Крестный отец

           JusticehadneverbeenforthcomingfromtheauthoritiesandsothepeoplehadalwaysgonetotheRobinHoodMafia.AndtosomeextenttheMafiastillfulfilledthisrole.Peopleturnedtotheirlocalcapo-mafiosoforhelpineveryemergency.Hewastheirsocialworker,theirdistrictcaptainreadywithabasketoffoodandajob,theirprotector.

           ButwhatDr.Tazadidnotadd,whatMichaellearnedonhisowninthemonthsthatfollowed,wasthattheMafiainSicilyhadbecometheillegalarmoftherichandeventheauxiliarypoliceofthelegalandpoliticalstructure.Ithadbecomeadegeneratecapitaliststructure,anti-communist,anti-liberal,placingitsowntaxesoneveryformofbusinessendeavornomatterhowsmall.

           MichaelCorleoneunderstoodforthefirsttimewhymenlikehisfatherchosetobecomethievesandmurderersratherthanmembersofthelegalsociety.Thepovertyandfearanddegradationweretooawfultobeacceptabletoanymanofspirit.AndinAmericasomeemigratingSicilianshadassumedtherewouldbeanequallycruelauthority.

           Dr.TazaofferedtotakeMichaelintoPalermowithhimonhisweeklyvisittothebordellobutMichaelrefused.HisflighttoSicilyhadpreventedhimfromgettingpropermedicaltreatmentforhissmashedjawandhenowcarriedamementofromCaptainMcCluskeyontheleftsideofhisface.Theboneshadknittedbadly,throwinghisprofileaskew,givinghimtheappearanceofdepravitywhenviewedfromthatside.Hehadalwaysbeenvainabouthislooksandthisupsethimmorethanhethoughtpossible.