Крестный отец

           "Iwouldworkforyoulikeyoursons,"Hagensaid,meaningwithcompleteloyalty,withcompleteacceptanceoftheDon’sparentaldivinity.TheDon,withthatunderstandingwhichwaseventhenbuildingthelegendofhisgreatness,showedtheyoungmanthefirstmarkoffatherlyaffectionsincehehadcomeintohishousehold.HetookHagenintohisarmsforaquickembraceandafterwardtreatedhimmorelikeatrueson,thoughhewouldsometimessay,"Tom,neverforgetyourparents,"asifhewereremindinghimselfaswellasHagen.

           TherewasnochancethatHagenwouldforget.Hismotherhadbeennearmoronicandslovenly,soriddenbyanemiashecouldnotfeelaffectionforherchildrenormakeapretenseofit.HisfatherHagenhadhated.Hismother’sblindnessbeforeshediedhadterrifiedhimandhisowneyeinfectionhadbeenastrokeofdoom.Hehadbeensurehewouldgoblind.Whenhisfatherdied,TomHagen’seleven-year-oldmindhadsnappedinacuriousway.HehadroamedthestreetslikeananimalwaitingfordeathuntilthefatefuldaySonnyfoundhimsleepinginthebackofahallwayandbroughthimtohishome.Whathadhappenedafterwardwasamiracle.ButforyearsHagenhadhadnightmares,dreaminghehadgrowntomanhoodblind,tappingawhitecane,hisblindchildrenbehindhimtap-tappingwiththeirlittlewhitecanesastheybeggedinthestreets.SomemorningswhenhewokethefaceofDonCorleonewasimprintedonhisbraininthatfirstconsciousmomentandhewouldfeelsafe.