mp.godfather-第57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！


　
　〃OK；〃　Sonny　said。　He　picked　up　her　kitchen　phone　and　dialed　a　number。　〃I'm　getting　a　doctor　to　e　over　here　and　take　a　look　at　you　and　fix　you　up。　In　your　condition　you　have　to　be　careful。　How　many　months　before　you　have　the　kid？〃
　
　〃Two　months；〃　Connie　said。　〃Sonny；　please　don't　do　anything。　Please　don't。〃
　
　Sonny　laughed。　His　face　was　cruelly　intent　when　he　said；　〃Don't　worry；　I　won't　make　your　kid　an　orphan　before　he's　born。〃　He　left　the　apartment　after　kissing　her　lightly　on　her　uninjured　cheek。
　
　**********
　
　On　East　112th　Street　a　long　line　of　cars　were　doubleparked　in　front　of　a　candy　store　that　was　the　headquarters　of　Carlo　Rizzi's　book。　On　the　sidewalk　in　front　of　the　store；　fathers　played　catch　with　small　children　they　had　taken　for　a　Sunday　morning　ride　and　to　keep　them　pany　as　they　placed　their　bets。　When　they　saw　Carlo　Rizzi　ing　they　stopped　playing　ball　and　bought　their　kids　ice　cream　to　keep　them　quiet。　Then　they　started　studying　the　newspapers　that　gave　the　starting　pitchers；　trying　to　pick　out　winning　baseball　bets　for　the　day。
　
　Carlo　went　into　the　large　room　in　the　back　of　the　store。　His　two　〃writers；〃　a　small　wiry　man　called　Sally　Rags　and　a　big　husky　fellow　called　Coach；　were　already　waiting　for　the　action　to　start。　They　had　their　huge；　lined　pads　in　front　of　them　ready　to　write　down　bets。　On　a　wooden　stand　was　a　blackboard　with　the　names　of　the　sixteen　big　league　baseball　teams　chalked　on　it；　paired　to　show　who　was　playing　against　who。　Against　each　pairing　was　a　blocked…out　square　to　enter　the　odds。
　
　Carlo　asked　Coach；　〃Is　the　store　phone　tapped　today？〃
　
　Coach　shook　his　head。　〃The　tap　is　still　off。〃
　
　Carlo　went　to　the　wall　phone　and　dialed　a　number。　Sally　Rags　and　Coach　watched　him　impassively　as　he　jotted　down　the　〃line；〃　the　odds　on　all　the　baseball　games　for　that　day。　They　watched　him　as　he　hung　up　the　phone　and　walked　over　to　the　blackboard　and　chalked　up　the　odds　against　each　game。　Though　Carlo　did　not　know　it；　they　had　already　gotten　the　line　and　were　checking　his　work。　In　the　first　week　in　his　job　Carlo　had　made　a　mistake　in　transposing　the　odds　onto　the　blackboard　and　had　created　that　dream　of　all　gamblers；　a　〃middle。〃　That　is；　by　betting　the　odds　with　him　and　then　betting　against　the　same　team　with　another　bookmaker　at　the　correct。　odds；　the　gambler　could　not　lose。　The　only　one　who　coud　lose　was　Carlo's　book。　That　mistake　had　caused　a　six…thousand…dollar　loss　in　the　book　for　the　week　and　confirmed　the　Don's　judgment　about　his　son…in…law。　He　had　given　the　word　that　all　of　Carlo's　work　was　to　be　checked。
　
　Normally　the　highly　placed　members　of　the　Corleone　Family　would　never　be　concerned　with　such　an　operational　detail。　There　was　at　least　a　five…layer　insulation　to　their　level。　But　since　the　book　was　being　used　as　a　testing　ground　for　the　son…in…law；　it　had　been　placed　under　the　direct　scrutiny　of　Tom　Hagen；　to　whom　a　report　was　sent　every　day。
　
