mp.godfather-第23部分

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　〃Sure；　sure；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　be　back　at　four。〃　He　left　the　club　and　caught　a　cab　to　his　furnished　room　on　Tenth　Avenue。　He　boarded　with　an　Italian　family　to　which　he　was　distantly　related。　His　two　rooms　were　separated　from　the　rest　of　their　railroad　flat　by　a　special　door。　He　liked　the　arrangement　because　it　gave　him　some　family　life　and　also　protection　against　surprise　where　he　was　most　vulnerable。
　
　The　sly　Turkish　fox　was　going　to　show　his　bushy　tail；　Luca　thought。　If　things　went　far　enough；　if　Sollozzo　mitted　himself　tonight；　maybe　the　whole　thing　could　be　wound　up　as　a　Christmas　present　for　the　Don。　In　his　room；　Luca　unlocked　the　trunk　beneath　the　bed　and　took　out　a　bulletproof　vest。　It　was　heavy。　He　undressed　and　put　it　on　over　his　woolen　underwear；　then　put　his　shirt　and　jacket　over　it。　He　thought　for　a　moment　of　calling　the　Don's　house　at　Long　Beach　to　tell　him　of　this　new　development　but　he　knew　the　Don　never　talked　over　the　phone；　to　anyone；　and　the　Don　had　given　him　this　assignment　in　secret　and　so　did　not　want　anyone；　not　even　Hagen　or　his　eldest　son；　to　know　about　it。
　
　Luca　always　carried　a　gun。　He　had　a　license　to　carry　a　gun；　probably　the　most　expensive　gun　license　ever　issued　anyplace；　anytime。　It　had　cost　a　total　of　ten　thousand　dollars　but　it　would　keep　him　out　of　jail　if　he　was　frisked　by　the　cops。　As　a　top　executive　operating　official　of　the　Family　he　rated　the　license。　But　tonight；　just　in　case　he　could　finish　off　the　job；　he　wanted　a　〃safe〃　gun。　One　that　could　not　possibly　be　traced。　But　then　thinking　the　matter　over；　he　decided　that　he　would　just　listen　to　the　proposition　tonight　and　report　back　to　the　Godfather；　Don　Corleone。
　
　He　made　his　way　back　to　the　club　but　he　did　not　drink　any　more。　Instead　he　wandered　out　to　48th　Street；　where　he　had　a　leisurely　late　supper　at　Patsy's；　his　favorite　Italian　restaurant。　When　it　was　time　for　his　appointment　he　drifted　uptown　to　the　club　entrance。　The　doorman　was　no　longer　there　when　he　went　in。　The　hatcheck　girl　was　gone。　Only　Bruno　Tattaglia　waited　to　greet　him　and　lead　him　to　the　deserted　bar　at　the　side　of　the　room。　Before　him　he　could　see　the　desert　of　small　tables　with　the　polished　yellow　wood　dance　floor　gleaming　like　a　small　diamond　in　the　middle　of　them。　In　the　shadows　was　the　empty　bandstand；　out　of　it　grew　the　skeleton　metal　stalk　of　a　microphone。
　
　Luca　sat　at　the　bar　and　Bruno　Tattaglia　went　behind　it。　Luca　refused　the　drink　offered　to　him　and　lit　a　cigarette。　It　was　possible　that　this　would　turn　out　to　be　something　else；　not　the　Turk。　But　then　he　saw　Soltozzo　emerge　out　of　the　shadows　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。
　
　Sollozzo　shook　his　hand　and　sat　at　the　bar　next　to　him。　Tattaglia　put　a　glass　in　front　of　the　Turk；　who　nodded　his　thanks。　〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃　asked　Sollozzo。
　
　Luca　nodded。　He　smiled　grimly。　The　rats　were　being　flushed　out　of　their　holes。　It　would　be　his　pleasure　to　take　care　of　this　renegade　Sicilian。
　
　〃Do　you　know　what　I　am　going　to　ask　of　you？〃　Sollozzo　asked。
　
　Luca　shook　his　head。
　
　〃There's　big　business　to　be　made；〃　Sollozzo　said。　〃I　mean　millions　for　everybody　at　the　top　level。　On　the　first　shipment　I　can　guarantee　you　fifty　thousand　dollars。　I'm　talking　about　drugs。　It's　the　ing　thing。〃
　
　Luca　said；　〃Why　e　to　me？　You　want　me　to　talk　to　my　Don？〃
