Крестный отец

           Alltheperfumesoftheislandcamerushinginonthewind,orange,lemonblossoms,grapes,flowers.Itseemedasifhisbodyhadsprungawayfromhimoutofhimself.Andthenheheardthetwoshepherdslaughing.

           "Yougothitbythethunderbolt,eh?"Fabrizziosaid,clappinghimontheshoulder.EvenCalobecamefriendly,pattinghimonthearmandsaying,"Easy,man,easy,"butwithaffection.AsifMichaelhadbeenhitbyacar.FabrizziohandedhimawinebottleandMichaeltookalongslug.Itclearedhishead.

           "Whatthehellareyoudamnsheeploverstalkingabout?"hesaid.

           Bothmenlaughed.Calo,hishonestfacefilledwiththeutmostseriousness,said,"Youcan’thidethethunderbolt.Whenithitsyou,everybodycanseeit.Christ,man,don’tbeashamedofit,somemenprayforthethunderbolt.You’realuckyfellow."

           Michaelwasn’ttoopleasedabouthisemotionsbeingsoeasilyread.Butthiswasthefirsttimeinhislifesuchathinghadhappenedtohim.Itwasnothinglikehisadolescentcrushes,itwasnothinglikethelovehe’dhadforKay,alovebasedasmuchonhersweetness,herintelligenceandthepolarityofthefairanddark.Thiswasanoverwhelmingdesireforpossession,thiswasanunerasableprintingofthegirl’sfaceonhisbrainandheknewshewouldhaunthismemoryeverydayofhislifeifhedidnotpossessher.Hislifehadbecomesimplified,focusedononepoint,everythingelsewasunworthyofevenamoment’sattention.