Chapter 23

           AfterfivemonthsofexileinSicily,MichaelCorleonecamefinallytounderstandhisfather’scharacterandhisdestiny.HecametounderstandmenlikeLucaBrasi,theruthlesscaporegimeClemenza,hismother’sresignationandacceptanceofherrole.ForinSicilyhesawwhattheywouldhavebeeniftheyhadchosennottostruggleagainsttheirfate.HeunderstoodwhytheDonalwayssaid,"Amanhasonlyonedestiny."Hecametounderstandthecontemptforauthorityandlegalgovernment,thehatredforanymanwhobrokeomerta,thelawofsilence.

           Dressedinoldclothesandabilledcap,MichaelhadbeentransportedfromtheshipdockedatPalermototheinterioroftheSicilianisland,totheveryheartofaprovincecontrolledbytheMafia,wherethelocalcapo-mafiosowasgreatlyindebtedtohisfatherforsomepastservice.TheprovinceheldthetownofCorleone,whosenametheDonhadtakenwhenheemigratedtoAmericasolongago.ButtherewerenolongeranyoftheDon’srelativesalive.Thewomenhaddiedofoldage.Allthemenhadbeenkilledinvendettasorhadalsoemigrated,eithertoAmerica,BrazilortosomeotherprovinceontheItalianmainland.Hewastolearnlaterthatthissmallpoverty-strickentownhadthehighestmurderrateofanyplaceintheworld.

           Michaelwasinstalledasaguestinthehomeofabacheloruncleofthecapo-mafioso.Theuncle,inhisseventies,wasalsothedoctorforthedistrict.