Крестный отец

           Underhisprotection,Michaelhadnothingtofear,yetitwasconsiderednecessarytokeepthefugitive’sidentityasecret.AndsoMichaelwasrestrictedtothewalledestateofDr.Taza,theDon’suncle.

           Dr.TazawastallforaSicilian,almostsixfeet,andhadruddycheeksandsnow-whitehair.Thoughinhisseventies,hewenteveryweektoPalermotopayhisrespectstotheyoungerprostitutesofthatcity,theyoungerthebetter.Dr.Taza’sothervicewasreading.Hereadeverythingandtalkedaboutwhathereadtohisfellowtownsmen,patientswhowereilliteratepeasants,theestateshepherds,andthisgavehimalocalreputationforfoolishness.Whatdidbookshavetodowiththem?

           IntheeveningsDr.Taza,DonTommasinoandMichaelsatinthehugegardenpopulatedwiththesemarblestatuesthatonthisislandseemedtogrowoutofthegardenasmagicallyastheblackheadygrapes.Dr.TazalovedtotellstoriesabouttheMafiaanditsexploitsoverthecenturiesandinMichaelCorleonehehadafascinatedlistener.ThereweretimeswhenevenDonTommasinowouldbecarriedawaybythebalmyair,thefruity,intoxicatingwine,theelegantandquietcomfortofthegarden,andtellastoryfromhisownpracticalexperience.Thedoctorwasthelegend,theDonthereality.

           Inthisantiquegarden,MichaelCorleonelearnedabouttherootsfromwhichhisfathergrew.Thattheword"Mafia"hadoriginallymeantplaceofrefuge.