mp.godfather-第83节

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r　them　to　hold　me　so　cheaply。　But　that's　the　trouble　with　young　people；　no　matter　how　talented。　They　don't　reason　things　out　and　they　want　all　the　water　in　the　well。〃
　
　And　then　Don　Tommasino　had　told　Michael　that　the　two　shepherds；　Fabrizzio　and　Calo；　would　go　with　him　as　bodyguards　in　the　Alfa　Romeo。　Don　Tommasino　would　say　his　good…byes　tonight　since　he　would　be　off　early　in　the　morning；　at　dawn；　to　see　to　his　affairs　in　Palermo。　Also；　Michael　was　not　to　tell　Dr。　Taza　about　the　move；　since　the　doctor　planned　to　spend　the　evening　in　Palermo　and　might　blab。
　
　Michael　had　known　Don　Tommasino　was　in　trouble。　Armed　guards　patrolled　the　walls　of　the　villa　at　night　and　a　few　faithful　shepherds　with　their　luparas　were　always　in　the　house。　Don　Tommasino　himself　went　heavily　armed　and　a　personal　bodyguard　attended　him　at　all　times。
　
　The　morning　sun　was　now　too　strong。　Michael　stubbed　out　his　cigarette　and　put　on　work　pants；　work　shirt　and　the　peaked　cap　most　Sicilian　men　wore。　Still　barefooted；　he　leaned　out　his　bedroom　window　and　saw　Fabrizzio　sitting　in　one　of　the　garden　chairs。　Fabrizzio　was　lazily　bing　his　thick　dark　hair；　his　lupara　was　carelessly　thrown　acres　the　garden　table。　Michael　whistled　and　Fabrizzio　looked　up　to　his　window。
　
　〃Get　the　car；〃　Michael　called　down　to　him。　〃I'll　be　leaving　in　five　minutes。　Where's　Calo？〃
　
　Fabrizzio　stood　up。　His　shirt　was　open；　exposing　the　blue　and　red　lines　of　the　tattoo　on　his　chest。　〃Calo　is　having　a　cup　of　coffee　in　the　kitchen；〃　Fabrizzio　said。　〃Is　your　wife　ing　with　you？〃
　
　Michael　squinted　down　at　him。　It　occurred　to　him　that　Fabrizzio　had　been　following　Apollonia　too　much　with　his　eyes　the　last　few　weeks。　Not　that　he　would　dare　ever　to　make　an　advance　toward　the　wife　of　a　friend　of　the　Don's。　In　Sicily　there　was　no　surerroad　to　death。　Michael　said　coldly；　〃No；　she's　going　home　to　her　family　first；　she'll　join　us　in　a　few　days。〃　He　watched　Fabrizzio　hurry　into　the　stone　hut　that　served　as　a　garage　for　the　Alfa　Romeo。
　
　Michael　went　down　the　hall　to　wash。　Apollonia　was　gone。　She　was　most　likely　in　the　kitchen　preparing　his　breakfast　with　her　own　hands　to　wash　out　the　guilt　she　felt　because　she　wanted　to　see　her　family　one　more　time　before　going　so　far　away　to　the　other　end　of　Sicily。　Don　Tommasino　would　arrange　transportation　for　her　to　where　Michael　would　be。
　
　Down　in　the　kitchen　the　old　woman　Filomena　brought　him　his　coffee　and　shyly　bid　him　a　good　bye。　'I'll　remember　you　to　my　father；〃　Michael　said　and　she　nodded。
　
　Calo　came　into　the　kitchen　and　said　to　Michael；　〃The　car's　outside；　shall　I　get　your　bag？〃
　
　〃No；　I'll　get　it；〃　Michael　said。　〃Where's　Apolla？〃
　
　Calo's　face　broke　into　an　amused　grin。　〃She's　sitting　in　the　driver's　seat　of　the　car；　dying　to　step　on　the　gas。　She'll　be　a　real　American　woman　before　she　gets　to　America。〃　It　was　unheard　of　for　one　of　the　peasant　women　in　Sicily　to　attempt　driving　a　car。　But　Michael　sometimes　let　Apollonia　guide　the　Alfa　Romeo　around　the　inside　of　the　villa　walls；　always　beside　her　however　because　she　sometimes　stepped　on　the　gas　when　she　meant　to　step　on　the　brake。
