mp.godfather-第30部分

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　Clemenza　kept　instructing　him　during　the　training　session。　〃Drop　the　gun　as　soon　as　you've　finished　using　it。　Just　let　your　hand　drop　to　your　side　and　the　gun　slip　out。　Nobody　will　notice。　Everybody　will　think　you're　still　armed。　They'll　be　staring　at　your　face。　Walk　out　of　the　place　very　quickly　but　don't　run。　Don't　look　anybody　directly　in　the　eye　but　don't　look　away　from　them　either。　Remember；　they'll　be　scared　of　you；　believe　me；　they'll　be　scared　of　you。　Nobody　will　interfere。　As　soon　as　you're　outside　Tessio　will　be　in　the　car　waiting　for　you。　Get　in　and　leave　the　rest　to　him。　Don't　be　worried　about　accidents。　You'd　be　surprised　how　well　these　affairs　go。　Now　put　this　hat　on　and　let's　see　how　you　look。〃　He　clapped　a　gray　fedora　on　Michael's　head。　Michael；　who　never　wore　a　hat；　grimaced。　Clemenza　reassured　him。　〃It　helps　against　identification；　just　in　case。　Mostly　it　gives　witnesses　an　excuse　to　change　their　identification　when　we　make　them　see　the　light。　Remember；　Mike；　don't　worry　about　prints。　The　butt　and　trigger　are　fixed　with　special　tape。　Don't　touch　any　other　part　of　the　gun；　remember　that。〃
　
　Michael　said；　〃Has　Sonny　found　out　where　Soliozzo　is　taking　me？〃
　
　Clemenza　shrugged。　〃Not　yet。　Sollozzo　is　being　very　careful。　But　don't　worry　about　him　harming　you。　The　negotiator　stays　in　our　hands　until　you　e　back　safe。　If　anything　happens　to　you；　the　negotiator　pays。〃
　
　〃Why　the　hell　should　he　stick　his　neck　out？〃　Michael　asked。
　
　〃He　gets　a　big　fee；〃　Clemenza　said。　〃A　small　fortune。　Also　he　is　an　important　man　in　the　Families。　He　knows　Sollozzo　can't　let　anything　happen　to　him。　Your　life　is　not　worth　the　negotiator's　life　to　Sollozzo。　Very　simple。　You'll　be　safe　all　right。　We're　the　ones　who　catch　hell　afterwards。〃
　
　〃How　bad　will　it　be？〃　Michael　asked。
　
　〃Very　bad；〃　Clemenza　said。　〃It　means　an　all…out　war　with　the　Tattaglia　Family　against　the　Corleone　Family。　Most　of　the　others　will　line　up　with　the　Tattaglias。　The　Sanitation　Department　will　be　sweeping　up　a　lot　of　dead　bodies　this　winter。〃　He　shrugged。　〃These　things　have　to　happen　once　every　ten　years　or　so。　It　gets　rid　of　the　bad　blood。　And　then　if　we　let　them　push　us　around　on　the　little　things　they　wanta　take　over　everything。　You　gotta　stop　them　at　the　beginning。　Like　they　shoulda　stopped　Hitler　at　Munich；　they　should　never　let　him　get　away　with　that；　they　were　just　asking　for　big　trouble　when　they　let　him　get　away　with　that。〃
　
　Michael　had　heard　his　father　say　this　same　thing　before；　only　in　1939　before　the　war　actually　started。　If　the　Families　had　been　running　the　State　Department　there　would　never　have　been　World　War　II；　he　thought　with　a　grin。
　
　They　drove　back　to　the　mall　and　to　the　Don's　house；　where　Sonny　still　made　his　headquarters。　Michael　wondered　how　long　Sonny　could　stay　cooped　up　in　the　safe　territory　of　the　mall。　Eventually　he　would　have　to　venture　out。　They　found　Sonny　taking　a　nap　on　the　couch。　On　the　coffee　table　was　the　remains　of　his　late　lunch；　scraps　of　steak　and　bread　crumbs　and　a　half…empty　bottle　of　whiskey。
　
　His　father's　usually　neat　office　was　taking　on　the　look　of　a　badly　kept　furnished　room。　Michael　shook　his　brother　awake　and　said；　〃Why　don't　you　stop　living　like。　a　bum　and　get　this　place　cleaned　up？〃
　
