Крестный отец

           Hewasfamiliarwithalltheguardswhopulleddutyonthemall,wasevenfriendlywithsomeofthem.Hethoughthemightgossipabittopassthetime.Buttohissurprisenoneoftheguardstodayweremenheknew.Theywereallstrangerstohim.Evenmoresurprising,themaninchargeatthegatewasRoccoLampone,andCarloknewthatRoccowasoftoohigharankistheFamilytobepullingsuchmenialdutyunlesssomethingextraordinarywasafoot.

           Roccogavehimafriendlysmileandhello.Carlowaswary.Roccosaid,"Hey,IthoughtyouweregoinganvacationwiththeDon?"

           Carloshrugged."Mikewantedmetostickaroundforacoupleofdays.Hehassomethingformetodo."

           "Yeah,"RoccoLamponesaid."Metoo.Thenhetellsmetokeepacheckonthegate.Well,whatthehell,he’stheboss."HistonesimpliedthatMichaelwasnotthemanhisfatherwas;abitderogatory.

           Carloignoredthetone."Mikeknowswhathe’sdoing,"hesaid.Roccoacceptedtherebukeinsilence.Carlosaidsolongandwalkedbacktothehouse.Somethingwasup,butRoccodidn’tknowwhatitwas.

           MichaelstoodinthewindowofhislivingroomandwatchedCarlostrollingaroundthemall.Hagenbroughthimadrink,strongbrandy.Michaelsippedatitgratefully.Behindhim,Hagensaid,gently,"Mike,youhavetostartmoving.It’stime."

           Michaelsighed."Iwishitweren’tsosoon.Iwishtheoldmanhadlastedalittlelonger."

           "Nothingwillgowrong,"Hagensaid."IfIdidn’ttumble,thennobodydid.Yousetituprealgood."