Крестный отец

           Hewassurprisedwhenthewifeanddaughtersturnedtotheshort,heavymandressedinanawkwardlyfittedtuxedo,asiftohearhisdecision.

           Theheavymanspoke.TherewasjusttheslightesttraceofanItalianaccentinhisvoice."Mydeardoctor,"saidDonCorleone,"isittrueheisdying?"

           "Yes,"saidDr.Kennedy.

           "Thenthereisnothingmoreforyoutodo,"saidDonCorleone."Wewilltakeuptheburden.Wewillcomforthim.Wewillclosehiseyes.Wewillburyhimandweepathisfuneralandafterwardswewillwatchoverhiswifeanddaughters."Athearingthingsputsobluntly,forcinghertounderstand,Mrs.Abbandandobegantoweep.

           Dr.Kennedyshrugged.Itwasimpossibletoexplaintothesepeasants.Atthesametimeherecognizedthecrudejusticeintheman’sremarks.Hisrolewasover.Stillexquisitelypolite,hesaid,"Pleasewaitforthenursetoletyouin,shehasafewnecessarythingstodowiththepatient."Hewalkedawayfromthemdownthecorridor,hiswhitecoatflapping.

           Thenursewentbackintotheroomandtheywaited.Finallyshecameoutagain,holdingthedoorforthemtoenter.Shewhispered,"He’sdeliriouswiththepainandfever,trynottoexcitehim.Andyoucanstayonlyafewminutes,exceptforthewife."SherecognizedJohnnyFontaneashewentbyherandhereyesopenedwide.Hegaveherafaintsmileofacknowledgmentandshestaredathimwithfrankinvitation.Hefiledherawayforfuturereference,thenfollowedtheothersintothesickman’sroom.