Chapter 19

           PerhapsitwasthestalematethatmadeSonnyCorleoneembarkonthebloodycourseofattritionthatendedinhisowndeath.Perhapsitwashisdarkviolentnaturegivenfullrein.

           Inanycase,thatspringandsummerhemountssenselessraidsonenemyauxiliaries.TattagliaFamilypimpswereshottodeathinHarlem,dockgoonsweremassacred.UnionofficialswhoowedallegiancetotheFiveFamilieswerewarnedtostayneutral,andwhentheCorleonebookmakersandshylockswerestillbarredfromthedocks,SonnysentClemenzaandhisregimetowreakhavocuponthelongshore.

           Thisslaughterwassenselessbecauseitcouldnotaffectaffecttheoutcomeofthewar.Sonnywasabrillianttacticianandwearshisbrilliantvictories.ButwhatwasneededwasthestrategicalgeniusofDonCorleone.Thewholethingdegeneratedintosuchadeadlyguerrillawarthatbothsidesfoundthemselveslosingagreatdealofrevenueandlivestonopurpose.TheCorleoneFamilywasfinallyforcedtoclosedownsomeofitsmostprofitablebookmakingstations,includingthebookgiventoson-in-lawCarloRizziforhisliving.CarlotooktodrinkandrunningwithchorusgirlsandgivinghiswifeConnieahardtime.SincehisbeatingatthehandsofSonnyhehadnotdaredtohithiswifeagainbuthehadnotsleptwithher.Conniehadthrownherselfathisfeetandhehadspurnedher,ashethought,likeaRoman,withexquisitepatricianpleasure.Hehadsneeredather,"GocallyourbrotherandtellhimIwon’tscrewyou,maybehe’llbeatmeupuntilIgetahardon."