　Sonny　yawned。　〃What　the　hell　are　you；　inspecting　the　barracks？　Mike；　we　haven't　got　the　word　yet　where　they　plan　to　take　you；　those　bastards　Sollozzo　and　McCluskey。　If　we　don't　find　that　out；　how　the　hell　are　we　going　to　get　the　gun　to　you？〃
　
　〃Can't　I　carry　it　on　me？〃　Michael　asked。　〃Maybe　they　won't　frisk　me　and　even　if　they　do　maybe　they'll　miss　it　if　we're　smart　enough。　And　even　if　they　find　it…　so　what。　They'll　just　take　it　off　me　and　no　harm　done。〃
　
　Sonny　shook　his　head。　〃Nah；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　to　make　this　a　sure　hit　on　that　bastard　Sollozzo。　Remember；　get　him　first　if　you　possibly　can。　McCluskey　is　slower　and　dumber。　You　should　have　plenty　of　time　to　take　him。　Did　Clemenza　tell　you　to　be　sure　to　drop　the　gun？〃
　
　〃A　million　times；〃　Michael　said。
　
　Sonny　got　up　from　the　sofa　and　stretched。　〃How　does　your　jaw　feel；　kid？〃
　
　〃Lousy；〃　Michael　said。　The　left　side　of　his　face　ached　except　those　parts　that　felt　numb　because　of　the　drugged　wire　holding　it　together。　He　took　the　bottle　of　whiskey　from　the　table　and　swigged　directly　from　it。　The　pain　eased。
　
　Sonny　said；　〃Easy；　Mike；　now　is　no　time　to　get　slowed　up　by　booze。〃
　
　Michael　said；　〃Oh；　Christ；　Sonny；　stop　playing　the　big　brother。　I've　been　in　bat　against　tougher　guys　than　Sollozzo　and　under　worse　conditions。　Where　the　hell　are　his　mortars？　Has　he　got　air　cover？　Heavy　artillery？　Land　mines？　He's　just　a　wise　son　of　a　bitch　with　a　big…wheel　cop　sidekick。　Once　anybody　makes　up　their　mind　to　kill　them　there's　no　other　problem。　That's　the　hard　part；　making　up　your　mind。　They'll　never　know　what　hit　them。〃
　
　Tom　Hagen　came　into　the　room。　He　greeted　them　with　a　nod　and　went　directly　to　the　falsely　listed　telephone。　He　called　a　few　times　and　then　shook　his　head　at　Sonny。　〃Not　a　whisper；〃　he　said。　〃Sollozzo　is　keeping　it　to　himself　as　long　as　he　can。〃
　
　The　phone　rang。　Sonny　answered　it　and　he　held　up　a　hand　as　if　to　signal　for　quiet　though　no　one　had　spoken。　He　jotted　some　notes　down　on　a　pad；　then　said；　〃OK；　he'll　be　there；〃　and　hung　up　the　phone。
　
　Sonny　was　laughing。　〃That　son　of　a　bitch　Sollozzo；　he　really　is　something。　Here's　the　deal。　At　eight　tonight　he　and　Captain　McCluskey　pick　up　Mike　in　front　of　Jack　Dempsey's　bar　on　Broadway。　They　go　someplace　to　talk；　and　get　this。　Mike　and　Sollozzo　talk　in　Italian　so　that　the　Irish　cop　don't　know　what　the　hell　they　are　talking　about。　He　even　tells　me；　don't　worry；　he　knows　McCluskey　doesn't　know　one　word　in　Italian　unless　it's　'soldi'　and　he's　checked　you　out；　Mike；　and　knows　you　can　understand　Sicilian　dialect。〃
　
　Michael　said　dryly；　〃I'm　pretty　rusty　but　we　won't　talk　long。〃
　
　Tom　Hagen　said；　〃We　don't　let　Mike　go　until　we　have　the　negotiator。　Is　that　arranged？〃
　
　Clemenza　nodded。　〃The　negotiator　is　at　my　house　playing　pinochle　with　three　of　my　men。　They　wait　for　a　call　from　me　before　they　let　him　go。〃
　
　Sonny　sank　back　in　the　leather　armchair。　〃Now　how　the　hell　do　we　find　out　the　meeting　place？　Tom；　we've　got　informers　with　the　Tattaglia　Family；　how　e　they　haven't　given　us　the　word？〃
　
　Hagen　shrugged。　〃Sollozzo　is　really　damn　smart。　He's　playing　this　close　to　the　vest；　so　close　that　he's　not　using　any　men　as　a　cover。　He　figures　the　captain　will　be　enough　and　that　security　is　more　important　than　guns。　He's　right　too。　We'll　have　to　put　a　tail　on　Mike　and　hope　for　the　best。〃
　
　Sonny　shook　his　head。　〃Nah；　anybody　can　lose　a　tail　when　they　really　want　to。　That's　the　first　thing　they'll　check　out。〃
　
