Крестный отец

           Thenakedcoupleonhischestwrithedinalover’sagonyandthedaggerthrustbythehusbandquiveredintheirtransfixedflesh.Itamusedthem.ItwaswhilethiswasgoingonthatMichaelwashitwithwhattheSicilianscall"thethunderbolt."

           Beyondtheorangegrovelaythegreenribbonedfieldsofabaronialestate.DowntheroadfromthegrovewasavillasoRomanitlookedasifithadbeendugupfromtheruinsofPompeii.ItwasalittlepalacewithahugemarbleporticoandflutedGreciancolumnsandthroughthosecolumnscameabevyofvillagegirlsflankedbytwostoutmatronscladinblack.Theywerefromthevillageandhadobviouslyfulfilledtheirancientdutytothelocalbaronbycleaninghisvillaandotherwisepreparingitforhiswintersojourn.Nowtheyweregoingintothefieldstopicktheflowerswithwhichtheywouldfilltherooms.Theyweregatheringthepinksulla,purplewisteria,mixingthemwithorangeandlemonblossoms.Thegirls,notseeingthemenrestingintheorangegrove,camecloserandcloser.

           Theyweredressedincheapgailyprintedfrocksthatclungtotheirbodies.Theywerestillintheirteensbutwiththefullwomanlinesssun-drenchedfleshripenedintosoquickly.Threeorfourofthemstartedchasingonegirl,chasinghertowardthegrove.Thegirlbeingchasedheldabunchofhugepurplegrapesinherlefthandandwithherrighthandwaspickinggrapesofftheclusterandthrowingthematherpursuers.Shehadacrownofringletedhairaspurple-blackasthegrapesandherbodyseemedtobeburstingoutofitsskin.