　
　Michael　said　to　Calo；　〃Get　Fabrizzio　and　wait　for　me　in　the　car。〃　He　went　out　of　the　kitchen　and　ran　up　the　stairs　to　the　bedroom。　His　bag　was　already　packed。　Before　picking　it　up　he　looked　out　the　window　and　saw　the　car　parked　in　front　of　the　portico　steps　rather　than　the　kitchen　entrance。
　
　Apollonia　was　sitting　in　the　car；　her　hands　on　the　wheel　like　a　child　playing。　Calo　was　just　putting　the　lunch　basket　in　the　rear　seat。　And　then　Michael　was　annoyed　to　see　Fabrizzio　disappearing　through　the　gates　of　the　villa　on　some　errand　outside。　What　the　hell　was　he　doing？　He　saw　Fabrizzio　take　a　look　over　his　shoulder；　a　look　that　was　somehow　furtive。　He'd　have　to　straighten　that　damn　shepherd　out。　Michael　went　down　the　stairs　and　decided　to　go　through　the　kitchen　to　see　Filomena　again　and　give　her　a　final　farewell。　He　asked　the　old　woman；　〃Is　Dr。　Taza　still　sleeping？〃
　
　Filomena's　wrinkled　face　was　sly。　〃Old　roosters　can't　greet　the　sun。　The　doctor　went　to　Palermo　last　night。〃
　
　Michael　laughed。　He　went　out　the　kitchen　entrance　and　the　smell　of　lemon　blossoms　penetrated　even　his　sinus…filled　nose。　He　saw　Apollonia　wave　to　him　from　the　car　just　ten　paces　up　the　villa's　driveway　and　then　he　realized　she　was　motioning　him　to　stay　where　he　was；　that　she　meant　to　drive　the　car　to　where　he　stood。　Calo　stood　grinning　beside　the　car；　his　lupara　dangling　in　his　hand。　But　there　was　still　no　sign　of　Fabrizzio。　At　that　moment；　without　any　conscious　reasoning　process；　everything　came　together　in　his　mind；　and　Michael　shouted　to　the　girl；　〃No！　No！〃　But　his　shout　was　drowned　in　the　roar　of　the　tremendous　explosion　as　Apollonia　switched　on　the　ignition。　The　kitchen　door　shattered　into　fragments　and　Michael　was　hurled　along　the　wall　of　the　villa　for　a　good　ten　feet。　Stones　tumbling　from　the　villa　roof　hit　him　on　the　shoulders　and　one　glanced　off　his　skull　as　he　was　lying　on　the　ground。　He　was　conscious　just　long　enough　to　see　that　nothing　remained　of　the　Alfa　Romeo　but　its　four　wheels　and　the　steel　shafts　which　held　them　together。
　
　**********
　
　He　came　to　consciousness　in　a　room　that　seemed　very　dark　and　heard　voices　that　were　so　low　that　they　were　pure　sound　rather　than　words。　Out　of　animal　instinct　he　tried　to　pretend　he　was　still　unconscious　but　the　voices　stopped　and　someone　was　leaning　from　a　chair　close　to　his　bed　and　the　voice　was　distinct　now；　saying；　〃Well；　he's　with　us　finally。〃　A　lamp　went　on；　its　light　like　white　fire　on　his　eyeballs　and　Michael　turned　his　head。　It　felt　very　heavy；　numb。　And　then　he　could　see　the　face　over　his　bed　was　that　of　Dr。　Taza。
　
　〃Let　me　look　at　you　a　minute　and　I'll　put　the　light　out；〃　Dr；。　Taza　said　gently。　He　was　busy　shining　a　small　pencil　flashlight　into　Michael's　eyes。　〃You'll　be　all　right；〃　Dr。　Taza　said　and　turned　to　someone　else　in　the　room。　〃You　can　speak　to　him。〃
　
　It　was　Don　Tommasino　sitting　on　a　chair　near　his　bed；　Michael　could　see　him　clearly　now。　Don　Tommasino　was　saying；　〃Michael；　Michael；　can　I　talk　to　you？　Do　you　want　to　rest？〃
