Крестный отец

           "No,"hesaid."Hetoldmetotellyouyoucouldhaveeverythingyouwantanddoeverythingyouwantaslongasyoutakegoodcareofthekids."Hagensmiled."Hesaidtotellyouthatyou’rehisDon.That’sjustajoke."

           KayputherhandonHagen’sarm."Hedidn’torderyoutotellmealltheotherthings?"

           Hagenhesitatedamomentasifdebatingwhethertotellherafinaltruth."Youstilldon’tunderstand,"hesaid."IfyoutoldMichaelwhatI’vetoldyoutoday,I’madeadman."Hepausedagain."Youandthechildrenaretheonlypeopleonthisearthhecouldn’tharm."

           ItwasalongfiveminutesafterthatKayrosefromthegrassandtheystartedwalkingbacktothehouse.Whentheywerealmostthere,KaysaidtoHagen,"Aftersupper,canyoudrivemeandthekidstoNewYorkinyourcar?"

           "That’swhatIcamefor,"Hagensaid.

           AweekaftershereturnedtoMichaelshewenttoapriestforinstructiontobecomeaCatholic.

           Fromtheinnermostrecessofthechurchthebelltolledforrepentance.Asshehadbeentaughttodo,Kaystruckherbreastlightlywithherclenchedhand,thestrokeofrepentance.Thebelltolledagainandtherewastheshufflingoffeetasthecommunicantslefttheirseatstogotothealtarrail.Kayrosetojointhem.Shekneltatthealtarandfromthedepthsofthechurchthebelltolledagain.Withherclosedhandshestruckherheartoncemore.Thepriestwasbeforeher.Shetiltedbackherheadandopenedhermouthtoreceivethepaperythinwafer