Крестный отец

           FardownatthefootofhisbedwasafamiliarshapeandWoltzstruggleduponhiselbowstogetaclearerlook.Ithadtheshapeofahorse’shead.Stillgroggy,Woltzreachedandflickedonthenighttablelamp.

           Theshockofwhathesawmadehimphysicallyill.Itseemedasifagreatsledgehammerhadstruckhimonthechest,hisheartbeatjumpederraticallyandhebecamenauseous.Hisvomitsplutteredonthethickbearrug.

           Severedfromitsbody,theblacksilkyheadofthegreathorseKhartoumwasstuckfastinathickcakeofblood.White,reedytendonsshowed.Frothcoveredthemuzzleandthoseapple-sizedeyesthathadglintedlikegold,weremottledthecolorofrottingfruitwithdead,hemorrhagedblood.WoltzwasstruckbyapurelyanimalterrorandoutofthatterrorhescreamedforhisservantsandoutofthatterrorhecalledHagentomakehisuncontrolledthreats.Hismaniacalravingalarmedthebutler,whocalledWoltz’spersonalphysicianandhissecondincommandatthestudio.ButWoltzregainedhissensesbeforetheyarrived.

           Hehadbeenprofoundlyshocked.Whatkindofmancoulddestroyananimalworthsixhundredthousanddollars?Withoutawordofwarning.Withoutanynegotiationtohavetheact,itsorder,countermanded.Theruthlessness,thesheerdisregardforanyvalues,impliedamanwhoconsideredhimselfcompletelyhisownlaw,evenhisownGod.Andamanwhobackedupthiskindofwillwiththepowerandcunningthatheldhisownstablesecurityforceofnoaccount.