mp.godfather-第102节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ni　himself　and　his　two　bodyguards；　on　their　way　to　meet　Michael　Corleone。　Even　as　he　saw　this；　one　of　the　bodyguards　peeled　off　to　e　ahead　and　see　what　was　wrong　with　Barzini's　car。
　
　This　man　asked　the　driver；　〃What's　up？〃
　
　The　driver　said　curtly；　〃I'm　getting　a　ticket；　no　sweat。　This　guy　must　be　new　in　the　precinct。〃
　
　At　that　moment　Barzini　came　up　with　his　other　bodyguard。　He　growled；　〃What　the　hell　is　wrong　now？〃
　
　Neri　finished　writing　in　his　summons　book　and　gave　the　driver　back　his　registration　and　license。　Then　he　put　his　summons　book　back　in　his　hip　pocket　and　with　the　forward　motion　of　his　hand　drew　the　。38　Special。　
　
　He　put　three　bullets　in　Barzini's　barrel　chest　before　the　other　three　men　unfroze　enough　to　dive　for　cover。　By　that　time　Neri　had　darted　into　the　crowd　and　around　the　corner　where　the　car　was　waiting　for　him。　The　car　sped　up　to　Ninth　Avenue　and　turned　downtown。　Near　Chelsea　Park；　Neri；　who　had　discarded　the　cap　and　put　on　the　overcoat　and　changed　clothing；　transferred　to　another　car　that　was　waiting　for　him。　He　had　left　the　gun　and　the　police　uniform　in　the　other　car。　It　would　be　gotten　rid　of。　An　hour　later　he　was　safely　in　the　mall　on　Long　Beach　and　talking　to　Michael　Corleone。
　
　**********
　
　Tessio　was　waiting　in　the　kitchen　of　the　old　Don's　house　and　was　sipping　at　a　cup　of　coffee　when　Tom　Hagen　came　for　him。　〃Mike　is　ready　for　you　now；〃　Hagen　said。　〃You　better　make　your　call　to　Barzini　and　tell　him　to　start　on　his　way。〃
　
　Tessio　rose　and　went　to　the　wall　phone。　He　dialed　Barzini's　office　in　New　York　and　said　curtly；　〃We're　on　our　way　to　Brooklyn。〃　He　hung　up　and　smiled　at　Hagen。　〃I　hope　Mike　can　get　us　a　good　deal　tonight。〃
　
　Hagen　said　gravely；　〃I'm　sure　he　will。〃　He　escorted　Tessio　out　of　the　kitchen　and　onto　the　mall。　They　walked　toward　Michael's　house。　At　the　door　they　were　stopped　by　one　of　the　bodyguards。　〃The　boss　says　he'll　e　in　a　separate　car。　He　says　for　you　two　to　go　on　ahead。〃
　
　Tessio　frowned　and　turned　to　Hagen。　〃Hell；　he　can't　do　that；　that　screws　up　all　my　arrangements。〃
　
　At　that　moment　three　more　bodyguards　materialized　around　them。　Hagen　said　gently；　〃I　can't　go　with　you　either；　Tessio。〃
　
　The　ferret…faced　caporegime　understood　everything　in　a　flash　of　a　second。　And　accepted　it。　There　was　a　moment　of　physical　weakness；　and　then　he　recovered。　He　said　to　Hagen；　〃Tell　Mike　it　was　business；　I　always　liked　him。〃
　
　Hagen　nodded。　〃He　understands　that。〃
　
　Tessio　paused　for　a　moment　and　then　said　softly；　〃Tom；　can　you　get　me　off　the　hook？　For　old　times'　sake？〃
　
　Hagen　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't；〃　he　said。
　
　He　watched　Tessio　being　surrounded　by　bodyguards　and　led　into　a　waiting　car。　He　felt　a　little　sick。　Tessio　had　been　the　best　soldier　in　the　Corleone　Family；　the　old　Don　had　relied　on　him　more　than　any　other　man　with　the　exception　of　Luca　Brasi。　It　was　too　bad　that　so　intelligent　a　man　had　made　such　a　fatal　error　in　judgment　so　late　in　life。
　
　**********
　
