mp.godfather-第56章
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ithout being asked。 Finally he decided to go into the olive oil； importing business with his boyhood chum； Genco Abbandundo。 Genco would handle the business； the importing of the olive oil from Italy； the buying at the proper price； the storing in his father's warehouse。 Genco had the experience for this part of the business。 Clemenza and Tessio would be the salesmen。 They would go to every Italian grocery store in Manhattan； then Brooklyn； then the Bronx； to persuade store owners to stock Genco Pura olive oil。 （With typical modesty； Vito Corleone refused to name the brand after himself。） Vito of course would be the head of the firm since he was supplying most of the capital。 He also would be called in on special cases； where store owners resisted the sales talks of Clemenza and Tessio。 Then Vito Corleone would use his own formidable powers of persuasion。
For the next few years Vito Corleone lived that pletely satisfying life of a small businessman wholly devoted to building up his mercial enterprise in a dynamic； expanding economy。 He was a devoted father and husband but so busy he could spare his family little of his time。 As Genco Pura olive oil grew to bee the bestselling imported Italian oil in America； his organization mushroomed。 Like any good salesman he came to understand the benefits of undercutting his rivals in price； barring them from distribution outlets by persuading store owners to stock less of their brands。 Like any good businessman he aimed at holding a monopoly by forcing his rivals to abandon the field or by merging with his own pany。 However； since he had started off relatively helpless； economically； since he did not believe in advertising； relying on word of mouth and since if truth be told； his olive oil was no better than his petitors'； he could not use the mon strangleholds of legitimate businessmen。 He had to rely on the force of his own personality and his reputation as a 〃man of respect。〃
Even as a young man； Vito Corleone became known as a 〃man of reasonableness。〃 He never uttered a threat。 He always used logic that proved to be irresistible。 He always made certain that the other fellow got his share of profit。 Nobody lost。 He did this； of course； by obvious means。 Like many businessmen of genius he learned that free petition was wasteful； monopoly efficient。 And so he simply set about achieving that efficient monopoly。 There were some oil wholesalers is Brooklyn； men of fiery temper； headstrong； not amenable to reason； who refused to see； to recognize； the vision of Vito Corleone； even after he had explained everything to them with the utmost patience and detail。 With these men Vito Corleone threw up his hands is despair and sent Tessio to Brooklyn to set up a headquarters and solve the problem。 Warehouses were burned； truckloads of olive…green oil were dumped to form lakes in the cobbled waterfront streets。 One rash man； an arrogant Milanese with more faith in the police than a saint has in Christ； actually went to the authorities with a plaint against his fellow Italians； breaking the ten…century…old law； of omerta。 But before the matter could progress any further the wholesaler disappeared； never to be seen again； leaving behind； deserted； his devoted wife and three children； who； God be thanked； were fully grown and capable of taking over his business and ing to terms with the Genco Pura oil pany。
But great men are not born great； they grow great； and so it was with Vito Corleone。 When prohibition came to pass and alcohol forbidden to be sold； Vito Corleone made the final step from a quite ordinary； somewhat ruthless businessman to a great Don in the world of criminal enterprise。 It did not happen in a day； it did not happen in a year； but by the end of the Prohibition period and the start of the Great Depression； Vito Corleone had bee the Godfather； the Don； Don Corleone。
It started casually enough。 By this time the Genco Pura Oil pany had a fleet of six delivery trucks。 Through Clemenza； Vito Corleone was approached by a group of Italian bootleggers who smuggled alcohol and whiskey in from Canada。 They needed trucks and deliverymen to distribute their produce over New York City。 They needed deliverymen who were reliable； discreet and of a certain determination and force。 They were willing to pay Vito Corleone for his trucks and for his men。 The fee was so enormous that Vito Corleone cut back drastically on his oil business to use the trucks almost exclusively for the service of the bootlegger…smugglers。 This despite the fact that these gentlemen had acpanied their offer with a silky threat。 But even then Vito Carleone was so mature a man that he did not take insult at a threat or bee angry and refuse a profitable offer because of it。 He evaluated the threat； found it lacking in conviction； and lowered his opinion of his new partners because they had been so stupid to use threats where none were needed。 This was useful information to be pondered at its proper time。
Again he prospered。 But； more important； he acquired knowledge and contacts and experience。 And he piled up good deeds as a banker piles up securities。 For in the following years it became clear that Vito Corleone was not only a man of talent but； in his way； a genius。
He made himself the protector of the Italian families who set themselves up as small speakeasies in their homes； selling whiskey at fifteen cents a glass to bachelor laborers。 He became godfather t Mrs。 Colombo's youngest son when the lad made his confirmation and gave a handsome present of a twenty…dollar gold piece。 Meanwhile； since it was inevitable that some of his trucks be stopped by the police； Genco Abbandando hired a fine lawyer with many contacts in the Police Department and the judiciary。 A system of payoffs was set up and soon the Corleone organization had a sizable 〃sheet；〃 the list of officials entitled to a monthly sum。 When the lawyer tried to keep this list down； apologizing for the expense； Vito Corleone reassured him。 〃No； no；〃 he said。 〃Get everyone on it even if they can't help us right now。 I believe in friendship and I am willing to show my friendship first。〃
As time went by the Corleone empire became larger； more trucks were added； the 〃sheet〃 grew longer。 Also the men working directly for Tessio and Clemenza grew in number。 The whole thing was being unwieldy。 Finally Vito Corleone worked out a system of organization。 He gave Clemenza and Tessio each the title of Caporegime； or captain； and the men who worked beneath them the rank of soldier。 He named Genco Abbandando his counselor； or Consigliere。 He put layers of insulation between himself and any operational act。 When he gave an order it was to Genco or to one of the caporegimes alone。 Rarely did he have a witness to any order he gave any particular one of them。 Then he split Tessio's group and made it responsible for Brooklyn。 He also split Tessio off from Clemenza and made it clear over the years that he did not want the two men to associate even socially except when absolutely necessary。 He explained this to the more intelligent Tessio； who caught his drift immediately； though Vito explained it as a security measure against the law。 Tessio understood that Vito did not want his two caporegimes to have any opportunity to conspire against him and he also understood there was no ill will involved； merely a tactical precaution。 In return Vito gave Tessio a free hand in Brooklyn while he kept Clemenza's Bronx life very much under his thumb。 Clemenza was the braver； more reckless； the crueler man despite his outward jollity； and needed a tighter rein。
The Great Depression increased the power of Vito Corleone。 And indeed it was about that time he came to be called Don Corleone。 Everywhere in the city； honest men begged for honest work in vain。 Proud men demeaned themselves and their families to accept official charity from a contemptuous officialdom。 But the men of Don Corleone walked the streets with their heads held high； their pockets stuffed with silver and paper money。 With no fear of losing their jobs。 And even Don Corleone； that mgt modest of men； could not help feeling a sense of pride。 He was taking care of his world； his people。 He had
