservationhadconvincedhimthathehadmoreintelligenceandmorecouragethanothermen,thoughhehadneverhadtheopportunitytousethatintelligenceandcourage.

           Andyethehesitatedbeforetakingthefirststeptowardhisdestiny.Heevenpackedthesevenhundreddollarsinasinglefoldofbillsandputthemoneyinaconvenientsickpocketofhistrousers.Butheputthemoneyintheleftsideofhistrousers.Intheright-handpocketheputthegunClemenzahadgivenhimtouseinthehijackingofthesilktruck.