　Now　with　the　line　posted；　the　gamblers　were　thronging　into　the　back　room　of　the　candy　store　to　jot　down　the　odds　on　their　newspapers　next　to　the　games　printed　there　with　probable　pitchers。　Some　of　them　held　their　little　children　by　the　hand　as　they　looked　up　at　the　blackboard。　One　guy　who　made　big　bets　looked　down　at　the　little　girl　he　was　holding　by　the　hand　and　said　teasingly；　〃Who　do　you　like　today；　Honey；　Giants　or　the　Pirates？〃　The　little　girl；　fascinated　by　the　colorful　names；　said；　〃Are　Giants　stronger　than　Pirates？〃　The　father　laughed。
　
　A　line　began　to　form　in　front　of　the　two　writers。　When　a　writer　filled　one　of　his　sheets　he　tore　it　off；　wrapped　the　money　he　had　collected　in　it　and　handed　it　to　Carlo。　Carlo　went　out　the　back　exit　of　the　room　and　up　a　flight　of　steps　to　an　apartment　which　housed　the　candy　store　owner's　family。　He　called　in　the　bets　to　his　central　exchange　and　put　the　money　in　a　small　wall　safe　that　was　hidden　by　an　extended　window　drape。　Then　he　went　back　down　into　the　candy　store　after　having　first　burned　the　bet　sheet　and　flushed　its　ashes　down　the　toilet　bowl。
　
　None　of　the　Sunday　games　started　before　two　P。M。　because　of　the　blue　laws；　so　after　the　first　crowd　of　bettors；　family　men　who　had　to　get　their　bets　in　and　rush　home　to　take　their　families　to　the　beach；　came　the　trickling　of　bachelor　gamblers　or　the　diehards　who　condemned　their　families　to　Sundays　in　the　hot　city　apartments。　These　bachelor　bettors　were　the　big　gamblers；　they　bet　heavier　and　came　back　around　four　o'clock　to　bet　the　second　games　of　doubleheaders。　They　were　the　ones　who　made　Carlo's　Sundays　a　full…time　day　with　overtime；　though　some　married　men　called　in　from　the　beach　to　try　and　recoup　their　losses。
　
　By　one…thirty　the　betting　had　trickled　off　so　that　Carlo　and　Sally　Rags　could　go　out　and　sit　on　the　stoop　beside　the　candy　store　and　get　some　fresh　air。　They　watched　the　stickball　game　the　kids　were　having。　A　police　car　went　by。　They　ignored　it。　This　book　had　very　heavy　protection　at　the　precinct　and　couldn't　be　touched　on　a　local　level。　A　raid　would　have　to　be　ordered　from　the　very　top　and　even　then　a　warning　would　e　through　in　plenty　of　time。
　
　Coach　came　out　and　sat　beside　them。　They　gossiped　a　while　about　baseball　and　women。　Carlo　said　laughingly；　〃I　had　to　bat　my　wife　around　again　today；　teach　her　who's　boss。〃
　
　Coach　said　casually；　〃She's　knocked　up　pretty　big　now；　ain't　she？〃
　
　〃Ahh；　I　just　slapped　her　face　a　few　times；〃　Carlo　said。　〃I　didn't　hurt　her。〃　He　brooded　for　a　moment。　〃She　thinks　she　can　boss　me　around；　I　don't　stand　for　that。〃
　
　There　were　still　a　few　bettors　hanging　around　shooting　the　breeze；　talking　baseball；　some　of　them　sitting　on　the　steps　above　the　two　writers　and　Carlo。　Suddenly　the　kids　playing　stickball　in　the　street　scattered。　A　car　came　screeching　up　the　block　and　to　a　halt　in　front　of　the　candy　store。　It　stopped　so　abruptly　that　the　tires　screamed　and　before　it　had　stopped；　almost；　a　man　came　hurtling　out　of　the　driver's　seat；　moving　so　fast　that　everybody　was　paralyzed。　The　man　was　Sonny　Corleone。
　
