Крестный отец

           Shemusthavegoneintoshockthenbecausethenextthingsherememberedtheywereallstandinginthebasementofthehouseinfrontofasquareironfurnace.Filomenawasstillholdingtheblanketedbaby,whichhadnotmadeasound.(Maybeifithadcried,maybeifIhadbeenshrewdenoughtopinchit,Filomenasaid,thatmonsterwouldhaveshownmercy.)

           Oneofthemenmusthaveopenedthefurnacedoor,thefirenowwasvisible.AndthenshewasalonewithBrasiinthatbasementwithitssweatingpipes,itsmousyodor.Brasihadhisknifeoutagain.Andtherecouldbenodoubtingthathewouldkillher.Thereweretheflames,therewereBrasi’seyes.Hisfacewasthegargoyleofthedevil,itwasnothuman,itwasnotsane:Hepushedhertowardtheopenfurnacedoor.

           AtthispointFilomenafellsilent.ShefoldedherbonyhandsinherlapandlookeddirectlyatMichael.Heknewwhatshewanted,howshewantedtotellhim,withoutusinghervoice.Heaskedgently,"Didyoudoit?"Shenodded.

           Itwasonlyafteranotherglassofwineandcrossingherselfandmutteringaprayerthatshecontinuedherstory.Shewasgivenabundleofmoneyanddrivenhome.Sheunderstoodthatifsheutteredawordaboutwhathadhappenedshewouldbekilled.ButtwodayslaterBrasimurderedtheyoungIrishgirl,themotheroftheinfant,andwasarrestedbythepolice.Filomena,frightenedoutofherwits,wenttotheGodfatherandtoldherstory.Heorderedhertokeepsilent,thathewouldattendtoeverything.AtthattimeBrasididnotworkforDonCorleone.