mp.godfather-第86节

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when　people　shot　him。　She　believed　in　him。　He　was　always　her　first　loyalty　for　forty　years。　After　you　do　that　maybe　I'll　tell　you　a　few　things　you　really　don't　want　to　hear。〃
　
　〃Will　we　have　to　live　in　the　mall？〃　Kay　asked。
　
　Michael　nodded。　〃We'll　have　our　own　house；　it　won't　be　so　bad。　My　parents　don't　meddle。　Our　lives　will　be　our　own。　But　until　everything　gets　straightened　out；　I　have　to　live　in　the　mall。〃
　
　〃Because　it's　dangerous　for　you　to　live　outside　it；〃　Kay　said。
　
　For　the　first　time　since　she　had　e　to　know　him；　she　saw　Michael　angry。　It　was　cold　chilling　anger　that　was　not　externalized　in　any　gesture　or　change　in　voice。　It　was　a　coldness　that　came　off　him　like　death　and　Kay　knew　that　it　was　this　coldness　that　would　make　her　decide　not　to　marry　him　if　she　so　decided。
　
　〃The　trouble　is　all　that　damn　trash　in　the　movies　and　the　newspapers；〃　Michael　said。　〃You've　got　the　wrong　idea　of　my　father　and　the　Corleone　Family。　I'll　make　a　final　explanation　and　this　one　will　be　really　final。　My　father　is　a　businessman　trying　to　provide　for　his　wife　and　children　and　those　friends　he　might　need　someday　in　a　time　of　trouble。　He　doesn't　accept　the　rules　of　the　society　we　live　in　bgcause　those　rules　would　have　condemned　him　to　a　life　not　suitable　to　a　man　like　himself；　a　man　of　extraordinary　force　and　character。　What　you　have　to　understand　is　that　he　considers　himself　the　equal　of　all　those　great　men　like　Presidents　and　Prime　Ministers　and　Supreme　Court　Justices　and　Governors　of　the　States。　He　refuses　to　live　by　rules　set　up　by　others；　rules　which　condemn　him　to　a　defeated　life。　But　his　ultimate　aim　is　to　enter　that　society　with　a　certain　power　since　society　doesn't　really　protect　its　members　who　do　not　have　their　own　individual　power。　In　the　meantime　he　operates　on　a　code　of　ethics　he　considers　far　superior　to　the　legal　structures　of　society。〃
　
　Kay　was　looking　at　him　incredulously。　〃But　that's　ridiculous；〃　she　said。　〃What　if　everybody　felt　the　same　way？　How　could　society　ever　function；　we'd　be　back　in　the　times　of　the　cavemen。　Mike；　you　don't　believe　what　you're　saying；　do　you？〃
　
　Michael　grinned　at　her。　〃I'm　just　telling　you　what　my　father　believes。　I　just　want　you　to　understand　that　whatever　else　he　is；　he's　not　irresponsible；　or　at　least　not　in　the　society　which　he　has　created。　He's　not　a　crazy　machine…gunning　mobster　as　you　seem　to　think。　He's　a　responsible　man　in　his　own　way。〃
　
　〃And　what　do　you　believe？〃　Kay　asked　quietly。
　
　Michael　shrugged。　〃I　believe　in　my　family；〃　he　said。　〃I　believe　in　you　and　the　family　we　may　have。　I　don't　trust　society　to　protect　us；　I　have　no　intention　of　placing　my　fate　in　the　hands　of　men　where　only　qualification　is　that　they　managed　to　con　a　block　of　people　to　vote　for　them。　But　that's　for　now。　My　father's　time　is　done。　The　things　he　did　can　no　longer　be　done　exeept　wilt　a　great　deal　of　risk。　Whether　we　like　it　or　not　the　Corleone　Family　has　to　join　that　society。　But　when　they　do　I'd　like　us　to　join　it　with　plenty　of　our　own　power；　that　is；　money　and　ownership　of　other　valuables。　I'd　like　to　make　my　children　as　secure　as　possible　before　they　join　that　general　destiny。〃
