Крестный отец

           Sunwasmoreimportantthanwater,wateralsowasimportant;butthetwo,imprudentlymixed,couldcausegreatmisfortune.

           TheDonmovedthroughhisgardenhuntingforants.Ifantswerepresent,itmeantthatlicewereinhisvegetablesandtheantsweregoingaftertheliceandhewouldhavetospray.

           Hehadwateredjustintime.ThesunwasbecominghotandtheDonthought,"Prudence.Prudence."Buttherewerejustafewmoreplantstobesupportedbysticksandhebentdownagain.Hewouldgobackintothehousewhenhefinishedthislastrow.

           Quitesuddenlyitfeltasifthesunhadcomedownveryclosetohishead.Theairfilledwithdancinggoldenspecks.Michael’soldestboycamerunningthroughthegardentowardwheretheDonkneltandtheboywasenvelopedbyayellowshieldofblindinglight.ButtheDonwasnottobetricked,hewastoooldahand.DeathhidbehindthatflamingyellowshieldreadytopounceoutonhimandtheDonwithawaveofhishandwarnedtheboyawayfromhispresence.Justintime.Thesledgehammerblowinsidehischestmadehimchokeforair.TheDonpitchedforwardintotheearth.

           Theboyracedawaytocallhisfather.MichaelCorleoneandsomemenatthemallgaterantothegardenandfoundtheDonlyingprone,clutchinghandfulsofearth.TheyliftedtheDonupandcarriedhimtotheshadeofhisstone-flaggedpatio.Michaelkneltbesidehisfather,holdinghishand,whiletheothermencalledforanambulanceanddoctor.

           WithagreatefforttheDonopenedhiseyestoseehissononcemore.