mp.godfather-第90节

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　The　house　was　loaded　with　recording　equipment　and　Johnny　had　the　two　girls　work　the　turn…off　and　volumes。　After　they　had　dinner；　Johnny　went　to　work。　He　had　Nino　playing　the　mandolin　as　acpaniment　and　sang　all　his　old　songs。　He　sang　them　all　the　way　out；　not　nursing　his　voice　at　all。　His　throat　was　fine；　he　felt　that　he　could　sing　forever。　In　the　months　he　had　not　been　able　to　sing　he　had　often　thought　about　singing；　planned　out　how　he　would　phrase　lyrics　differently　now　than　as　a　kid。　He　had　sung　the　songs　in　his　head　with　more　sophisticated　variations　of　emphasis。　Now　he　was　doing　it　for　real。　Sometimes　it　would　go　wrong　in　the　actual　singing；　stuff　that　had　sound　good　when　he　heard　it　just　in　his　head　didn't　work　out　when　he　tried　it　really　singing　out　loud。　OUT　LOUD；　he　thought。　He　wasn't　listening　to　himself　now；　he　was　concentrating　on　performing。　He　fumbled　a　little　on　timing　but　that　was　OK；　just　rusty。　He　had　a　metronome　in　his　head　that　would　never　fail　him。　Just　a　little　practice　was　all　he　needed。
　
　Finally　he　stopped　singing。　Tina　came　over　to　him　with　eyes　shining　and　gave　him　a　long　kiss。　〃Now　I　know　why　Mother　goes　to　all　your　movies；〃　she　said。　It　was　the　wrong　thing　to　say　at　any　time　except　this。　Johnny　and　Nino　laughed。
　
　They　played　the　feedback　and　now　Johnny　could　really　listen　to　himself。　His　voice　had　changed；　changed　a　hell　of　a　lot　but　was　still　unquestionably　the　voice　of　Johnny　Fontane。　It　had　bee　much　richer　and　darker　as　he　had　noticed　before　but　there　was　also　the　quality　of　a　man　singing　rather　than　a　boy。　The　voice　had　more　true　emotion；　more　character。　And　the　technical　part　of　his　singing　was　far　superior　to　anything　he　had　ever　done。　It　was　nothing　less　than　masterful。　And　if　he　was　that　good　now；　rusty　as　hell；　how　good　would　he　be　when　he　got　in　shape　again？　Johnny　grinned　at　Nino。　〃Is　that　as　good　as　I　think　it　is？〃
　
　Nino　looked　at　his　happy　face　thoughtfully。　〃It's　very　damn　good；〃　he　said。　〃But　let's　see　how　you　sing　tomorrow。〃
　
　Johnny　was　hurt　that　Nino　should　be　so　downbeat。　〃You　son　of　a　bitch；　you　know　you　can't　sing　like　that。　Don't　worry　about　tomorrow。　I　feel　great。〃　But　he　didn't　sing　any　more　that　night。　He　and　Nino　took　the　girls　to　a　party　and　Tina　spent　the　night　in　his_bed　but　he　wasn't　much　good　there。　The　girl　was　a　little　disappointed。　But　what　the　hell；　you　couldn't　do　everything　all　in　one　day；　Johnny　thought。
　
　He　woke　up　in　the　morning　with　a　sense　of　apprehension；　with　a　vague　terror　that　he　had　dreamed　his　voice　had　e　back。　Then　when　he　was　sure　it　was　not　a　dream　he　got　scared　that　his　voice　would　be　shot　again。　He　went　to　the　window　and　hummed　a　bit；　then　he　went　down　to　the　living　room　still　in　his　pajamas。　He　picked　out　a　tune　on　the　piano　and　after　a　while　tried　singing　with　it。　He　sang　mutedly　but　there　was　no　pain；　no　hoarseness　in　his　throat；　so　he　turned　it　on。　The　cords　were　true。　and　rich；　he　didn't　have　to　force　it　at　all。　Easy；　easy；　just　pouring　out。　Johnny　realized　that　the　bad　time　was　over；　he　had　it　all　now。　And　it　didn't　matter　a　damn　if　he　fell　on　his　face　with　movies；　it　didn't　matter　if　he　couldn't　get　it　up　with　Tina　the　night　before；　it　didn't　matter　that　Virginia　would　hate　him　being　able　to　sing　again。　For　a　moment　he　had　just　one　regret。　If　only　his　voice　had　e　back　to　him　while　trying　to　sing　for　his　daughters；　how　lovely　that　would　have　been。　That　would　have　been　so　lovely。