　
　It　was　easier　to　raise　a　hand　to　make　a　gesture　and　Michael　did　so　and　Don　Tommasino　said；　〃Did　Fabrizzio　bring　the　car　from　the　garage？〃
　
　Michael；　without　knowing　he　did　so；　smiled。　It　was　in　some　strange　way；　a　chilling　smile；　of　assent。　Don　Tommasino　said；　〃Fabrizzio　has　vanished。　Listen　to　me；　Michael。　You've　been　unconscious　for　nearly　a　week。　Do　you　understand？　Everybody　thinks　you're　dead；　so　you're　safe　now；　they've　stopped　looking　for　you。　I've　sent　messages　to　your　father　and　he's　sent　back　instructions。　It　won't　be　long　now；　you'll　be　back　in　America。　Meanwhile　you'll　rest　here　quietly。　You're　safe　up　in　the　mountains；　in　a　special　farmhouse　I　own。　The　Palermo　people　have　made　their　peace　with　me　now　that　you're　supposed　to　be　dead；　so　it　was　you　they　were　after　all　the　time。　They　wanted　to　kill　you　while　making　people　think　it　was　me　they　were　after。　That's　something　you　should　know。　As　for　everything　else；　leave　it　all　to　me。　You　recover　your　strength　and　be　tranquil。〃
　
　Michael　was　remembering　everything　now。　He　knew　his　wife　was　dead；　that　Calo　was　dead。　He　thought　of　the　old　woman　in　the　kitchen。　He　couldn't　remember　if　she　had　e　outside　with　him。　He　whispered；　〃Filomena？〃　Don　Tommasino　said　quietly；　〃She　wasn't　hurt；　just　a　bloody　nose　from　the　blast。　Don't　worry　about　her。〃
　
　Michael　said；　〃Fabrizzio。　Let　your　shepherds　know　that　the　one　who　gives　me　Fabrizzio　will　own　the　finest　pastures　in　Sicily。〃
　
　Both　men　seemed　to　sigh　with　relief。　Don　Tontmasino　lifted　a　glass　from　a　nearby　table　and　drank　from　it　an　amber　fluid　that　jolted　his　head　up。　Dr。　Taza　sat　on　the　bed　and　said　almost　absently；　〃You　know；　you're　a　widower。　That's　rare　in　Sicily。〃　As　if　the　distinction　might　fort　him。
　
　Michael　motioned　to　Don　Tommasino　to　lean　closer。　The　Don　sat　on　the　bed　and　bent　his　head。　〃Tell　my　father　to　get　me　home；〃　Michael　said。　〃Tell　my　father　I　wish　to　be　his　son。〃
　
　But　it　was　to　be　another　month　before　Michael　recovered　from　his　injuries　and　another　two　months　after　that　before　all　the　necessary　papers　and　arrangements　were　ready。　Then　he　was　flown　from　Palermo　to　Rome　and　from　Rome　to　New　York。　In　all　that　time　no　trace　had　been　found　of　Fabrizzio。
　
　Book　seven
　
　Chapter　25
　
　When　Kay　Adams　received　her　college　degree；　she　took　a　job　teaching　grade　school　in　her　New　Hampshire　hometown。　The　first　six　months　after　Michael　vanished　she　made　weekly　telephone　calls　to　his　mother　asking　about　him。　Mrs。　Corleone　was　always　friendly　and　always　wound　up　saying；　〃You　a　very　very　nice　girl。　You　forget　about　Mikey　and　find　a　nice　husband。〃　Kay　was　not　offended　at　her　bluntness　and　understood　that　the　mother　spoke　out　of　concern　for　her　as　a　young　girl　in　an　impossible　situation。
　
　When　her　first　school　term　ended；　she　decided　to　go　to　New　York　to　buy　some　decent　clothes　and　see　some　old　college　girl　friends。　She　thought　also　about　looking　for　some　sort　of　interesting　job　in　New　York。　She　had　lived　like　a　spinster　for　almost　two　years；　reading　and　teaching；　refusing　dates；　ref