Крестный отец

           Hepickedupthephoneandaskedforthethroatmanatthehospitaltocomedown.ThenheswungaroundandsaidtoNinoValenti,"Ithinkitmightbealongwaitforyou,you’dbetterleave."

           Fontanestaredathiminutterdisbelief."Yousonofabitch,youthinkyou’regoingtokeepmehere?Youthinkyou’regoingtofuckaroundwithmythroat?"

           Jules,withmorepleasurethanhewouldhavethoughtpossible,gaveittohimstraightbetweentheeyes."Youcandowhateveryoulike,"hesaid."You’vegotagrowthofsomesortonyourvocalcords,inyourlarynx.Ifyoustayherethenextfewhours,wecannailitdown,whetherit’smalignantornonmalignant.Wecanmakeadecisionforsurgeryortreatment.Icangiveyouthewholestory.IcangiveyouthenameofatopspecialistinAmericaandwecanhavehimouthereontheplanetonight,withyourmoneythatis,andifIthinkitnecessary.Butyoucanwalkoutofhereandseeyourquackbuddyorsweatwhileyoudecidetoseeanotherdoctor,orgetreferredtosomebodyincompetent.Thenifit’smalignantandgetsbigenoughthey’llcutoutyourwholelarynxoryou’lldie.Oryoucanjustsweat.Stickherewithmeandwecangetitallsquaredawayinafewhours.Yougotanythingmoreimportanttodo?"

           Valentisaid,"Let’sstickaround,Johnny,whatthehell.I’llgodownthehallandcallthestudio.Iwon’ttellthemanything,justthatwe’reheldup.ThenI’llcomebackhereandkeepyoucompany."

           Itprovedtobeaverylongafternoonbutarewardingone.