mp.godfather-第116章
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〃Get her home and get her a doctor；〃 Michael said。 The two guards immediately grabbed Connie's arms and pulled her out of the house。
Kay was still shocked； still horrified。 She said to her husband； 〃What made her say all those things； Michael； what makes her believe that？〃
Michael shrugged。 〃She's hysterical。〃
Kay looked into his eyes。 〃Michael； it's not true； please say it's not true。〃
Michael shook his head wearily。 〃Of course it's not。 Just believe me； this one time I'm letting you ask about my affairs； and I'm giving you an answer。 It is not true。〃 He had never been more convincing。 He looked directly into her eyes。 He was using all the mutual trust they had built up in their married life to make her believe him。 And she could not doubt any longer。 She smiled at him ruefully and came into his arms for a kiss。
〃We both need a drink；〃 she said。 She went into the kitchen for ice and while there heard the front door open。 She went out of the kitchen and saw Clemenza； Neri and Rocco Lampone e in with the bodyguards。 Michael had his back to her； but she moved so that she could see him in profile。 At that moment Clemenza addressed her husband； greeting him formally。
〃Don Michael；〃 Clemenza said。
Kay could see how Michael stood to receive their homage。 He reminded her of statues in Rome； statues of those Roman emperors of antiquity； who； by divine right； held the power of life and death over their fellow men。 One hand was on his hip； the profile of his face showed a cold proud power； his body was carelessly； arrogantly at ease； weight resting on one foot slightly behind the other。 The caporegimes stood before him。 In that moment Kay knew that everything Connie had accused Michael of was true。 She went back into the kitchen and wept。
Book nine
Chapter 32
The bloody victory of the Corleone Family was not plete until a year of delicate political maneuvering established Michael Corleone as the most powerful Family chief in the United States。 For twelve months； Michael divided his time equally between his headquarters at the Long Beach mall and his new home in Las Vegas。 But at the end of that year he decided to close out the New York operation and sell the houses and the mall property。 For that purpose he brought his whole family East on a last visit。 They would stay a month； wind up business； Kay would do the personal family's packing and shipping of household goods。 There were a million other minor details。
Now the Corleone Family was unchallengeable； and Clemenza had his own Family。 Rocco Lampone was the Corleone caporegime。 In Nevada； Albert Neri was head of all security for the Family…controlled hotels。 Hagen too was part of Michael's Western Family。
Time helped heal the old wounds。 Connie Corleone was reconciled to her brother Michael。 Indeed not more than a week after her terrible accusations she apologized to Michael for what she had said and assured Kay that there had been no truth in her words； that it had been only a young widow's hysteria。
Connie Corleone easily found a new husband； in fact； she did not wait the year of respect before filling her bed again with a fine young fellow who had e to work for the Corleone Family as a male secretary。 A boy from a reliable Italian family but graduated from the top business college in America。 Naturally his marriage to the sister of the Don made his future assured。
Kay Adams Corleone had delighted her in…laws by taking instruction in the Catholic religion and joining that faith。 Her two boys were also； naturally； being brought up in that church； as was required。 Michael himself had not been too pleased by this development。 He would have preferred the children to be Protestant； it was more American。
To her surprise； Kay came to love living in Nevada。 She loved the scenery； the hills and canyons of garishly red rock； the burning deserts； the unexpected and blessedly refreshing lakes； even the heat。 Her two boys rode their own ponies。 She had real servants； not bodyguards。 And Michael lived a more normal life。 He owned a construction business； he joined the businessmen's clubs and civic mittees； he had a healthy interest in local politic without interfering publicly。 It was a good life。 Kay was happy that they were closing down their New York house and that Las Vegas would be truly their permanent home。 She hated ing back to New York。 And so on this last trip she had arranged all the packing and shipping of goods with the utmost efficiency and speed； and now on the final day she felt chat same urgency to leave that longtime patients feel when it is time to be discharged from the hospital。
On that final day； Kay Adams Cory woke at dawn。 She could hear the roar of the truck motors outside on the mall。 The trucks that would empty all the houses of furniture。 The Corleone Family would be flying back to Las Vegas in the afternoon； including Mama Corleone。
When Kay came out of the bathroom； Michael was propped up on his pillow smoking a cigarette。 〃Why the hell do you have to go to church every morning？〃 he said。 〃I don't mind Sundays； but why the hell during the week？ You're as bad as my mother。〃 He reached over in the darkness and switched on the tablelight。
Kay sat at the edge of the bed to pull on her stockings。 〃You know how converted Catholics are；〃 she said。 〃They take it more seriously。〃
Michael reached over to touch her thigh； on the warm skin where the top of her nylon hose ended。 〃Don't；〃 she said。 〃I'm taking munion this morning。〃
He didn't try to hold her when she got up from the bed。 He said； smiling slightly； 〃If you're such a strict Catholic； how e you let the kids duck going to church so much？〃
She felt unfortable and she was wary。 He was studying her with what she thought of privately as his 〃Don's〃 eye。 〃They have plenty of time；〃 she sate。 〃When we get back home； I'll make them attend more。〃
She kissed him good…bye before she left。 Outside the house the air was already getting warm。 The summer sun rising in the east was red。 Kay walked to where her car was parked near the gates of the mall。 Mama Corleone； dressed in her widow black； was already sitting in it； waiting for her。 It had bee a set routine； early Mass； every morning； together。
Kay kissed the old woman's wrinkled cheek； then got behind the wheel。 Mama Corleone asked suspiciously； 〃You eata breakfast？〃
〃No；〃 Kay said。
The old woman nodded her head approvingly。 Kay had once forgotten that it was forbidden to take food from midnight on before receiving Holy munion。 That had been a long time ago； but Mama Corleone never trusted her after that and always checked。 〃You feel all right？〃 the old woman asked。
〃Yes；〃 Kay said。
The church was small and desolate in the early morning sunlight。 Its stained…glass windows shielded the interior from heat； it would be cool there； a place to rest。 Kay helped her mother…in…law up the white stone steps and then let her go before her。 The old woman preferred a pew up front； close to the altar。 Kay waited on the steps for an extra minute。 She was always reluctant at this last moment； always a little fearful。
Finally she entered the cool darkness。 She took the holy water on her fingertips and made the sign of the cross； fleetingly touched her wet fingertips to her parched lips。 Candles flickered redly before the saints； the Christ on his cross。 Kay genuflected before entering her row and then knelt on the hard wooden rail of the pew to wait for her call to munion。 She bowed her head as if she were praying； but she was not quite ready for that。
**********
It was only here in these dim； vaulted churches that she allowed herself to think about her husband's other life。 About that terrible night a year ago when he had deliberately used all their trust and love in each other to make her believe his lie that he had not killed his sister's husband。
She had left him because of that lie； not because of the deed。 The next morning she had taken the children away with her to her parents' house in New Hampshire。 Without a word to anyone； without really knowing what action she meant to ta
