mp.godfather-第15部分

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nk　narcotics　is　the　ing　thing。　I　think　we　have　to　have　a　piece　of　that　action　or　we　risk　everything　we　have。　Not　now；　but　maybe　ten　years　from　now。〃
　
　The　Don　seemed　enormously　impressed。　He　puffed　on　his　cigar　and　murmured；　〃That's　the　most　important　thing　of　course。〃　He　sighed　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃What　time　do　I　have　to　meet　this　infidel　tomorrow？〃
　
　Hagen　said　hopefully；　〃He'll　be　here　at　ten　in　the　morning。〃　Maybe　the　Don　would　go　for　it。
　
　〃I'll　want　you　both　here　with　me；〃　the　Don　said。　He　rose；　stretching；　and　took　his　son　by　the　arm。　〃Santino；　get　some　sleep　tonight；　you　look　like　the　devil　himself。　Take　care　of　yourself；　you　won't　be　young　forever。〃
　
　Sonny；　encouraged　by　this　sign　of　fatherly　concern；　asked　the　question　Hagen　did　not　dare　to　ask。　〃Pop；　what's　your　answer　going　to　be？〃
　
　Don　Corleone　smiled。　〃How　do　I　know　until　I　hear　the　percentages　and　other　details？　Besides　I　have　to　have　time　to　think　over　the　advice　given　here　tonight。　After　all；　I'm　not　a　man　who　does　things　rashly。〃　As　he　went　out　the　door　he　said　casually　to　Hagen；　〃Do　you　have　in　your　notes　that　the　Turk　made　his　living　from　prostitution　before　the　war？　As　the　Tattaglia　family　does　now。　Write　that　down　before　you　forget。〃　There　was　just　a　touch　of　derision　in　the　Don's　voice　and　Hagen　flushed。　He　had　deliberately　not　mentioned　it；　legitimately　so　since　it　really　had　no　bearing；　but　he　had　feared　it　might　prejudice　the　Don's　decision。　He　was　notoriously　straitlaced　in　matters　of　sex。
　
　**********
　
　Virgil　〃the　Turk〃　Sollozzo　was　a　powerfully　built；　medium…sized　man　of　dark　plexion　who　could　have　been　taken　for　a　true　Turk。　He　had　a　scimitar　of　a　nose　and　cruel　black　eyes。　He　also　had　an　impressive　dignity。
　
　Sonny　Corleone　met　him　at　the　door　and　brought　him　into　the　office　where　Hagen　and　the　Don　waited。　Hagen　thought　he　had　never　seen　a　more　dangerous…looking　man　except　for　Luca　Brasi。
　
　There　were　polite　handshakings　all　around。　If　the　Don　ever　asks　me　if　this　man　has　balls；　I　would　have　to　answer　yes；　Hagen　thought。　He　had　never　seen　such　force　in　one　man；　not　even　the　Don。　In　fact　the　Don　appeared　at　his　worst。　He　was　being　a　little　too　simple；　a　little　too　peasantlike　in　his　greeting。
　
　Sollozzo　came　to　the　point　immediately。　The　business　was　narcotic。　Everything　was　set　up。　Certain　poppy　fields　in　Turkey　had　pledged　him　certain　amounts　every　year。　He　had　a　protected　plant　in　France　to　convert　into　morphine。　He　had　an　absolutely　secure　plant　in　Sicily　to　process　into　heroin。　Smuggling　into　both　countries　was　as　positively　safe　as　such　matters　could　be。　Entry　into　the　United　States　would　entail　about　five　percent　losses　since　the　FBI　itself　was　incorruptible；　as　they　both　knew。　But　the　profits　would　be　enormous；　the　risk　nonexistent。
　
　〃Then　why　do　you　e　to　me？〃　the　Don　asked　politely。　〃How　have　I　deserved　your　generosity？〃
　
　Sollozzo's　dark　face　remained　impassive。　〃I　need　two　million　dollars　cash；〃　he　said。　〃Equally　important；　I　need　a　man　who　has　powerful　friends　in　the　important　places。　Some　of　my　couriers　will　be　caught　over　the　years。　That　is　inevitable。　They　will　all　have　clean　records；　that　I　promise。　So　it　will　be　logical　for　judges　to　give　light　sentences。　I　need　a　friend　who　can　guarantee　that　when　my　people　get　in　trouble　they　won't　spend　more　than　a　year　or　two　in　jail。　Then　they　won't　talk。　But　if　they　get　ten　and　twenty　years；　who　knows？　In　this　world　there　are　many　weak　individuals。　They　may　talk；　they　may　jeopardize　more　important　people。　Legal　protection　is　a　must。　I　hear；　Don　Corleone；　that　you　have　as　many　judges　in　your　pocket　as　a　bootblack　has　pieces　of　silver。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　didn't　bother　to　acknowledge　the　pliment。　〃What　percentage　for　my　family？〃　he　asked。