　Carlo　Rizzi；　still　waiting　for　his　interview　with　Michael；　became　jittery　with　all　the　arrivals　and　departures。　Obviously　something　big　was　going　on　and　it　looked　as　if　he　were　going　to　be　left　out。　Impatiently　he　called　Michael　on　the　phone。　One　of　the　house　bodyguards　answered；　went　to　get　Michael；　and　came　back　with　the　message　that　Michael　wanted　him　to　sit　tight；　that　he　would　get　to　him　soon。
　
　Carlo　called　up　his　mistress　again　and　told　her　he　was　sure　he　would　be　able　to　take　her　to　a　late　supper　and　spend　the　night。　Michael　had　said　he　would　call　him　sin；　whatever　he　had　planned　couldn't　take　more　than　an　hour；　or　two。　Then　it　would　take　him　about　forty　minutes　to　drive　to　Westbury。　It　could　be　done。　He　promised　her　he　would　do　it　and　sweet…talked　her　into　not　being　sore。　When　he　hung　up　he　decided　to　get　properly　dressed　so　as　to　save　time　afterward。　He　had　just　slipped　into　a　fresh　shirt　when　there　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　He　reasoned　quickly　that　Mike　had　tried　to　get　him　on　the　phone　and　had　kept　getting　a　busy　signal　so　had　simply　sent　a　messenger　to　call　him。　Carlo　went　to　the　door　and　opened　it。　He　felt　his　whole　body　go　weak　with　terrible　sickening　fear。　Standing　in　the　doorway　was　Michael　Corleone；　his　face　the　face　of　that　death　Carlo　Rizzi　saw　often　in　his　dreams。
　
　Behind　Michael　Corleone　were　Hagen　and　Rocco　Lampone。　They　looked　grave；　like　people　who　had　e　with　the　utmost　reluctance　to　give　a　friend　bad　news。　The　three　of　them　entered　the　house　and　Carlo　Rizzi　led　them　into　the　living　room。　Recovered　from　his　first　shock；　he　thought　that　he　had　suffered　an　attack　of　nerves。　Michael's　words　made　him　really　sick；　physically　nauseous。
　
　〃You　have　to　answer　for　Santino；〃　Michael　said。
　
　Carlo　didn't　answer；　pretended　not　to　understand。　Hagen　and　Lampone　had　split　away　to　opposite　walls　of　the　room。　He　and　Michael　faced　each　other。
　
　〃You　fingered　Sonny　for　the　Barzini　people；〃　Michael　said；　his　voice　flat。　〃That　little　farce　you　played　out　with　my　sister；　did　Barzini　kid　you　that　would　fool　a　Corleone？〃
　
　Carlo　Rizzi　spoke　out　of　his　terrible　fear；　without　dignity；　without　any　kind　of　pride。　〃I　swear　I'm　innocent。　I　swear　on　the　head　of　my　children　I'm　innocent。　Mike；　don't　do　this　to　me；　please；　Mike；　don't　do　this　to　me。〃
　
　Michael　said　quietly；　〃Barzini　is　dead。　So　is　Phillip　Tattaglia。　I　want　to　square　all　the　Family　accounts　tonight。　So　don't　tell　me　you're　innocent。　It　would　be　better　for　you　to　admit　what　you　did。〃
　
　Hagen　and　Lampone　stared　at　Michael　with　astonishment。　They　were　thinking　that　Michael　was　not　yet　the　man　his　father　was。　Why　try　to　get　this　traitor　to　admit　guilt？　That　guilt　was　already　proven　as　much　as　such　a　thing　could　be　proven。　The　answer　was　obvious。　Michael　still　was　not　that　confident　of　his　right；　still　feared　being　unjust；　still　worried　about　that　fraction　of　an　uncertainty　that　only　a　confession　by　Carlo　Rizzi　could　erase。
　
