mp.godfather-第17节

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　Don　Corleone　said；　〃And　what　is　the　percentage　of　the　Tattaglia　family？〃
　
　For　the　first　time　Sollozzo　seemed　to　be　nervous。　〃They　will　receive　something　from　my　share。　I　need　some　help　in　the　operations。〃
　
　〃So；〃　Don　Corleone　said；　〃I　receive　fifty　percent　merely　for　finance　and　legal　protection。　I　have　no　worries　about　operations；　is　that　what　you　tell　me？〃
　
　Sollozzo　nodded。　〃If　you　think　two　million　dollars　in　cash　is　'merely　finance；'　I　congratulate　you；　Don　Corleone。〃
　
　The　Don　said　quietly；　〃I　consented　to　see　you　out　of　my　respect　for　the　Tattaglias　and　because　I've　heard　you　are　a　serious　man　to　be　treated　also　with　respect。　I　must　say　no　to　you　but　I　must　give　you　my　reasons。　The　profits　in　your　business　are　huge　but　so　are　the　risks。　Your　operation；　if　I　were　part　of　it；　could　damage　my　other　interests。　It's　true　I　have　many；　many　friends　in　politics；　but　they　would　not　be　so　friendly　if　my　business　were　narcotics　instead　of　gambling。　They　think　gambling　is　something　like　liquor；　a　harmless　vice；　and　they　think　narcotics　a　dirty　business。　No；　don't　protest。　I'm　telling　you　their　thoughts；　not　mine。　How　a　man　makes　his　living　is　not　my　concern。　And　what　I　am　telling　you　is　that　this　business　of　yours　is　too　risky。　All　the　members　of　my　family　have　lived　well　the　last　ten　years；　without　danger；　without　harm。　I　can't　endanger　them　or　their　livelihoods　out　of　greed。〃
　
　The　only　sign　of　Sollozzo's　disappointment　was　a　quick　flickering　of　his　eyes　around　the　room；　as　if　he　hoped　Hagen　or　Sonny　would　speak　in　his　support。　Then　he　said；　〃Are　you　worried　about　security　for　your　two　million？〃
　
　The　Don　smiled　coldly。　〃No；〃　he　said。
　
　Sollozzo　tried　again。　〃The　Tattaglia　family　will　guarantee　your　investment　also。〃
　
　It　was　then　that　Sonny　Corleone　made　an　unforgivable　error　in　judgment　and　procedure。　He　said　eagerly；　〃The　Tattaglia　family　guarantees　the　return　of　our　investment　without　any　percentage　from　us？〃
　
　Hagen　was　horrified　at　this　break。　He　saw　the　Don　turn　cold；　malevolent　eyes　on　his　eldest　son；　who　froze　in　unprehending　dismay。　Sollozzo's　eyes　flickered　again　but　this　time　with　satisfaction。　He　had　discovered　a　chink　in　the　Don's　fortress。　When　the　Don　spoke　his　voice　held　a　dismissal。　〃Young　people　are　greedy；〃　he　said。　〃And　today　they　have　no　manners。　They　interrupt　their　elders。　They　meddle。　But　I　have　a　sentimental　weakness　for　my　children　and　I　have　spoiled　them。　As　you　see。　Signor　Sollozzo；　my　no　is　final。　Let　me　say　that　I　myself　wish　you　good　fortune　in　your　business。　It　has　no　conflict　with　my　own。　I'm　sorry　that　I　had　to　disappoint　you。〃
　
　Sollozzo　bowed；　shook　the　Don's　hand　and　let　Hagen　take　him　to　his　car　outside。　There　was　no　expression　on　his　face　when　he　said　good…bye　to　Hagen。
　
　Back　in　the　room；　Don　Corleone　asked　Hagen；　〃What　did　you　think　of　that　man？〃
　
　〃He's　a　Sicilian；〃　Hagen　said　dryly。
　
