Крестный отец

           DonCorleonedidthisbyputtingapistoltotheforeheadofthebandleaderandassuringhimwiththeutmostseriousnessthateitherhissignatureorhisbrainswouldrestonthatdocumentinexactlyoneminute.LesHalleysigned.DonCorleonepocketedhispistolandhandedoverthecertifiedcheck.

           Therestwashistory.JohnnyFontanewentontobecomethegreatestsingingsensationinthecountry.HemadeHollywoodmusicalsthatearnedafortuneforhisstudio.Hisrecordsmademillionsofdollars.Thenhedivorcedhischildhood-sweetheartwifeandlefthistwochildren,tomarrythemostglamorousblondstarinmotionpictures.Hesoonlearnedthatshewasa"whore."Hedrank,hegambled,hechasedotherwomen.Helosthissingingvoice.Hisrecordsstoppedselling.Thestudiodidnotrenewhiscontract.AndsonowhehadcomebacktohisGodfather.

           Kaysaidthoughtfully,"Areyousureyou’renotjealousofyourfather?Everythingyou’vetoldmeabouthimshowshimdoingsomethingforotherpeople.Hemustbegoodhearted."Shesmiledwryly."Ofcoursehismethodsarenotexactlyconstitutional."

           Michaelsighed."Iguessthat’sthewayitsounds,butletmetellyouthis.YouknowthoseArcticexplorerswholeavecachesoffoodscatteredontheroutetotheNorthPole?Justincasetheymayneedthemsomeday?That’smyfather’sfavors.Somedayhe’llbeateachoneofthosepeople’shousesandtheyhadbettercomeacross."

           ***

           Itwasnearlytwilightbeforetheweddingcakewasshown,exclaimedoverandeaten.