　
　〃But　you　volunteered　to　fight　for　your　country；　you　were　a　war　hero；〃　Kay　said。　〃What　happened　to　make　you　change？〃
　
　Michael　said；　〃'This　is　really　getting　us　no　place。　But　maybe　I'm　just　one　of　those　real　old…fashioned　conservatives　they　grow　up　in　your　hometown。　I　take　care　of　myself；　individual。　Governments　really　don't　do　much　for　their　people；　that's　what　it　es　down　to；　but　that's　not　it　really。　All　I　can　say；　I　have　to　help　my　father；　I　have　to　be　on　his　side。　And　you　have　to　make　your　decision　about　being　on　my　side。〃　He　smiled　at　her。　〃I　guess　getting。　married　was　a　bad　idea。〃
　
　Kay　patted　the　bed。　〃I　don't　know　about　marrying；　but　I've　gone　without　a　man　for　two　years　and　I'm　not　letting　you　off　so　easy　now。　e　on　in　here。〃
　
　When　they　were　in　bed　together；　the　light　out；　she　whispered　to　him；　〃Do　you　believe　me　about　not　having　a　man　since　you　left？〃
　
　〃I　believe　you；〃　Michael　said。
　
　〃Did　you？〃　she　whispered　in　a　softer　voice。
　
　〃Yes；〃　Michael　said。　He　felt　her　stiffen　a　little。　〃But　not　in　the　last　six　months。〃　It　was　true。　Kay　was　the　first　woman　he　had　made　love　to　since　the　death　of　Apollonia。
　
　Chapter　26
　
　The　garish　suite　overlooked　the　fake　fairyland　grounds　in　the　rear　of　the　hotel；　transplanted　palm　trees　lit　up　by　climbers　of　orange　lights；　two　huge　swimming　pools　shimmering　dark　blue　by　the　light　of　the　desert　stars。　On　the　horizon　were　the　sand　and　stone　mountains　that　ringed　Las　Vegas　nestling　in　its　neon　valley。　Johnny　Fontane　let　the　heavy；　richly　embroidered　gray　drape　fall　and　turned　back　to　the　room。
　
　A　special　detail　of　four　men；　a　pit　boss；　a　dealer；　extra　relief　man；　and　a　cocktail　waitress　in　her　scanty　nightclub　costume　were　getting　things　ready　for　private　action。　Nino　Valenti　was　lying　on　the　sofa　in　the　living　room　part　of　the　suite；　a　water　glass　of　whiskey　in　his　hand。　He　watched　the　people　from　the　casino　setting　up　the　blackjack　table　with　the　proper　six　padded　chairs　around　its　horseshoe　outer　rim。　〃That's　great；　that's　great；〃　he　said　in　a　slurred　vote　that　was　not　quite　drunken。　〃Johnny；　e　on　and　gamble　with　me　against　these　bastards。　I　got　the　luck。　We'll　beat　their　crullers　in。〃
　
　Johnny　sat　on　a　footstool　opposite　the　couch。　〃You　know　I　don't　gamble；〃　he　said：　〃How　you　feeling；　Nino？〃
　
　Nino　Valenti　grinned　at　him。　〃Great。　I　got　broads　ing　up　at　midnight；　then　some　supper；　then　back　to　the　blackjack　table。　You　know　I　got　the　house　beat　for　almost　fifty　grand　and　they've　been　grinding　me　for　a　week？〃
　
　〃Yeah；〃　Johnny　Fontane　said。　〃Who　do　you　want　to　leave　it　to　when　you　croak？〃
　
　Nino　drained　his　glass　empty。　〃Johnny；　where　the　hell　did　you　get　your　rep　as　a　swinger？　You're　a　deadhead；　Johnny。　Christ；　the　tourists　in　this　town　have　more　fun　than　you　do。〃
　
　Johnny　said；　〃Yeah。　You　want　a　lift　to　that　blackjack　table？〃
　