　There　was　still　no　answer。　Michael　said　almost　kindly；　〃Don't　be　so　frightened。　Do　you　think　I'd　make　my　sister　a　widow？　Do　you　think　I'd　make　my　nephews　fatherless？　After　all　I'm　Godfather　to　one　of　your　kids。　No；　your　punishment　will　be　that　you　won't　be　allowed　any　work　with　the　Family。　I'm　putting　you　on　a　plane　to　Vegas　to　join　your　wife　and　kids　and　then　I　want　you　to　stay　there。　I'll　send　Connie　an　allowance。　That's　all。　But　don't　keep　saying　you're　innocent；　don't　insult　my　intelligence　and　make　me　angry。　Who　approached　you；　Tattaglia　or　Barzini？〃
　
　Carlo　Rizzi　in　his　anguished　hope　for　life；　in　the　sweet　flooding　relief　that　he　was　not　going　to　be　killed；　murmured；　〃Barzini。〃
　
　〃Good；　good；〃　Michael　said　softly。　He　beckoned　with　his　right　hand。　〃I　want　you　to　leave　now。　There's　a　car　waiting　to　take　you　to　the　airport。〃
　
　Carlo　went　out　the　door　first；　the　other　three　men　very　close　to　him。　It　was　night　now；　but　the　mail　as　usual　was　bright　with　floodlights。　A　car　pulled　up。　Carlo　saw　it　was　his　own　car。　He　didn't　recognize　the　driver。　There　was　someone　sitting　in　the　back　but　on　the　far　side。　Lampone　opened　the　front　door　and　motioned　to　Carlo　to　get　in。　Michael　said；　〃I'll　call　your　wife　and　tell　her　you're　on　your　way　down。〃　Carlo　got　into　the　car。　His　silk　shirt　was　soaked　with　sweat。
　
　The　car　pulled　away；　moving　swiftly　toward　the　gate。　Carlo　started　to　turn　his　head　to　see　if　he　knew　the　man　sitting　behind　him。　At　that　moment；　Clemenza；　as　cunningly　and　daintily　as　a　little　girl　slipping　a　ribbon　over　the　head　of　a　kitten；　threw　his　garrot　around　Carlo　Rizzis　neck。　The　smooth　rope　cut　into　the　skin　with　Clemenza's　powerful　yanking　throttle；　Carlo　Rizzi's　body　went　leaping　into　the　air　like　a　fish　on　a　line；　but　Clemenza　held　him　fast；　tightening　the　garrot　until　the　body　went　slack。　Suddenly　there　was　a　foul　odor　in　the　air　of　the　car。　Carlo's　body；　sphincter　released　by　approaching　death；　had　voided　itself。　Clemenza　kept　the　garrot　tight　for　another　few　minutes　to　make　sure；　then　released　the　rope　and　put　it　back　in　his　pocket。　He　relaxed　himself　against　the　seat　cushions　as　Carlo's　body　slumped　against　the　door。　After　a　few　moments　Clemenza　rolled　the　window　down　to　let　out　the　stink。
　
　The　victory　of　the　Corleone　Family　was　plete。　During　that　same　twenty…four…hour　period　Clemenza　and　Lampone　turned　loose　their　regimes　and　punished　the　infiltrators　of　the　Corleone　domains。　Neri　was　sent　to　take　mand　of　the　Tessio　regime。　Barzini　bookmakers　were　put　out　of　business；　two　of　the　highest…ranking　Barzini　enforcers　were　shot　to　death　as　they　were　peaceably　picking　their　teeth　over　dinner　in　an　Italian　restaurant　on　Mulberry　Street。　A　notorious　fixer　of　trotting　races　was　also　killed　as　he　returned　home　from　a　winning　night　at　the　track。　Two　of　the　biggest　shylocks　on　the　waterfront　disappeared；　to　be　found　months　later　in　the　New　Jersey　swamps。
　
　With　this　one　savage　attack；　Michael　Corleone　made　his　reputation　and　restored　the　Corleone　Family　to　its　primary　place　in　the　New　York　Families。　He　was　respected　not　only　for　his　tactical　brillance　but　because　some　of　the　most　important　caporegimes　in　both　the　Barzini　and　Tattaglia　Families　immediately　went　over　to　his　side。
　
　It　would　have　been　a　p