Крестный отец

           Takeitdowntothebasementandthrowitintothefurnace."

           ForamomentFilomenathoughtshehadnotunderstoodhimproperly.Shewaspuzzledbyhisuseoftheword"race."DidhemeanbecausethegirlwasnotItalian?Ordidhemeanbecausethegirlwasobviouslyofthelowesttype;awhoreinshort?Ordidhemeanthatanythingspringingfromhisloinsheforbadetolive.Andthenshewassurehewasmakingabrutaljoke.Shesaidshortly,"It’syourchild,dowhatyouwant."Andshetriedtohandhimthebundle.

           Atthistimetheexhaustedmotherawokeandturnedonhersidetofacethem.ShewasjustintimetoseeBrasithrustviolentlyatthebundle,crushingthenewborninfantagainstFilomena’schest.Shecalledoutweakly,"Luc,Luc,I’msorry,"andBrasiturnedtofaceher.

           Itwasterrible,Filomenasaidnow.Soterrible.Theywereliketwomadanimals.Theywerenothuman.Thehatredtheyboreeachotherblazedthroughtheroom.Nothingelse,noteventhenewborninfant,existedforthematthatmoment.Andyettherewasastrangepassion.Abloody,demonicallustsounnaturalyouknewtheyweredamnedforever.ThenLucaBrasiturnedbacktoFilomenaandsaidharshly,"Dowhattellyou,I’llmakeyourich."

           Filomenacouldnotspeakinherterror.Sheshookherhead.Finallyshemanagedtowhisper,"Youdoit,you’rethefather,doitifyoulike."ButBrasididn’tanswer.Insteadhedrewaknifefrominsidehisshirt."I’llcutyourthroat,"hesaid.