Крестный отец

           MyfleshisburningoffmybonesandIcanfeelthewormseatingawaymybrain.Godfather,cureme,youhavethepower,drythetearsofmypoorwife.InCorleoneweplayedtogetheraschildrenandnowwillyouletmediewhenIfearhellformysins?"

           TheDonwassilent.Abbandandosaid,"Itisyourdaughter’sweddingday,youcannotrefuseme."

           TheDonspokequietly,gravely,topiercethroughtheblasphemousdelirium."Oldfriend,"hesaid,"Ihavenosuchpowers.IfIdidIwouldbemoremercifulthanGod,believeme.Butdon’tfeardeathanddon’tfearhell.Iwillhaveamasssaidforyoursouleverynightandeverymorning.Yourwifeandyourchildrenwillprayforyou.HowcanGodpunishyouwithsomanypleasformercy?"

           Theskeletonfacetookonacunningexpressionthatwasobscene.Abbandandasaidslyly,"It’sbeenarrangedthen?"

           WhentheDonanswered,hisvoicewascold,withoutcomfort."Youblaspheme.Resignyourself."

           Abbandandofellbackonthepillow.Hiseyeslosttheirwildgleamofhope.Thenursecamebackintotheroomandstartedshooingthemoutinaverymatter-of-factway.TheDongotupbutAbbandandoputouthishand."Godfather,"hesaid,"stayherewithmeandhelpmemeetdeath.PerhapsifHeseesyounearmeHewillbefrightenedandleavemeinpeace.Orperhapsyoucansayaword,pullafewstrings,eh?"ThedyingmanwinkedasifheweremockingtheDon,nownotreallyserious."You’rebrothersinblood,afterall."Then,asiffearingtheDonwouldbeoffended,heclutchedathishand.