Крестный отец

           Hisbrainwillblowitselfapart.Isthatvividenoughforyou?Sure,Isaidcrazyhouse.Iwantyoutounderstandwhat’sneeded.Oryouwon’tmakeamove.I’llputittoyoustraight.Youcansaveyourbuddy’slifebyhavinghimcommitted.Otherwisekisshimgood-bye."

           Lucymurmured,"Jules,darling,lutes,don’tbesotough.Justtellhim."

           Julesstoodup.Hisusualcoolwasgone,JohnnyFontanenoticedwithsatisfaction.Hisvoicetoohadlostitsquietunaccentedmonotone.

           "DoyouthinkthisisthefirsttimeI’vehadtotalktopeoplelikeyouinasituationlikethis?"Julessaid."Ididiteveryday.Lucysaysdon’tbesotough,butshedoesn’tknowwhatshe’stalkingabout.Youknow,Iusedtotellpeople,"Don’teatgomuchoryou’lldie,don’tsmokesomuchoryou’lldie,don’tworksomuchoryou’lldie,don’tdrinksomuchoryou’lldie.’Nobodylistens.Youknowwhy?BecauseIdon’tsay,`Youwilldietomorrow.’Well,IcantellyouthatNinomayverywelldietomorrow."

           Juleswentovertothebarandmixedhimselfanotherdrink."Howaboutit,Johnny,areyougoingtogetNinocommitted?"

           Johnnysaid,"Idon’tknow."

           Julestookaquickdrinkatthebarandfilledhisglassagain."Youknow,it’safunnything,youcansmokeyourselftodeath,drinkyourselftodeath,workyourselftodeathandeveneatyourselftodeath.Butthat’sallacceptable.Theonlythingyoucan’tdomedicallyisscrewyourselftodeathandyetthat’swheretheyputalltheobstacles."