Крестный отец

           Sixhundredthousanddollars!Andthatwasjustforopeners.Woltzshuddered.Hethoughtofthislifehehadbuiltup.Hewasrich.Hecouldhavethemostbeautifulwomenintheworldbycookinghisfingerandpromisingacontract.Hewasreceivedbykingsandqueens.Helivedalifeasperfectasmoneyandpowercouldmakeit.Itwascrazytoriskallthisbecauseofawhim.MaybehecouldgettoCorleone.Whatwasthelegalpenaltyforkillingaracehorse?Helaughedwildlyandhisdoctorandservantswatchedhimwithnervousanxiety.Anotherthoughtoccurredtohim.HewouldbethelaughingstockofCaliforniamerelybecausesomeonehadcontemptuouslydefiedhispowerinsucharrogantfashion.Thatdecidedhim.Thatandthethoughtthatmaybe,maybetheywouldn’tkillhim.Thattheyhadsomethingmuchmorecleverandpainfulinreserve.

           Woltzgavethenecessaryorders.Hispersonalconfidentialstaffswungintoaction.Theservantsandthedoctorweresworntosecrecyonpainofincurringthestudio’sandWoltz’sundyingenmity.WordwasgiventothepressthattheracehorseKhartoumhaddiedofanillnesscontractedduringhisshipmentfromEngland.Ordersweregiventoburytheremainsinasecretplaceontheestate.

           SixhourslaterJohnnyFontanereceivedaphonecallfromtheexecutiveproducerofthefilmtellinghimtoreportforworkthefollowingMonday.

           ***

           Thatevening,HagenwenttotheDon’shousetopreparehimfortheimportantmeetingthenextdaywithVirgilSollozzo.