Крестный отец

           Thereceptionroomwasveryplush,verycomfortable,andonaplum-coloredcouchoppositehimsatthemostbeautifulchildHagenhadeverseen.Shewasnomorethanelevenortwelve,dressedinaveryexpensivebutsimplewayasagrownwoman.Shehadincrediblygoldenhair,hugedeepsea-blueeyesandafreshraspberry-redmouth.Shewasguardedbyawomanobviouslyhermother,whotriedtostareHagendownwithacoldarrogancethatmadehimwanttopunchherintheface.Theangelchildandthedragonmother,Hagenthought,returningthemother’scoldstare.

           Finallyanexquisitelydressedbutstoutmiddle-agedwomancametoleadhimthroughastringofofficestotheoffice-apartmentofthemovieproducer.Hagenwasimpressedbythebeautyoftheofficesandthepeopleworkinginthem.Hesmiled.Theywereallshrewdies,tryingtogettheirfootinthemoviedoorbytakingofficejobs;andmostofthemwouldworkintheseofficesfortherestoftheirlivesoruntiltheyaccepteddefeatandreturnedtotheirhometowns.

           JackWoltzwasatall,powerfullybuiltmanwithaheavypaunchalmostconcealedbyhisperfectlytailoredsuit.Hagenknewhishistory.AttenyearsofageWoltzhadhustledemptybeerkegsandpushcartsontheEastSide.Attwentyhehelpedhisfathersweatgarmentworkers.AtthirtyhehadleftNewYorkandmovedWest,investedinthenickelodeonandpioneeredmotionpictures.Atforty-eighthehadbeenthemostpowerfulmoviemagnateinHollywood,stillrough-spoken,rapaciouslyamorous,aragingwolfravaginghelplessflocksofyoungstarlets.