Крестный отец

           "IsuggestweallsithereandwaitforNinotocometo.Andthenwealltalkhimintocommittinghimself.Lucy,helikesyou,maybeyoucanhelp.Johnny,ifyou’rearealfriendofhisyou’llgoalong.OtherwiseoldNino’sliverwillshortlybeexhibitAinsomeuniversitymedicallab."

           Johnnywasoffendedbythedoctor’sflippantattitude.Whothehelldidhethinkhewas?HestartedtosaysobutNino’svoicecamefromthebed,"Hey,oldbuddy,how,aboutadrink.

           Ninowassittingupinbed.HegrinnedatLucyandsaid,"Hey,baby,cometooldNino."Heheldhisarmswide-open.Lucysatontheedgeofthebedandgavehimahug.OddlyenoughNinodidn’tlookbadatallnow,almostnormal.

           Ninosnappedhisfingers."Comeon,Johnny,gimmeadrink.Thenight’syoungyet.Wherethehell’smyblackjacktable?"

           JulestookalongslugfromhisownglassandsaidtoNino,"Youcan’thaveathink.Yourdoctorforbidsit."

           Ninoscowled."Screwmyactor."Thenaplay-actinglookofcontritioncameonhisface."Hey,Julie,that’syou.You’remydoctor,right?Idon’tmeanyou,oldbuddy.Johnny,getmeadrinkorIgetupoutofbedsadgetitmyself."

           Johnnyshruggedandmovedtowardthebar.Julessaidindifferently,"I’msayingheshouldn’thaveit."

           JohnnyknewwhyJulesirritatedhim.Thedoctor’svoicewasalwayscool,thewordsneverstressedsomatterhowdire,thevoicealwayslowandcontrolled.Ifhegaveawarningthewarningwasinthewordsalone,thevoiceitselfwasneutral,asifuncaring.