mp.godfather-第29章

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ed　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；〃　she　said。　He　hung　up。
　
　Clemenza　had　finally　e　back　from　his　day's　work　and　was　bustling　around　the　kitchen　cooking　up　a　huge　pot　of　tomato　sauce。　Michael　nodded　to　him　and　went　to　the　corner　office　where　he　found　Hagen　and　Sonny　waiting　for　him　impatiently。　〃Is　Clemenza　out　there？〃　Sonny　asked。
　
　Michael　grinned。　〃He's　cooking　up　spaghetti　for　the　troops；　just　like　the　army。〃
　
　Sonny　said　impatiently；　〃Tell　him　to　cut　out　that　crap　and　e　on　in　here。　I　have　more　important　things　for　him　to　do。　Get　Tessio　in　here　with　him。〃
　
　In　a　few　minutes　they　were　all　gathered　in　the　office。　Sonny　said　curtly　to　Clemenza；　〃You　take　care　of　him？〃
　
　Clemenza　nodded。　〃You　won't　see　him　anymore。〃
　
　With　a　slight　electric　shock；　Michael　realized　they　were　talking　about　Paulie　Gatto　and　that　little　Paulie　was　dead；　murdered　by　that　jolly　wedding　dancer；　Clemenza。
　
　Sonny　asked　Hagen；　〃You　have　any　luck　with　Sollozzo？〃
　
　Hagen　shook　his　head。　〃He　seems　to　have　cooled　off　on　the　negotiation　idea。　Anyway　he　doesn't　seem　to　be　too　anxious。　Or　maybe　he's　just　being　very　careful　so　that　our　button　men　won't　nail　him。　Anyway　I　haven't　been　able　to　set　up　a　top…notch　go…between　he'll　trust。　But　he　must　know　he　has　to　negotiate　now。　He　missed　his　chance　when　he　let　the　old　man　get　away　from　him。〃
　
　Sonny　said；　〃He's　a　smart　guy；　the　smartest　our　Family　ever　came　up　against。　Maybe　he　figured　we're　just　stalling　until　the　old　man　gets　better　or　we　can　get　a　line　on　him。〃
　
　Hagen　shrugged。　〃Sure；　he　figures　that。　But　he　still　has　to　negotiate。　He　has　no　choice。　I'll　get　it　set　up　tomorrow。　That's　certain。〃
　
　One　of　Clemenza's　men　knocked　on　the　office　door　and　then　came　in。　He　said　to　Clemenza；　〃It　just　came　over　the　radio；　the　cops　found　Paulie　Gatto。　Dead　in　his　car。〃
　
　Clemenza　nodded　and　said　to　the　man；　〃Don't　worry　about　it。〃　The　button　man　gave　his　caporegime　an　astonished　look；　which　was　followed　by　a　look　of　prehension；　before　he　went　back　to　the　kitchen。
　
　The　conference　we