Крестный отец

           AndsoMichaelwasdeprivedoftheoldman’scompanyandhadtobecontentwithDr.Taza’sstories,whichwerebeginningtorepeatthemselves.

           OnemorningMichaeldecidedtotakealonghiketothemountainsbeyondCorleone.Hewas,naturally,accompaniedbythetwoshepherdbodyguards.ThiswasnotreallyaprotectionagainstenemiesoftheCorleoneFamily.Itwassimplytoodangerousforanyonenotanativetogowanderingaboutbyhimself.Itwasdangerousenoughforanative.Theregionwasloadedwithbandits,withMafiapartisansfightingagainsteachotherandendangeringeverybodyelseintheprocess.Hemightalsobemistakenforapagliaiothief.

           Apagliaioisastraw-thatchedbuterectedinthefieldstohousefarmingtoolsandtoprovideshelterfortheagriculturallaborerssothattheywillnothavetocarrythemonthelongwalkfromtheirhomesinthevillage.InSicilythepeasantdoesnotliveonthelandhecultivates.Itistoodangerousandanyarableland,ifheownsit,istooprecious.Rather,helivesinhisvillageandatsunrisebeginshisvoyageouttoworkindistantfields,acommuteronfoot.Aworkerwhoarrivedathispagliaioandfounditlootedwasaninjuredmanindeed.Thebreadwastakenoutofhismouthforthatday.TheMafia,afterthelawprovedhelpless,tookthisinterestofthepeasantunderitsprotectionandsolvedtheproblemintypicalfashion.Ithunteddownandslaughteredallpagliaiothieves.Itwasinevitablethatsomeinnocentssuffered.