Крестный отец

           AbbandandopeckedatDonCorleone’scheek,sobbing,wailing,"Oh,whatasaintyouare,tocomehereonyourdaughter’sweddingday."

           DonCorleonebrushedthesethanksaside."Don’tIowerespecttosuchafriend,afriendwhohasbeenmyrightarmfortwenty,years?"Hehadunderstoodimmediatelythatthesoon-to-bewidowdidnotcomprehendthatherhusbandwoulddiethisnight.GencoAbbandandohadbeeninthishospitalfornearlyayeardyingofhiscancerandthewifehadcometoconsiderhisfatalillnessalmostanordinarypartoflife.Tonightwasjustanothercrisis.Shebabbledon."Goinandseemypoorhusband,"shesaid,"heasksforyou.Poorman,hewantedtocometotheweddingtoshowhisrespectbutthedoctorwouldnotpermitit.ThenhesaidyouwouldcometoseehimonthisgreatdaybutIdidnotbelieveitpossible.Ah,menunderstandfriendshipmorethanwewomen.Goinside,youwillmakehimhappy."

           AnurseandadoctorcameoutofGencoAbbandando’sprivateroom.Thedoctorwasayoungman,serious-facedandwiththeairofoneborntocommand,thatistosay,theairofonewhohasbeenimmenselyrichallhislife.Oneofthedaughtersaskedtimidly,"Dr.Kennedy,canwegotoseehimnow?"

           Dr.Kennedylookedoverthelargegroupwithexasperation.Didn’tthesepeoplerealizethatthemaninsidewasdyinganddyingintorturouspain?Itwouldbemuchbetterifeveryonelethimdieinpeace."Ithinkjusttheimmediatefamily,"hesaidinhisexquisitelypolitevoice.