Крестный отец

           GencoAbbandandohadrunalongracewithdeath,andnow,vanquished,helayexhaustedontheraisedbed.Hewaswastedawaytonomorethanaskeleton,andwhathadoncebeenvigorousblackhairhadturnedintoobscenestringywisps.DonCorleonesaidcheerily,"Genco,dearfriend,Ihavebroughtmysonstopaytheirrespects,andlook,evenJohnny,allthewayfromHollywood."

           ThedyingmanraisedhisfeveredeyesgratefullytotheDon.Helettheyoungmenclasphisbonyhandintheirfleshyones.Hiswifeanddaughtersrangedthemselvesalonghisbed,kissinghischeek,takinghisotherhandinturn.

           TheDonpressedhisoldfriend’shand.Hesaidcomfortingly,"Hurryupandgetbetterandwe’lltakeatripbacktoItalytogethertoouroldvillage.We’llplayboccieinfrontofthewineshoplikeourfathersbeforeus."

           Thedyingmanshookhishead.Hemotionedtheyoungmenandhisfamilyawayfromhisbedside;withtheotherbonyclawhehungfasttotheDon.Hetriedtospeak.TheDonputhisheaddownandthensatonthebedsidechair.GencoAbbandandowasbabblingabouttheirchildhood.Thenhiscoal-blackeyesbecamesly.Hewhispered.TheDonbentcloser.TheothersintheroomwereastonishedtoseetearsrunningdownDonCorleone’sfaceasheshookhishead.Thequaveringvoicegrewlouder,fillingtheroom.Withatortured,superhumaneffort,Abbandandoliftedhisheadoffhispillow,eyesunseeing,andpointedaskeletalforefingerattheDon."Godfather,Godfather,"hecalledoutblindly,"savemefromdeath,Ibegofyou.