Крестный отец

           HeignoredtheirsurpriseandAlbertNeristartedusheringthemout.Michaelsaidsharply,"Tom,stickaroundafewminutes."

           Hagenwenttothewindowthatfacedthemall.HewaiteduntilhesawthecaporegimesandCarloRizzoandRoccoLamponebeingshepherdedthroughtheguardedgatebyNeri.ThenheturnedtoMichaelandsaid,"Haveyougotallthepoliticalconnectionswiredintoyou?"

           Michaelshookhisheadregretfully."Notall.Ineededaboutfourmoremonths.TheDonandIwereworkingonit.ButI’vegotallthejudges,wedidthatfirst,andsomeofthemoreimportantpeopleinCongress.AndthebigpartyboyshereinNewYorkwerenoproblem,ofcourse.TheCorleoneFamilyisalotstrongerthananybodythinks,butIhopedtomakeitfoolproof."HesmiledatHagen."Iguessyou’vefiguredeverythingoutbynow."

           Hagennodded."Itwasn’thard.Exceptwhyyouwantedmeoutoftheaction.ButIputonmySicilianhatandIfinallyfiguredthattoo."

           Michaellaughed."Theoldmansaidyouwould.Butthat’saluxuryIcan’taffordanymore.Ineedyouhere.Atleastforthenextfewweeks.YoubetterphoneVegasandtalktoyourwife.Justtellherafewweeks."

           Hagensaidmusingly,"Howdoyouthinkthey’llcomeatyou?"

           Michaelsighed."TheDoninstructedme.Throughsomebodyclose.Braziniwillsetmeupthroughsomebodyclosethat,supposedly,Iwon’tsuspect."

           Hagensmiledathim."Somebodylikeme."

           Michaelsmiledback."You’reIrish,theywon’ttrustyou."

           "I’mGerman-American,"Hagensaid.