Крестный отец

           OnimportanttripshewoulddrivetheDon’scar,atconferenceshewouldgooutandgettheDonrefreshments,coffeeandsandwiches,freshcigars.HewouldknoweverythingtheDonknewornearlyeverything,allthecellsofpower.HewastheonemanintheworldwhocouldbringtheDoncrashingdowntodestruction.ButnoConsiglierehadeverbetrayedaDon,notinthememoryofanyofthepowerfulSicilianfamilieswhohadestablishedthemselvesinAmerica.Therewasnofutureinit.AndeveryConsigliereknewthatifhekeptthefaith,hewouldbecomerich,wieldpowerandwinrespect.Ifmisfortunecame,hiswifeandchildrenwouldbeshelteredandcaredforasifhewerealiveorfree.Ifhekeptthefaith.

           InsomematterstheConsiglierehadtoactforhisDoninamoreopenwayandyetnotinvolvehisprincipal.HagenwasflyingtoCaliforniaonjustsuchamatter.HerealizedthathiscareerasConsiglierewouldbeseriouslyaffectedbythesuccessorfailureofthismission.ByfamilybusinessstandardswhetherJohnnyFontanegothiscovetedpartinthewarmovie,ordidnot,wasaminormatter.FarmoreimportantwasthemeetingHagenhadsetupwithVirgilSollozzothefollowingFriday.ButHagenknewthattotheDon,bothwereofequalimportance,whichsettledthematterforanygoodConsigliere.

           ThepistonplaneshookTomHagen’salreadynervousinsidesandheorderedamartinifromthehostesstoquietthem.BoththeDonandJohnnyhadbriefedhimonthecharacterofthemovieproducer,JackWoltz.