Крестный отец

           Clemenzahadshowedhimthesafetyonthegunandhehadtriggereditempty.ButasayoungboyinSicilyattheearlyageofnine,hehadoftengonehuntingwith’hisfather,hadoftenfiredtheheavyshotguncalledthelupara.Itwashisskillwiththeluparaevenasasmallboythathadbroughtthesentenceofdeathuponhimbyhisfather’smurderers.

           Nowwaitinginthedarkenedhallway,hesawthewhiteblobofFanuccicrossingthestreettowardthedoorway.Vitosteppedback,shoulderspressedagainsttheinnerdoorthatledtothestairs.Heheldhisgunouttofire.Hisextendedhandwasonlytwopacesfromtheoutsidedoor.Thedoorswungin.Fanucci,white,broad,smelly,filledthesquareoflight.VitoCorleonefired.

           Theopeneddoorletsomeofthesoundescapeintothestreet,therestofthegun’sexplosionshookthebuilding.Fanucciwasholdingontothesidesofthedoor,tryingtostanderect,tryingtoreachforhisgun.Theforceofhisstrugglehadtornthebuttonsoffhisjacketandmadeitswingloose.Hisgunwasexposedbutsowasaspideryveinofredonthewhiteshirtfrontofhisstomach.Verycarefully,asifhewereplunginganeedleintoavein,VitoCorleonefiredhissecondbulletintothatredweb.

           Fanuccifelltohisknees,proppingthedooropen.Heletoutaterriblegroan,thegroanofamaningreatphysicaldistressthatwasalmostcomical.Hekeptgivingthesegroans;VitorememberedhearingatleastthreeofthembeforeheputthegunagainstFanucci’ssweaty,suetycheekandfiredintohisbrain.