　
　Sollozzo's　eyes　gleamed。　〃Fifty　percent。〃　He　paused　and　then　said　in　a　voice　that　was　almost　a　caress；　〃In　the　first　year　your　share　would　be　three　or　four　million　dollars。　Then　it　would　go　up。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　said；　〃And　what　is　the　percentage　of　the　Tattaglia　family？〃
　
　For　the　first　time　Sollozzo　seemed　to　be　nervous。　〃They　will　receive　something　from　my　share。　I　need　some　help　in　the　operations。〃
　
　〃So；〃　Don　Corleone　said；　〃I　receive　fifty　percent　merely　for　finance　and　legal　protection。　I　have　no　worries　about　operations；　is　that　what　you　tell　me？〃
　
　Sollozzo　nodded。　〃If　you　think　two　million　dollars　in　cash　is　'merely　finance；'　I　congratulate　you；　Don　Corleone。〃
　
　The　Don　said　quietly；　〃I　consented　to　see　you　out　of　my　respect　for　the　Tattaglias　and　because　I've　heard　you　are　a　serious　man　to　be　treated　also　with　respect。　I　must　say　no　to　you　but　I　must　give　you　my　reasons。　The　profits　in　your　business　are　huge　but　so　are　the　risks。　Your　operation；　if　I　were　part　of　it；　could　damage　my　other　interests。　It's　true　I　have　many；　many　friends　in　politics；　but　they　would　not　be　so　friendly　if　my　business　were　narcotics　instead　of　gambling。　They　think　gambling　is　something　like　liquor；　a　harmless　vice；　and　they　think　narcotics　a　dirty　business。　No；　don't　protest。　I'm　telling　you　their　thoughts；　not　mine。　How　a　man　makes　his　living　is　not　my　concern。　And　what　I　am　telling　you　is　that　this　business　of　yours　is　too　risky。　All　the　members　of　my　family　have　lived　well　the　last　ten　years；　without　danger；　without　harm。　I　can't　endanger　them　or　their　livelihoods　out　of　greed。〃
　
　The　only　sign　of　Sollozzo's　disappointment　was　a　quick　flickering　of　his　eyes　around　the　room；　as　if　he　hoped　Hagen　or　Sonny　would　speak　in　his　support。　Then　he　said；　〃Are　you　worried　about　security　for　your　two　million？〃
　
　The　Don　smiled　coldly。　〃No；〃　he　said。
　
　Sollozzo　tried　again。　〃The　Tattaglia　family　will　guarantee　your　investment　also。〃
　
　It　was　then　that　Sonny　Corleone　made　an　unforgivable　error　in　judgment　and　procedure。　He　said　eagerly；　〃The　Tattaglia　family　guarantees　the　return　of　our　investment　without　any　percentage　from　us？〃
　
　Hagen　was　horrified　at　this　break。　He　saw　the　Don　turn　cold；　malevolent　eyes　on　his　eldest　son；　who　froze　in　unprehending　dismay。　Sollozzo's　eyes　flickered　again　but　this　time　with　satisfaction。　He　had　discovered　a　chink　in　the　Don's　fortress。　When　the　Don　spoke　his　voice　held　a　dismissal。　〃Young　people　are　greedy；〃　he　said。　〃And　today　they　have　no　manners。　They　interrupt　their　elders。　They　meddle。　But　I　have　a　sentimental　weakness　for　my　children　and　I　have　spoiled　them。　As　you　see。　Signor　Sollozzo；　my　no　is　final。　Let　me　say　that　I　myself　wish　you　good　fortune　in　your　business。　It　has　no　conflict　with　my　own。　I'm　sorry　that　I　had　to　disappoint　you。〃
　
　Sollozzo　bowed；　shook　the　Don's　hand　and　let　Hagen　take　him　to　his　car　outside。　There　was　no　expression　on　his　face　when　he　said　good…bye　to　Hagen。
　
　Back　in　the　room；　Don　Corleone　asked　Hagen；　〃What　did　you　think　of　that　man？〃