　
　Sollozzo　grimaced。　〃I've　already　talked　to　the　Don。　He　wants　no　part　of　it。　All　right；　I　can　do　without　him。　But　I　need　somebody　strong　to　protect　the　operation　physically。　I　understand　you're　not　happy　with　your　Family；　you　might　make　a　switch。〃
　
　Luca　shrugged。　〃If　the　offer　is　good　enough。〃
　Sollozzo　had　been　watching　him　intently　and　seemed　to　have　e　to　a　decision。　〃Think　about　my　offer　for　a　few　days　and　then　we'll　talk　again；〃　he　said。　He　put　out　his　hand　but　Luca　pretended　not　to　see　it　and　busied　himself　putting　a　cigarette　in　his　mouth。　Behind　the　bar；　Bruno　Tattaglia　made　a　lighter　appear　magically　and　held　it　to　Luca's　cigarette。　And　then　he　did　a　strange　thing。　He　dropped　the　lighter　on　the　bar　and　grabbed　Lucas　right　hand；　holding　it　tight。
　
　Luca　reacted　instantly；　his　body　slipping　off　the　bar　stool　and　trying　to　twist　away。　But　Sollozzo　had　grabbed　his　other　hand　at　the　wrist。　Still；　Luca　was　too　strong　for　both　of　them　and　would　have　broken　free　except　that　a　man　stepped　out　of　the　shadows　behind　him　and　threw　a　thin　silken　cord　around　his　neck。　The　cord　pulled　tight；　choking　off　Lucas　breath。　His　face　became　purple；　the　strength　in　his　arms　drained　away。　Tattaglia　and　Sollozzo　held　his　hands　easily　now；　and　they　stood　there　curiously　childlike　as　the　man　behind　Luca　pulled　the　cord　around　Lucas　neck　tighter　and　tighter。　Suddenly　the　floor　was　wet　and　slippery。　Luca's　sphincter；　no　longer　under　control；　opened；　the　waste　of　his　body　spilled　out。　There　was　no　strength　in　him　anymore　and　his　legs　folded；　his　body　sagged。　Sollozzo　and　Tattaglia　let　his　hands　go　and　only　the　strangler　stayed　with　the　victim；　sinking　to　his　knees　to　follow　Lucas　falling　body；　drawing　the　cord　so　tight　that　it　cut　into　the　flesh　of　the　neck　and　disappeared。　Lucas　eyes　were　bulging　out　of　his　head　as　if　in　the　utmost　surprise　and　this　surprise　was　the　only　humanity　remaining　to　him。　He　was　dead。
　
　〃I　don't　want　him　found；〃　Sollozzo　said。　〃It's　important　that　he　not　be　found　right　now。〃　He　turned　on　his　heel　and　left；　disappearing　back　into　the　shadows。
　
　Chapter　08
　
　The　day　after　the　shooting　of　Don　Corleone　was　a　busy　time　for　the　Family。　Michael　stayed　by　the　phone　relaying　messages　to　Sonny。　Tom　Hagen　was　busy　trying　to　find　a　mediator　satisfactory　to　both　parties　so　that　a　conference　could　be　arranged　with　Sollozzo。　The　Turk　had　suddenly　bee　cagey；　perhaps　he　knew　that　the　Family　button　men　of　Clemenza　and　Tessio　were　ranging　far　and　wide　over　the　city　in　an　attempt　to　pick　up　his　trail。　But　Sollozzo　was　sticking　close　to　his　hideout；　as　were　all　top　members　of　the　Tattaglia　Family。　This　was　expected　by　Sonny；　an　elementary　precaution　he　knew　the　enemy　was　bound　to　take。
　
　Clemenza　was　tied　up　with　Paulie　Gatto。　Tessio　had　been　given　the　assignment　of　trying　to　track　down　the　whereabouts　of　Luca　Brasi。　Luca　had　not　been　home　since　the　night　before　the　shooting；　a　bad　sign。　But　Sonny　could　not　believe　that　Brasi　had　either　turned　traitor　or　had　been　taken　by　surprise。
　
　Mama　Corleone　was　staying　in　the　city　with　friends　of　the　Family　so　that　she　could　be　near　the　hospital。　Carlo　Rizzi；　the　son…in…law；　had　offered　his　services　but　had　been　told　to　take　care　of　his　own　business　that　Don　Corleone　had　set　him　up　in；　a　lucrative　bookmaking　territory　in　the　Italian　section　of　Manhattan。　Connie　was　staying　with　her　mother　in　town　so　that　she　too　could　visit　her　father　in　the　hospital。