　
　**********
　
　The　hotel　nurse　had　e　into　the　room　wheeling　a　cart　loaded　with　medication。　Johnny　got　up　and　stared　down　at　Nino；　who　was　sleeping　or　maybe　dying。　He　knew　Nino　wasn't　jealous　of　his　getting　his　voice　back。　He　understood　that　Nino　was　only　jealous　because　he　was　so　happy　about　getting　his　voice　back。　That　he　cared　so　much　about　singing。　For　what　was　very　obvious　now　was　that　Nino　Valenti　didn't　care　enough　about　anything　to　make　him　want　to　stay　alive。
　
　Chapter　27
　
　Michael　Corleone　arrived　late　in　the　evening　and；　by　his　own　order；　was　not　met　at　the　airport。　Only　two　men　acpanied　him：　Tom　Hagen　and　a　new　bodyguard；　named　Albert　Neri。
　
　The　most　lavish　suite　of　rooms　in　the　hotel　had　been　set　aside　for　Michael　and　his　party。　Already　waiting　in　that　suite　were　the　people　it　would　be　necessary　for　Michael　to　see。
　
　Freddie　greeted　his　brother　with　a　warm　embrace。　Freddie　was　much　stouter；　more　benevolent…looking；　cheerful；　and　far　more　dandified。　He　wore　an　exquisitely　tailored　gray　silk　and　accessories　to　match。　His　hair　was　razor　cut　and　arranged　as　carefully　as　a　movie　star's；　his　face　glowed　with　perfect　barbering　and　his　hands　were　manicured。　He　was　an　altogether　different　man　than　the　one　who　had　been　shipped　out　of　New　York　four　years　before。
　
　He　leaned　back　and　surveyed　Michael　fondly。　〃You　look　a　hell　of　a　lot　better　now　that　you　got　your　face　fixed。　Your　wife　finally　talked　you　into　it；　huh？　How　is　Kay？　When　she　goons　e　out　and　visit　us　out　here？〃
　
　Michael　smiled　at　his　brother。　〃You're　looking　pretty　good　too。　Kay　would　have　e　out　this　time；　but　she's　carrying　another　kid　and　she　has　the　baby　to　look　after。　Besides　this　is　business；　Freddie；　I　have　to　fly　back　tomorrow　night　or　the　morning　after。〃
　
　〃You　have　to　eat　something　first；〃　Freddie　said。　〃We've　got　a　great　chef　in　the　hotel；　you'll　get　the　best　food　you　ever　ate。　Go　take　your　shower　and　change　and　everything　will　be　set　up　right　here。　I　have　all　the　people　you　want　to　see　lined　up；　they'll　be　waiting　around　for　when　you're　ready；　I　just　have　to　call　them。〃
　
　Michael　said　pleasantly；　〃Let's　save　Moe　Greene　to　the　end；　OK？　Ask　Johnny　Fontane　and　Nino　up　to　eat　with　us。　And　Lucy　and　her　doctor　friend。　We　can　talk　while　we　eat。〃　He　turned　to　Hagen。　〃Anybody　you　want　to　add　to　that；　Tom？〃
　
　Hagen　shook　his　head。　Freddie　had　greeted　him　much　less　affectionately　than　Michael；　but　Hagen　understood。　Freddie　was　on　his　father's　shit　list　and　Freddie　naturally　blamed　the　Consigliere　for　not　straightening　things　out。　Hagen　would　gladly　have　done　so；　but　he　didn't　know　why　Freddie　was　in　his　father's　bad　graces。　The　Don　did　not　give　voice　to　specific　grievances。　He　just　made　his　displeasure　felt。