　The　Don　nodded　his　head　thoughtfully。　Then　he　turned　to　his　son　and　said　gently；　〃Santino；　never　let　anyone　outside　the　family　know　what　you　are　thinking。　Never　let　them　know　what　you　have　under　your　fingernails。　I　think　your　brain　is　going　soft　from　all　that　edy　you　play　with　that　young　girl。　Stop　it　and　pay　attention　to　business。　Now　get　out　of　my　sight。〃
　
　Hagen　saw　the　surprise　on　Sonny's　face；　then　anger　at　his　father's　reproach。　Did　he　really　think　the　Don　would　be　ignorant　of　his　conquest；　Hagen　wondered。　And　did　he　really　not　know　what　a　dangerous　mistake　he　had　made　this　morning？　If　that　were　true；　Hagen　would　never　wish　to　be　the　Consigliere　to　the　Don　of　Santino　Corleone。
　
　Don　Corleone　waited　until　Sonny　had　left　the　room。　Then　he　sank　back　into　his　leather　armchair　and　motioned　brusquely　for　a　drink。　Hagen　poured　him　a　glass　of　anisette。　The　Don　looked　up　at　him。　〃Send　Luca　Brasi　to　see　me；〃　he　said。
　
　**********
　
　Three　months　later；　Hagen　hurried　through　the　paper　work　in　his　city　office　hoping　to　leave　early　enough　for　some　Christmas　shopping　for　his　wife　and　children。　He　was　interrupted　by　a　phone　call　from　a　Johnny　Fontane　bubbling　with　high　spirits。　The　picture　had　been　shot；　the　rushes；　whatever　the　hell　they　were；　Hagen　thought；　were　fabulous。　He　was　sending　the　Don　a　present　for　Christmas　that　would　knock　his　eyes　out；　he'd　bring　it　himself　but　there　were　some　little　things　to　be　done　in　the　movie。　He　would　have　to　stay　out　on　the　Coast。　Hagen　tried　to　conceal　his　impatience。　Johnny　Fontane's　charm　had　always　been　lost　on　him。　But　his　interest　was　aroused。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。　Johnny　Fontane　chuckled　and　said；　〃I　can't　tell；　that's　the　best　part　of　a　Christmas　present。〃　Hagen　immediately　lost　all　interest　and　finally　managed；　politely；　to　hang　up。
　
　Ten　minutes　later　his　secretary　told　him　that　Connie　Corleone　was　on　the　phone　and　wanted　to　speak　to　him。　Hagen　sighed。　As　a　young　girl　Connie　had　been　nice；　as　a　married　woman　she　was　a　nuisance。　She　made　plaints　about　her　husband。　She　kept　going　home　to　visit　her　mother　for　two　or　three　days。　And　Carlo　Rizzi　was　turning　out　to　be　a　real　loser。　He　had　been　fixed　up　with　a　nice　little　business　and　was　running　it　into　the　ground。　He　was　also　drinking；　whoring　around；　gambling　and　beating　his　wife　up　occasionally。　Connie　hadn't　told　her　family　about　that　but　she　had　told　Hagen。　He　wondered　what　new　tale　of　woe　she　had　for　him　now。
　
　But　the　Christmas　spirit　seemed　to　have　cheered　her　up。　She　just　wanted　to　ask　Hagen　what　her　father　would　really　like　for　Christmas。　And　Sonny　and　Fred　and　Mike。　She　already　knew　what　she　would　get　her　mother。　Hagen　made　some　suggestions；　all　of　which　she　rejected　as　silly。　Finally　she　let　him　go。
　
　When　the　phone　rang　again；　Hagen　threw　his　papers　back　into　the　basket。　The　hell　with　it。　He'd　leave。　It　never　occurred　to　him　to　refuse　to　take　the　call；　however。　When　his　secretary　told　him　it　was　Michael　Corieone　he　picked　up　the　phone　with　pleasure。　He　had　always　liked　Mike。
　
　〃Tom；〃　Michael　Corleone　said；　〃I'm　driving　down　to　the　city　with　Kay　tomorrow。　There's　something　important　I　want　to　tell　the　old　man　before　Christmas。　Will　he　be　home　tomorrow　night？〃
　
