Крестный отец

           AndIwassodelightedwhenIcouldsaytheword‘warts.’Becauseyoursinginggavemesomuchpleasure,helpedmeseducegirlswhenIwasyoungerandyou’rearealartist.Butalsoyou’reaveryspoiledguy.Doyouthinkbecauseyou’reJohnnyFontaneyoucan’tgetcancer?Orabraintumorthat’sinoperable.Orafailureoftheheart?Doyouthinkyou’renevergoingtodie?Well,it’snotallsweetmusicandifyouwanttoseerealtroubletakeawalkthroughthishospitalandyou’llsingalovesongaboutwarts.Sojuststopthecrapandgetonwithwhatyouhavetodo.YourAdolpheMenjoumedicalmancangetyouthepropersurgeonbutifhetriestogetintotheoperatingroomIsuggestyouhavehimarrestedforattemptedmurder."

           JulesstartedtowalkoutoftheroomwhenValentisaid,"Attaboy,Doc,that’stellinghim."

           Juleswhirledaroundandsaid,"Doyoualwaysgetloopedbeforenoontime?"

           Valentisaid,"Sure,"andgrinnedathimandwithsuchgoodhumorthatJulessaidmoregentlythanhehadmeantto,"Youhavetofigureyou’llbedeadinfiveyearsifyoukeepthatup."

           Valentiwaslumberinguptohimwithlittledancingsteps.HethrewhisarmsaroundJules,hisbreathstankofbourbon.Hewaslaughingveryhard."Fiveyears?"heaskedstill’laughing."Isitgoingtotakethatlong?"

           AmonthafterheroperationLucyMancinisatbesidetheVegashotelpool,onehandholdingacocktail,theotherhandstrokingJules’head,whichlayinherlap.