Крестный отец

           ItwasthisthatmadeJohnnysoreenoughtobringNinohiswaterglassofwhiskey.BeforehehandeditoverhesaidtoJules,"Thiswon’tkillhim,right?"

           "No,itwon’tkillhim,"Julessaidcalmly.Lucygavehimananxiousglance,startedtosaysomething,thenkeptstill.MeanwhileNinohadtakenthewhiskeyandpoureditdownhisthroat.

           JohnnywassmilingdownatNino;theyhadshownthepunkdoctor.SuddenlyNinogasped,hisfaceseemedtoturnblue,hecouldn’tcatchhisbreathandwaschokingforair.Hisbodyleapedupwardlikeafish,hisfacewasgorgedwithblood,hiseyesbulging.JulesappearedontheothersideofthebedfacingJohnnyandLucy.HetookNinobytheneckandheldhimstillandplungedtheneedleintotheshouldernearwhereitjoinedtheneck.Ninowentlimpinhishands,theheavesofhisbodysubsided,andafteramomentheslumpeddownbackontohispillow.Hiseyesclosedinsleep.

           Johnny,LucyandJuleswentbackintothelivingroompartofthesuiteandsataroundthehugesolidcoffeetable.Lucypickeduponeoftheaquamarinephonesandorderedcoffeeandsomefoodtobesentup.Johnnyhadgoneovertothebarandmixedhimselfadrink.

           "Didyouknowhewouldhavethatreactionfromthewhiskey?"Johnnyasked.

           Julesshrugged."Iwasprettysurehewould."

           Johnnysaidsharply,"Thenwhydidn’tyouwarnme?"

           "Iwarnedyou,"Julessaid.

           "Youdidn’twarnmeright,"Johnnysaidwithcoldanger."Youarereallyonehellofadoctor.Youdon’tgiveashit.