　Nino　struggled　erect　on　the　sofa　and　pleated　his　feet　firmly　on　the　rug。　〃I　can　make　it；〃　he　said。　He　let　the　glass　slip　to　the　floor　and　got　up　and　walked　quite　steadily　to　where　the　blackjack　table　had　been　set　up。　The　dealer　was　ready。　The　pit　boss　stood　behind　the　dealer　watching。　The　relief　dealer　sat　on　a　chair　away　from　the　table。　The　cocktail　waitress　sat　on　another　chair　in　a　line　of　vision　so　that　she　could　see　any　of　Nino　Valenti's　gestures。
　
　Nino　rapped　on　the　green　baize　with　his　knuckles。　〃Chips；〃　he　said。
　
　The　pit　boss　took　a　pad　from　his　pocket　and　filled　out　a　slip　and　put　it　in　front　of　Nino　with　a　small　fountain　pen。　〃Here　you　are；　Mr。　Valenti；〃　he　said。　〃The　usual　five　thousand　to　start。〃　Nino　scrawled　his　signature　on　the　bottom　of　the　slip　and　the　pit　boss　put　it　in　his　pocket。　He　nodded　to　the　dealer。
　
　The　dealer　with　incredibly　deft　fingers　took　stacks　of　black　and　gold　one…hundred…dollar　daps　from　the　built…in　racks　before　him。　In　not　more　than　fire　seconds　Nino　had　five　even　stacks　of　one…hundred…dollar　chips　before　him；　each　stack　had　ten　chips。
　
　There　were　six　squares　a　little　larger　than　playing　card　shapes　etched　in　white　on　the　green　baize；　each　square　placed　to　correspond　to　where　a　player　would　sit。　Now　Nino　was　placing　bets　on　three　of　these　squares；　single　chips；　and　so　playing　three　hands　each　for　a　hundred　dollars。　He　refused　to　take　a　hit　on　ail　three　hands　because　the　dealer　had　a　six　up；　a　bust　card；　and　the　dealer　did　bust。　Nino　raked　in　his　chips　and　turned　to　Johnny　Fontane。　〃That's　how　to　start　the　night；　huh；　Johnny？〃
　
　Johnny　smiled。　It　was　unusual　for　a　gambler　like　Nino　to　have　to　sign　a　chit　while　gambling。　A　word　was　usually　good　enough　for　the　high　rollers。　Maybe　they　were　afraid　Nino　wouldn't　remember　his　take…out　because　of　his　drinking。　They　didn't　know　that　Nino　remembered　everything。
　
　Nino　kept　winning　and　after　the　third　round　lifted　a　finger　at　the　cocktail　waitress。　She　went　to　the　bar　at　the　end　of　the　room　and　brought　him　his　usual　rye　in　a　water　glass。　Nino　took　the　drink；　switched　it　to　his　other　hand　so　he　could　put　an　arm　around　the　waitress。　〃Sit　with　me；　honey；　play　a　few　hands；　bring　me　luck。〃
　
　The　cocktail　waitress　was　a　very　beautiful　girl；　but　Johnny　could　see　she　was　all　cold　hustle；　no　real　personality；　though　she　worked　at　it。　She　was　giving　Nino　a　big　smile　but　her　tongue　was　hanging　out　for　one　of　those　black　and　gold　chips。　What　the　hell；　Johnny　thought；　why　shouldn't　she　get　some　of　it？　He　just　regretted　that　Nino　wasn't　getting　something　better　for　his　money。
　
　Nino　let　the　waitress　play　his　hands　for　a　few　rounds　and　then　gave　her　one　of　the　chips　and　a　pat　on　the　behind　to　send　her　away　from　the　table。　Johnny　motioned　to　her　to　bring　him　a　drink。　She　did　so　but　she　did　it　as　if　she　were　playing　the　most　dramatic　moment　in　the　most　dramatic　movie　ever　made。　She　turned　all　her　charm　on　the　great　Johnny　Fontane。　She　made　her　eyes　sparkle　with　invitation；　her　walk　was　the　sexiest　walk　ever　walked；　her　mouth　was；　very　slightly　parted　as　if　she　were　ready　to　bite　the　nearest　object　of　her　obvious　passion。　She　resembled　nothing　so　much　as