　His　heavy　Cupid…featured　face　with　its　thick；　curved　mouth　was　an　ugly　mask　of　fury。　In　a　split　second　he　was　at　the　stoop　and　had　grabbed　Carlo　Rizzi　by　the　throat。　He　pulled　Carlo　away　from　the　others；　trying　to　drag　him　into　the　street；　but　Carlo　wrapped　his　huge　muscular　arms　around　the　iron　railings　of　the　stoop　and　hung　on。　He　cringed　away；　trying　to　hide　his　head　and　face　in　the　hollow　of　his　shoulders。　His　shirt　ripped　away　in　Sonny's　hand。
　
　What　followed　then　was　sickening。　Sonny　began　beating　the　cowering　Carlo　with　his　fists；　cursing　him　in　a　thick；　rage…choked　voice。　Carlo；　despite　his　tremendous　physique；　offered　no　resistance；　gave　no　cry　for　mercy　or　protest。　Coach　and　Sally　Rags　dared　not　interfere。　They　thought　Sonny　meant　to　kill　his　brother…in…law　and　had　no　desire　to　share　his　fate。　The　kids　playing　stickball　gathered　to　curse　the　driver　who　had　made　them　scatter；　but　now　were　watching　with　awestruck　interest。　They　were　tough　kids　but　the　sight　of　Sonny　in　his　rage　silenced　them。　Meanwhile　another　car　had　drawn　up　behind　Sonny's　and　two　of　his　bodyguards　jumped　out。　When　they　saw　what　was　happening　they　too　dared　not　interfere。　They　stood　alert；　ready　to　protect　their　chief　if　any　bystanders　had　the　stupidity　to　try　to　help　Carlo。
　
　What　made　the　sight　sickening　was　Carlo's　plete　subjection；　but　it　was　perhaps　this　that　saved　his　life。　He　clung　to　the　iron　railings　with　his　hands　so　that　Sonny　could　not　drag　him　into　the　street　and　despite　his　obvious　equal　strength；　still　refused　to　fight　back。　He　let　the　blows　rain　on　his　unprotected　head　and　neck　until　Sonny's　rage　ebbed。　Finally；　his　chest　heaving；　Sonny　looked　down　at　him　and　said；　〃You　dirty　bastard；　you　ever　beat　up　my　sister　again　I'll　kill　you。〃
　
　These　words　released　the　tension。　Because　of　course；　if　Sonny　intended　to　kill　the　man　he　would　never　have　uttered　the　threat。　He　uttered　it　in　frustration　because　he　could　not　carry　it　out。　Carlo　refused　to　look　at　Sonny。　He　kept　his　head　down　and　his　hands　and　arms　entwined　in　the　iron　railing。　He　stayed　that　way　until　the　car　roared　off　and　he　heard　Coach　say　in　his　curiously　paternal　voice；　〃OK；　Carlo；　e　on　into　the　store。　Let's　get　out　of　sight。〃
　
　It　was　only　then　that　Carlo　dared　to　get　out　of　his　crouch　against　the　stone　steps　of　the　stoop　and　unlock　his　hands　from　the　railing。　Standing　up；　he　could　see　the　kids　look　at　him　with　the　staring；　sickened　faces　of　people　who　had　witnessed　the　degradation　of　a　fellow　human　being。　He　was　a　little　dizzy　but　if　was　more　from　shock；　the　raw　fear　that　had　taken　mand　of　his　body；　he　was　not　badly　hurt　despite　the　shower　of　heavy　blows。　He　let　Coach　lead　him　by　the　arm　into　the　back　room　of　the　candy　store　and　put　ice　on　his　face；　which；　though　it　was　not　cut　or　bleeding；　was　lumpy　with　swelling　bruises。　The　fear　was　subsiding　now　and　the　humiliation　he　had　suffered　made　him　sick　to　his　stomach　so　that　he　had　to　throw　up。　Coach　held　his　head　over　the　sink；　supported　him　as　if　he　were　drunk；　then　helped　him　upstairs　to　the　apartment　and　made　him　lie　down　in　one　of　the　bedrooms。　Carlo　never　noticed　that　Sally　Rags　had　disappeared。
　
　Sally　Rags　had　walked　d