Крестный отец

           HewentovertowhereNinowaslyinginbed.AsheopenedhisbaghesaidtoJohnny."Thanksforthatcheckyousentmeasaconsultant.Itwasexcessive.Ididn’tdothatmuch."

           "Likehellyoudidn’t,"Johnnysaid."Anyway,forgetthat,thatwasalongtimeago.What’swithNino?"

           Juleswasmakingaquickexaminationofheartbeat,pulseandbloodpressure.HetookaneedleoutofhisbagandshoveditcasuallyintoNino’sarmandpressedtheplunger.Nino’ssleepingfacelostitswaxypaleness,colorcameintothecheeks,asifthebloodhadstartedpumpingfaster.

           "Verysimplediagnosis,"Julessaidbriskly."Ihadachancetoexaminehimandrunsometestswhenhefirstcamehereandfainted.Ihadhimmovedtothehospitalbeforeheregainedconsciousness.He’sgotdiabetes,mildadultstabile,whichisnoproblemifyoutakecareofitwithmedicationanddietandsoforth.Heinsistsonignoringit.Alsoheisfirmlydeterminedtodrinkhimselftodeath.Hisliverisgoingandhisbrainwillgo.Rightnowhe’sinamilddiabeticcoma.Myadviceistohavehimputaway."

           Johnnyfeltasenseofrelief.Itcouldn’tbetooserious,allNinohadtodowastakecareofhimself."Youmeaninoneofthosejointswheretheydryyouout?"Johnnyasked.

           Juleswentovertothebarinthefarcorneroftheroomandmadehimselfadrink."No,"hesaid."Imeancommitted.Youknow,thecrazyhouse."

           "Don’tbefunny,"Johnnysaid.

           "I’mnotjoking,"Julessaid.