　By　this　time　it　was　five　in　the　afternoon。　Sonny；　with　a　worried　look　on　his　face；　said；　〃Maybe　we　should　just　let　Mike　blast　whoever　is　in　the　car　when　it　tries　to　pick　him　up。〃
　
　Hagen　shook　his　head。　〃What　if　Sollozzo　is　not　in　the　car？　We've　tipped　our　hand　for　nothing。　Damn　it；　we　have　to　find　out　where　Sollozzo　is　taking　him。〃
　
　Clemenza　put　in；　〃Maybe　we　should　start　trying　to　figure　why　lie's　making　it　such　a　big　secret。〃
　
　Michael　said　impatiently；　〃Because　it's　the　percentage。　Why　should　he　let　us　know　anything　if　he　can　prevent　it？　Besides；　he　smells　danger。　He　must　be　leery　as　hell　even　with　that　police　captain　for　his　shadow。〃
　
　Hagen　snapped　his　fingers。　〃That　detective；　that　guy　Phillips。　Why　don't　you　give　him　a　ring；　Sonny？　Maybe　he　can　find　out　where　the　hell　the　captain　can　be　reached。　It's　worth　a　try。　McCluskey　won't　give　a　damn　who　knows　where　he's　going。〃
　
　Sonny　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed　a　number。　He　spoke　softly　into　the　phone；　then　hung　up。　〃He'll　call　us　back；〃　Sonny　said。
　
　They　waited　for　nearly　another　thirty　minutes　and　then　the　phone　rang。　It　was　Phillips。　Sonny　jotted　something　down　on　his　pad　and　then　hung　up。　His　face　was　taut。　〃I　think　we've　got　it；〃　he　said。　〃Captain　McCluskey　always　has　to　leave　word　on　where　he　can　be　reached。　From　eight　to　ten　tonight　he'll　be　at　the　Luna　Azure　up　in　the　Bronx。　Anybody　know　it？〃
　
　Tessio　spoke　confidently。　〃I　do。　It's　perfect　for　us。　A　small　family　place　with　big　booths　where　people　can　talk　in　private。　Good　food。　Everybody　minds　their　own　business。　Perfect。〃　He　leaned　over　Sonny's　desk　and　arranged　stubbed…out　cigarettes　into　map　figures。　〃This　is　the　entrance。　Mike；　when　you　finish　just　walk　out　and　turn　left；　then　turn　the　corner。　I'll　spot　you　and　put　on　my　headlights　and　catch　you　on　the　fly。　If　you　have　any　trouble；　yell　and　I'll　try　to　e　in　and　get　you　out。　Clemenza；　you　gotta　work　fast。　Send　somebody　up　there　to　plant　the　gun。　They　got　an　old…fashioned　toilet　with　a　space　between　the　water　container　and　the　wall。　Have　your　man　tape　the　gun　behind　there。　Mike；　after　they　frisk　you　in　the　car　and　find　you're　clean；　they　won't　be　too　worried　about　you。　In　the　restaurant；　wait　a　bit　before　you　excuse　yourself。　No；　better　still；　ask　permission　to　go。　Act　a　little　in　trouble　first；　very　natural。　They　can't　figure　anything。　But　when　you　e　out　again；　don't　waste　any　time。　Don't　sit　down　again　at　the　table；　start　blasting。　And　don't　take　chances。　In　the　head；　two　shots　apiece；　and　out　as　fast　as　your　legs　can　travel。〃
　
　Sonny　had　been　listening　judiciously。　〃I　want　somebody　very　good；　very　safe；　to　plant　that　gun；〃　he　told　Clemenza。　〃I　don't　want　my　brother　ing　out　of　that　toilet　with　just　his　dick　in　his　hand。〃
　
　Clemenza　said　emphatically；　〃The　gun　will　be　there。〃
　
　〃OK；〃　Sonny　said。　〃Everybody　get　rolling。〃
　
　Tessio　and　Clemenza　left。　Tom　Hagen　said；　〃Sonny；　should　I　drive　Mike　down　to　New　York？〃
　
　〃No；〃　Sonny　said。　〃I　want　you　here。　When　Mike　finishes；　then　our　work　begins　and　I'll　need　you。　Have　you　got　those　newspaper　guys　lined　up？〃
　
　Hagen　nodded。　〃I'll　be　feeding　them　info　as　soon　as　things　break。〃
　
　Sonny　got　up　and　came　to　stand　in　front　of　Michael。　He　shook　his　hand。　〃OK；　kid；〃　he　said；　〃you're　on。　I'll　square　it　with　Mom　your　not　seeing　her　before　you　left。　And　I'll　get　a　message　to　your　girl　friend　when　I　think　the　time　is　right。　OK？〃
　
　〃OK；〃　Mike　said。　〃How　l