Крестный отец

           "Ihonestlydidn’tthinkyou’dpickthatup,Tom."

           Hagenknewhewasbeingmollified."MaybeIcanhelp,"hesaid.

           Michaelshookhisheaddecisively."You’reout,Tom."

           TomfinishedhisdrinkandbeforehelefthegaveMichaelamildreproof."You’renearlyasgoodasyourfather,"hetoldMichael."Butthere’sonethingyoustillhavetolearn."

           "What’sthat?"Michaelsaidpolitely.

           "Howtosayno,"Hagenanswered.

           Michaelnoddedgravely."You’reright,"hesaid."I’llrememberthat."

           WhenHagenhadleft,Michaelsaidjokinglytohisfather,"Soyou’vetaughtmeeverythingelse.Tellmehowtosaynotopeopleinawaythey’lllike."

           TheDonmovedtositbehindthebigdesk."Youcannotsay‘no’tothepeopleyoulove,notoften.That’sthesecret.Andthenwhenyoudo,ithastosoundlikea‘yes.’Oryouhavetomakethemsay‘no.’Youhavetotaketimeandtrouble.ButI’mold-fashioned,you’rethenewmoderngeneration,don’tlistentome."

           Michaellaughed."Right.YouagreeaboutTombeingout,though,don’tyou?"

           TheDonnodded."Hecan’tbeinvolvedinthis."

           Michaelsaidquietly,"Ithinkit’stimeformetotellyouthatwhatI’mgoingtodoisnotpurelyoutofvengeanceforApolloniaandSonny.It’stherightthingtodo.TessioandTomarerightabouttheBarzinis."

           DonCorleonenodded."Revengeisadishthattastesbestwhenitiscold,"hesaid."IwouldnothavemadethatpeacebutthatIknewyouwouldnevercomehomealiveotherwise.