　
　It　was　after　midnight　before　they　gathered　around　the　special　dinner　table　set　up　in　Michael's　suite。　Lucy　kissed　Michael　and　didn't　ment　on　his　face　looking　so　much　better　after　the　operation。　Jules　Segal　boldly　studied　the　repaired　cheekbone　and　said　to　Michael；　〃A　good　job。　It's　knitted　nicely。　Is　the　sinus　OK？〃
　
　〃Fine；〃　Michael　said。　〃Thanks　for　helping　out。〃
　
　Dinner　focused　on　Michael　as　they　ate。　They　all　noted　his　resemblance　in　speech　and　manner　to　the　Don。　In　some　curious　way　he　inspired　the　same　respect；　the　same　awe；　and　yet　he　was　perfectly　natural；　at　pains　to　put　everyone　at　their　ease。　Hagen　as　usual　remained　in　the　background。　The　new　man　they　did　not　know；　Albert　Neri　was　also　very　quiet　and　unobtrusive。　He　had　claimed　he　was　not　hungry　and　sat　in　an　armchair　close　to　the　door　reading　a　local　newspaper。
　
　After　they　had　had　a　few　drinks　and　food；　the　waiters　were　dismissed。　Michael　spoke　to　Johnny　Fontane。　〃Hear　your　voice　is　back　as　good　as　ever；　you　got　all　your　old　fans　back。　Congratulations。〃
　
　〃Thanks；〃　Johnny　said。　He　was　curious　about　exactly　why　Michael　wanted　to　see　him。　What　favor　would　he　be　asked？
　
　Michael　addressed　them　all　in　general。　〃The　Corleone　Family　is　thinking　of　moving　out　here　to　Vegas。　Selling　out　all　our　interests　in　the　olive　oil　business　and　settling　here。　The　Don　and　Hagen　and　myself　have　talked　it　over　and　we　think　here　is　where　the　future　is　for　the　Family。　That　doesn't　mean　right　now　or　next　year。　It　may　take　two；　three；　even　four　years　to　get　things　squared　away。　But　that's　the　general　plan。　Some　friends　of　ours　own　a　good　percentage　of　this　hotel　and　casino　so　that　will　be　our　foundation。　Moe　Greene　will　sell　us　his　interest　so　it　can　be　wholly　owned　by　friends　of　the　Family。〃
　
　Freddie's　moon　face　was　anxious。　〃Mike；　you　sure　about　Moe　Greene　selling？　He　never　mentioned　it　to　me　and　he　loves　the　business。　I　really　don't　think　he'll　sell。〃
　
　Michael　said　quietly；　〃I'll　make　him　an　offer　he　can't　refuse。〃
　
　The　words　were　said　in　an　ordinary　voice；　yet　the　effect　was　chilling；　perhaps　because　it　was　a　favorite　phrase　of　the　Don's。　Michael　turned　to　Johnny　Fontane。　〃The　Don　is　counting　on　you　to　help　us　get　started。　It's　been　explained　to　us　that　entertainment　will　be　the　big　factor　in　drawing　gamblers。　We　hope　you'll　sign　a　contract　to　appear　five　times　a　year　for　maybe　a　week…long　engagement。　We　hope　your　friends　in　movies　do　the　same。　You've　done　them　a　lot　of　favors；　now　you　can　call　them　in。〃
　
　〃Sure；〃　Johnny　said。　〃I'll　do　anything　for　my　Godfather；　you　know　that；　Mike。〃　But　there　was　just　the　faint　shadow　of　doubt　in　his　voice。
　
　Michael　smiled　and　said；　〃You　won't　lose　money　on　the　deal　and　neither　will　your　friends。　You　get　points　in　the　hotel；　and　if　there's　somebody　else　you　think　important　enough；　they　get　some　points　too。　Maybe　you　don't　believe　me；　so　let　me　say　I'm　speaking　the　Don's　words。〃
　
　Johnny　said　hurriedly；　〃I　believe　you；　Mike。　But　there's　ten　more　hotels　and　casinos　being　built　on　the　Str