Крестный отец

           Brasi’sbrutalfacelookedalmostlikethatofamadmanthatnight,hewasobviouslyinthegripofsomedemon.Shetriedtoprotestthatsheattendedonlywomenwhosehistorysheknewbutheshovedahandfulofgreendollarsinherhandandorderedherroughlytocomealongwithhim.Shewastoofrightenedtorefuse.

           InthestreetwasaFord,itsdriverofthesamefeatherasLucaBrasi.ThedrivewasnomorethanthirtyminutestoasmallframehouseinLongIslandCityrightoverthebridge.Atwo-familyhousebutobviouslynowtenantedonlybyBrasiandhisgang.Forthereweresomeotherruffiansinthekitchenplayingcardsanddrinking.BrasitookFilomenaupthestairstoabedroom.InthebedwasayoungprettygirlwholookedIrish,herfacepainted,herhairred;andwithabellyswollenlikeasow.Thepoorgirlwassofrightened.WhenshesawBrasisheturnedherheadawayinterror,yesterror,andindeedthelookofhatredonBrasi’sevilfacewasthemostfrighteningthingshehadeverseeninherlife.(HereFilomenacrossedherselfagain.)

           Tomakealongstoryshort,Brasilefttheroom.Twoofhismenassistedthemidwifeandthebabywasborn,themotherwasexhaustedandwentintoadeepsleep.BrasiwassummonedandFilomena,whohadwrappedthenewbornchildinanextrablanket,extendedthebundletohimandsaid,"Ifyou’rethefather,takeher.Myworkisfinished."

           Brasiglaredather,malevolent,insanitystampedonhisface."Yes,I’mthefather,"hesaid."ButIdon’twantanyofthatracetolive.