Крестный отец

           Itwasaftermidnightandhewascarryinghishugeflashlight.Itwaseasyspottingthetrouble.Therewasacrowdgatheredoutsideatenementdoorway.OneNegrowomansaidtoNeri,"There’samanintherecuttingalittlegirl."

           Neriwentintothehallway.Therewasanopendooratthefarendwithlightstreamingoutandhecouldhearmoaning.Stillhandlingtheflashlight,hewentdownthehallandthroughtheopendoorway.

           Healmostfellovertwobodiesstretchedoutonthefloor.OnewasaNegrowomanofabouttwenty-five.TheotherwasaNegrogirlofnomorethantwelve.Bothwerebloodyfromrazorcutsontheirfacesandbodies.InthelivingroomNerisawthemanwhowasresponsible.Heknewhimwell.

           ThemanwasWaxBaines,anotoriouspimp,dopepusherandstrong-armartist.Hiseyeswerepoppingfromdrugsnow,thebloodyknifeheheldinhishandwavered.Nerihadarrestedhimtwoweeksbeforeforseverelyassaultingoneofhiswhoresinthestreet.Baineshadtoldhim,"Hey,man,thisnoneofyourbusiness."AndNeri’spartnerhadalsosaidsomethingaboutlettingtheniggerscuteachotherupiftheywantedto,butNerihadhauledBainesintothestationhouse.Baineswasbailedouttheverynextday.

           NerihadnevermuchlikedNegroes,andworkinginHarlemhadmadehimlikethemevenless.Theyallwereondrugsorboozewhiletheylettheirwomenworkorpeddleass.Hedidn’thaveanyuseforanyofthebastards.SoBaines’brazenbreakingofthelawinfuriatedhim.Andthesightofthelittlegirlallcutupwiththerazorsickenedhim.