Крестный отец

           AfewmomentslaterBonaserarecognizedthesoundofaheavyambulancecomingthroughthenarrowdriveway.ThenClemenzaappearedinthedoorwayfollowedbytwomencarryingastretcher.AndAmerigoBonasera’sworstfearswererealized.Onthestretcherwasacorpseswaddledinagrayblanketbutwithbareyellowfeetstickingouttheend.

           Clemenzamotionedthestretcher-bearersintotheembalmingroom.Andthenfromtheblacknessoftheyardanothermansteppedintothelightedofficeroom.ItwasDonCorleone.

           TheDonhadlostweightduringhisillnessandmovedwithacuriousstiffness.Hewasholdinghishatinhishandsandhishairseemedthinoverhismassiveskull.Helookedolder,moreshrunkenthanwhenBonaserahadseenhimatthewedding,buthestillradiatedpower.Holdinghishatagainsthischest,hesaidtoBonasera,"Well,oldfriend,areyoureadytodomethisservice?"

           Bonaseranodded.TheDonfollowedthestretcherintotheembalmingroomandBonaseratrailedafterhim.Thecorpsewasononeofthegutteredtables.DonCorleonemadeatinygesturewithhishatandtheothermenlefttheroom.

           Bonaserawhispered,"Whatdoyouwishmetodo?"

           DonCorleonewasstaringatthetable."Iwantyoutouseallyourpowers,allyourskill,asyouloveme,"hesaid."Idonotwishhismothertoseehimasheis."Hewenttothetableanddrewdownthegrayblanket.AmerigoBonaseraagainstallhiswill,againstallhisyearsoftrainingandexperience,letoutagaspofhorror