Крестный отец

           Hewentupontheroofagainandtraveledoverafewledges.Hethrewthewalletdownoneairshaftandthenheemptiedthegunofbulletsandsmasheditsbarrelagainsttheroofledge.Thebarrelwouldn’tbreak.Hereverseditinhishandandsmashedthebuttagainstthesideofachimney.Thebuttsplitintotwohalves.Hesmasheditagainandthepistolbrokeintobarrelandhandle,twoseparatepieces.Heusedaseparateairshaftforeach.Theymadenosoundwhentheystrucktheearthfivestoriesbelow,butsankintothesofthillofgarbagethathadaccumulatedthere.Inthemorningmoregarbagewouldbethrownoutofthewindowsand,withluck,wouldcovereverything.Vitoreturnedtohisapartment.

           Hewastremblingalittlebutwasabsolutelyundercontrol.Hechangedhisclothesandfearfulthatsomebloodmighthavesplatteredonthem,hethrewthemintoametaltubhiswifeusedforwashing.Hetooklyeandheavybrownlaundrysoaptosoaktheclothesandscrubbedthemwiththemetalwashboardbeneaththesink.Thenhescouredtubandsinkwithlyeandsoap.Hefoundabundleofnewlywashedclothesinthecornerofthebedroomandmingledhisownclotheswiththese.Thenheputonafreshshirtandtrousersandwentdowntojoinhiswifeandchildrenandneighborsinfrontofthetenement.

           Alltheseprecautionsprovedtobeunnecessary.Thepolice,afterdiscoveringthedeadbodyatdawn,neverquestionedVitoCorleone.IndeedhewasastonishedthattheyneverlearnedaboutFanucci’svisittohishomeonthenighthewasshottodeath.