Крестный отец

           Ihaveallthepeopleyouwanttoseelinedup,they’llbewaitingaroundforwhenyou’reready,Ijusthavetocallthem."

           Michaelsaidpleasantly,"Let’ssaveMoeGreenetotheend,OK?AskJohnnyFontaneandNinouptoeatwithus.AndLucyandherdoctorfriend.Wecantalkwhileweeat."HeturnedtoHagen."Anybodyyouwanttoaddtothat,Tom?"

           Hagenshookhishead.FreddiehadgreetedhimmuchlessaffectionatelythanMichael,butHagenunderstood.Freddiewasonhisfather’sshitlistandFreddienaturallyblamedtheConsiglierefornotstraighteningthingsout.Hagenwouldgladlyhavedoneso,buthedidn’tknowwhyFreddiewasinhisfather’sbadgraces.TheDondidnotgivevoicetospecificgrievances.Hejustmadehisdispleasurefelt.

           ItwasaftermidnightbeforetheygatheredaroundthespecialdinnertablesetupinMichael’ssuite.LucykissedMichaelanddidn’tcommentonhisfacelookingsomuchbetteraftertheoperation.JulesSegalboldlystudiedtherepairedcheekboneandsaidtoMichael,"Agoodjob.It’sknittednicely.IsthesinusOK?"

           "Fine,"Michaelsaid."Thanksforhelpingout."

           DinnerfocusedonMichaelastheyate.TheyallnotedhisresemblanceinspeechandmannertotheDon.Insomecuriouswayheinspiredthesamerespect,thesameawe,andyethewasperfectlynatural,atpainstoputeveryoneattheirease.Hagenasusualremainedinthebackground.Thenewmantheydidnotknow;AlbertNeriwasalsoveryquietandunobtrusive.