　〃Sure；〃　Hagen　said。　〃He's　not　going　out　of　town　until　after　Christmas。　Anything　I　can　do　for　you？〃
　
　Michael　was　as　closemouthed　as　his　father。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　guess　I'll　see　you　Christmas；　everybody　is　going　to　be　out　at　Long　Beach；　right？〃
　
　〃Right；〃　Hagen　said。　He　was　amused　when　Mike　hung　up　on　him　without　any　small　talk。
　
　He　told　his　secretary　to　call　his　wife　and　tell　her　he　would　be　home　a　little　late　but　to　have　some　supper　for　him。　Outside　the　building　he　walked　briskly　downtown　toward　Macy's。　Someone　stepped　in　his　way。　To　his　surprise　he　saw　it　was　Sollozzo。
　
　Sollozzo　took　him　by　the　arm　and　said　quietly；　〃Don't　be　frightened。　I　just　want　to　talk　to　you。〃　A　car　parked　at　the　curb　suddenly　had　its　door　open。　Sollozzo　said　urgently；　〃Get　in；　I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃　。
　
　Hagen　pulled　his　arm　loose。　He　was　still　not　alarmed；　just　irritated。　〃I　haven't　got　time；〃　he　said。　At　that　moment　two　men　came　up　behind　him。　Hagen　felt　a　sudden　weakness　in　his　legs。　Sollozzo　said　softly；　〃Get　in　the　car。　If　I　wanted　to　kill　you　you'd　be　dead　now。　Trust　me。〃
　
　Without　a　shred　of　trust　Hagen　got　into　the　car。
　
　**********
　
　Michael　Corleone　had　lied　to　Hagen。　He　was　already　in　New　York；　and　he　had　called　from　a　room　in　the　Hotel　Pennsylvania　less　than　ten　blocks　away。　When　he　hung　up　the　phone；　Kay　Adams　put　out　her　cigarette　and　said；　〃Mike；　what　a　good　fibber　you　are。〃
　
　Michael　sat　down　beside　her　on　the　bed。　〃All　for　you；　honey；　if　I　told　my　family　we　were　in　town　we'd　have　to　go　there　right　away。　Then　we　couldn't　go　out　to　dinner；　we　couldn't　go　to　the　theater；　and　we　couldn't　sleep　together　tonight。　Not　in　my　father's　house；　not　when　we're　not　married。〃　He　put　his　arms　around　her　and　kissed　her　gently　on　the　lips。　Her　mouth　was　sweet　and　he　gently　pulled　her　down　on　the　bed。　She　closed　her　eyes；　waiting　for　him　to　make　love　to　her　and　Michael　felt　an　enormous　happiness。　He　had　spent　the　war　years　fighting　in　the　Pacific；　and　on　those　bloody　islands　he　had　dreamed　of　a　girl　like　Kay　Adams。　Of　a　beauty　like　hers。　A　fair　and　fragile　body；　milky…skinned　and　electrified　by　passion。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　then　pulled　his　head　down　to　kiss　him。　They　made　love　until　it　was　time　for　dinner　and　the　theater。
　
　After　dinner　they　walked　past　the　brightly　lit　department　stores　full　of　holiday　shoppers　and　Michael　said　to　her；　〃What　shall　I　get　you　for　Christmas？〃
　
　She　pressed　against　him。　〃Just　you；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　think　your　father　will　approve　of　me？〃
　
　Michael　said　gently；　〃That's　not　really　the　question。　Will　your　parents　approve　of　me？〃
　
　Kay　shrugged。　〃I　don't　care；〃　she　said。
　
　Michael　said；　〃I　even　thought　of　changing　my　name；　legally；　but　if　something　happened；　that　wouldn't　really　help。　You　sure　you　want　to　be　a　Corleone？〃　He　said　it　only　half…jokingly。
　
　〃Yes；〃　she　said　without　smiling。　They　pressed　against　each　other。　They　had　decided　to　get　married　during　Christmas　week；　a　quiet　civil　ceremony　at　City　Hall　with　just　two　friends　as　witnesses。　But　Michael　had　insisted　he　m