Chapter 20

           ThedeathofSantinoCorleonesentshockwavesthroughtheunderworldofthenation.AndwhenitbecameknownthatDonCorleonehadrisenfromhissickbedtotakechargeoftheFamilyaffairs,whenspiesatthefuneralreportedthattheDonseemedtobefullyrecovered,theheadsoftheFiveFamiliesmadefranticeffortstoprepareadefenseagainstthebloodyretaliatorywarthatwassuretofollow.NobodymadethemistakeofassumingthatDonCorleonecouldbeheldcheaplybecauseofhispastmisfortunes.Hewasamanwhohadmadeonlyafewmistakesinhiscareerandhadlearnedfromeveryoneofthem.

           OnlyHagenguessedtheDon’srealintentionsandwasnotsurprisedwhenemissariesweresenttotheFiveFamiliestoproposeapeace.NotonlytoproposeapeacebutameetingofalltheFamiliesinthecityandwithinvitationstoFamiliesallovertheUnitedStatestoattend.SincetheNewYorkFamilieswerethemostpowerfulinthecountry,itwasunderstoodthattheirwelfareaffectedthewelfareofthecountryasawhole.

           Atfirstthereweresuspicions.WasDonCorleonepreparingatrap?Washetryingtothrowhisenemiesofftheirguard?Washeattemptingtoprepareawholesalemassacretoavengehisson?ButDonCorleonesoonmadeitclearthathewassincere.NotonlydidheinvolvealltheFamiliesinthecountryinthismeeting,butmadenomovetoputhisownpeopleonawarfootingortoenlistallies.Andthenhetookthefinalirrevocablestepthatestablishedtheauthenticityoftheseintentionsandassuredthesafetyofthegrandcounciltobeassembled.