　
　Freddie　was　still　under　sedation　in　his　own　room　of　his　parents'　house。　Sonny　and　Michael　had　paid　him　a　visit　and　had　been　astonished　at　his　paleness；　his　obvious　illness。　〃Christ；〃　Sonny　said　to　Michael　when　they　left　Freddie's　room；　〃he　looks　like　he　got　plugged　worse　than　the　old　man。〃
　
　Michael　shrugged。　He　had　seen　soldiers　in　the　same　condition　on　the　battlefield。　But　he　had　never　expected　it　to　happen　to　Freddie。　He　remembered　the　middle　brother　as　being　physically　the　toughest　one　in　the　family　when　all　of　them　were　kids。　But　he　had　also　been　the　most　obedient　son　to　his　father。　And　yet　everyone　knew　that　the　Don　had　given　up　on　this　middle　son　ever　being　important　to　the　business。　He　wasn't　quite　smart　enough；　and　failing　that；　not　quite　ruthless　enough。　He　was　too　retiring　a　person；　did　not　have　enough　force。
　
　Late　in　the　afternoon；　Michael　got　a　call　from　Johnny　Fontane　in　Hollywood。　Sonny　took　the　phone。　〃Nah；　Johnny；　no　use　ing　back　here　to　see　the　old　man。　He's　too　sick　and　it　would　give　you　a　lot　of　bad　publicity；　and　I　know　the　old　man　wouldn't　like　that。　Wait　until　he's　better　and　we　can　move　him　home；　then　e　see　him。　OK；　I'll　give　him　your　regards。〃　Sonny　hung　up　the　phone。　He　turned　to　Michael　and　said。　〃That'll　make　Pop　happy；　that　Johnny　wanted　to　fly　from　California　to　see　how　he　was。〃
　
　Late　that　afternoon；　Michael　was　called　to　the　listed　phone　in　the　kitchen　by　one　of　Clemenza's　men。　It　was　Kay。
　
　〃Is　your　father　all　right？〃　she　asked。　Her　voice　was　a　little　strained；　a　little　unnatural。　Michael　knew　that　she　couldn't　quite　believe　what　had　happened；　that　his　father　really　was　what　the　newspapers　called　a　gangster。
　
　〃He'll　be　OK；〃　Michael　said。
　
　〃Can　I　e　with　you　when　you　visit　him　in　the　hospital？〃　Kay　asked。
　
　Michael　laughed。　She　had　remembered　him　telling　her　how　important　it　was　to　do　such　things　if　you　wanted　to　get　along　with　the　old　Italians。　〃This　is　a　special　case；〃　he　said。　〃If　the　newspaper　guys　get　ahold　of　your　name　and　background　you'll　be　on　page　three　of　the　Daily　News。　Girl　from　old　Yankee　family　mixed　up　with　son　of　big　Mafia　chief。　How　would　your　parents　like　that？〃
　
　Kay　said　dryly；　〃My　parents　never　read　the　Daily　News。〃　Again　there　was　an　awkward　pause　and　then　she　said；　〃You're　OK；　aren't　you；　Mike；　you're　not　in　any　danger？〃
　
　Mike　laughed　again。　〃I'm　known　as　the　sissy　of　the　Corleone　family。　No　threat。　So　they　don't　have　to　bother　ing　after　me。　No；　it's　all　over；　Kay；　there　won't　be　any　more　trouble。　It　was　all　sort　of　an　accident　anyway。　I'll　explain　when　I　see　you。〃
　
　〃When　will　that　be？〃　she　asked。
　
　Michael　pondered。　〃How　about　late　tonight？　We'll　have　a　drink　and　supper　in　your　hotel　and　then　I'll　go　to　the　hospital　and　see　my　old　man。　I'm　getting　tired　of　hanging　around　here　answering　phones。　OK？　But　don't　tell　anybody。　I　don't　want　newspaper　photographers　snapping　pictures　of　us　together。　No　kidding；　Kay；　it's　damned　embarrassing；　especially　for　your　parents。〃
　
　〃All　right；〃　Kay　said。　〃I'll　be　waiting。　Can　I　do　any　Christmas　shopping　for　you？　Or　anything　else？〃
　
　〃No；〃　Michael　said。　〃Just　be　ready。〃
　
　She　gave　a　little　excited　laugh。　〃I'll　be　ready；〃　she　said。　〃Aren't　I　always？〃
　
　〃Yes；　you　are；〃　he　said。　〃That's　why　you're　my　best　girl。〃
　
　〃I　love　you；〃　she　said。　〃Can　you　say　it？〃
　
　Michael　looked　at　the　four　hood　sitting　in　the　kitchen。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃Tonight；　OK？〃
　
　〃OK；〃