　
　〃He's　a　Sicilian；〃　Hagen　said　dryly。
　
　The　Don　nodded　his　head　thoughtfully。　Then　he　turned　to　his　son　and　said　gently；　〃Santino；　never　let　anyone　outside　the　family　know　what　you　are　thinking。　Never　let　them　know　what　you　have　under　your　fingernails。　I　think　your　brain　is　going　soft　from　all　that　edy　you　play　with　that　young　girl。　Stop　it　and　pay　attention　to　business。　Now　get　out　of　my　sight。〃
　
　Hagen　saw　the　surprise　on　Sonny's　face；　then　anger　at　his　father's　reproach。　Did　he　really　think　the　Don　would　be　ignorant　of　his　conquest；　Hagen　wondered。　And　did　he　really　not　know　what　a　dangerous　mistake　he　had　made　this　morning？　If　that　were　true；　Hagen　would　never　wish　to　be　the　Consigliere　to　the　Don　of　Santino　Corleone。
　
　Don　Corleone　waited　until　Sonny　had　left　the　room。　Then　he　sank　back　into　his　leather　armchair　and　motioned　brusquely　for　a　drink。　Hagen　poured　him　a　glass　of　anisette。　The　Don　looked　up　at　him。　〃Send　Luca　Brasi　to　see　me；〃　he　said。
　
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　Three　months　later；　Hagen　hurried　through　the　paper　work　in　his　city　office　hoping　to　leave　early　enough　for　some　Christmas　shopping　for　his　wife　and　children。　He　was　interrupted　by　a　phone　call　from　a　Johnny　Fontane　bubbling　with　high　spirits。　The　picture　had　been　shot；　the　rushes；　whatever　the　hell　they　were；　Hagen　thought；　were　fabulous。　He　was　sending　the　Don　a　present　for　Christmas　that　would　knock　his　eyes　out；　he'd　bring　it　himself　but　there　were　some　little　things　to　be　done　in　the　movie。　He　would　have　to　stay　out　on　the　Coast。　Hagen　tried　to　conceal　his　impatience。　Johnny　Fontane's　charm　had　always　been　lost　on　him。　But　his　interest　was　aroused。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。　Johnny　Fontane　chuckled　and　said；　〃I　can't　tell；　that's　the　best　part　of　a　Christmas　present。〃　Hagen　immediately　lost　all　interest　and　finally　managed；　politely；　to　hang　up。
　
　Ten　minutes　later　his　secretary　told　him　that　Connie　Corleone　was　on　the　phone　and　wanted　to　speak　to　him。　Hagen　sighed。　As　a　young　girl　Connie　had　been　nice；　as　a　married　woman　she　was　a　nuisance。　She　made　plaints　about　her　husband。　She　kept　going　home　to　visit　her　mother　for　two　or　three　days。　And　Carlo　Rizzi　was　turning　out　to　be　a　real　loser。　He　had　been　fixed　up　with　a　nice　little　business　and　was　running　it　into　the　ground。　He　was　also　drinking；　whoring　around；　gambling　and　beating　his　wife　up　occasionally。　Connie　hadn't　told　her　family　about　that　but　she　had　told　Hagen。　He　wondered　what　new　tale　of　woe　she　had　for　him　now。
　
　But　the　Christmas　spirit　seemed　to　have　cheered　her　up。　She　just　wanted　to　ask　Hagen　what　her　father　would　really　like　for　Christmas。　And　Sonny　and　Fred　and　Mike。　She　already　knew　what　she　would　get　her　mother。　Hagen　made　some　suggestions；　all　of　which　she　rejected　as　silly。　Finally　she　let　him　go。
　
　When　the　phone　rang　again；　Hagen　threw　his　papers　back　into　the　basket。　The　hell　with　it。　He'd　leave。　It　never　occurred　to　him　to　refuse　to　take　the　call；　however。　When　his　secretary　told　him　it　was　Michael　Corieone　he　picked　up　the　phone　with　pleasure。　He　had　always　liked　Mike。
　
　〃Tom；〃　Michael　Corleone　said；　〃I'm　driving　down　to　the　city　with　Kay　tomorrow。　There's　something　important　I　want　to　tell　the　old　man　before　Christmas。　Will　he　be　home　tomorrow　night？〃
　
　〃Sure；〃　Hagen　said。　〃He's　not　going　out　of　town　until　after　Christmas。　Anything　I　can　do　for　you？〃
　
　Michael　was　as