mp.godfather-第1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！


　
　Book　One
　
　Chapter　01
　
　Behind　every　great　fortune　there　is　a　crime。
　BALZAC
　Amerigo　Bonasera　sat　in　New　York　Criminal　Court　Number　3　and　waited　for　justice；　vengeance　on　the　men　who　had　so　cruelly　hurt　his　daughter；　who　had　tried　to　dishonor　her。
　
　The　judge；　a　formidably　heavy…featured　man；　rolled　up　the　sleeves　of　his　black　robe　as　if　to　physically　chastise　the　two　young　men　standing　before　the　bench。　His　face　was　cold　with　majestic　contempt。　But　there　was　something　false　in　all　this　that　Amerigo　Bonasera　sensed　but　did　not　yet　understand。
　
　〃You　acted　like　the　worst　kind　of　degenerates；〃　the　judge　said　harshly。　Yes；　yes；　thought　Amerigo　Bonasera。　Animals。　Animals。　The　two　young　men；　glossy　hair　crew　cut；　scrubbed　clean…cut　faces　posed　into　humble　contrition；　bowed　their　heads　in　submission。
　
　The　judge　went　on。　〃You　acted　like　wild　beasts　in　a　jungle　and　you　are　fortunate　you　did　not　sexually　molest　that　poor　girl　or　I'd　put　you　behind　bars　for　twenty　years。〃　The　judge　paused；　his　eyes　beneath　impressively　thick　brows　flickered　slyly　toward　the　sallow…faced　Amerigo　Bonasera；　then　lowered　to　a　stack　of　probation　reports　before　him。　He　frowned　and　shrugged　as　if　convinced　against　his　own　natural　desire。　He　spoke　again。
　
　〃But　because　of　your　youth；　your　clean　records；　because　of　your　fine　families；　and　because　the　law　in　its　majesty　does　not　seek　vengeance；　I　hereby　sentence　you　to　three　years'　confinement　to　the　penitentiary。　Sentence　to　be　suspended。〃
　
　Only　forty　years　of　professional　mourning　kept　the　overwhelming　frustration　and　hatred　from　showing　on　Amerigo　Bonasera's　face。　His　beautiful　young　daughter　was　still　in　the　hospital　with　her　broken　jaw　wired　together；　and　now　these　two　animales　went　free？　It　had　all　been　a　farce。　He　watched　the　happy　parents　cluster　around　their　darling　sons。　Oh；　they　were　all　happy　now；　they　were　smiling　now。
　
　The　black　bile；　sourly　bitter；　rose　in　Bonasera's　throat；　overflowed　through　tightly　clenched　teeth。　He　used　his　white　linen　pocket　handkerchief　and　held　it　against　his　lips。　He　was　standing　so　when　the　two　young　men　strode　freely　up　the　aisle；　confident　and　cool…eyed；　smiling；　not　giving　him　so　much　as　a　glance。　He　let　them　pass　without　saying　a　word；　pressing　the　fresh　linen　against　his　mouth。
　
　The　parents　of　the　animales　were　ing　by　now；　two　men　and　two　women　his　age　but　more　American　in　their　dress。　They　glanced　at　him；　shamefaced；　yet　in　their　eyes　was　an　odd；　triumphant　defiance。
　
　Out　of　control；　Bonasera　leaned　forward　toward　the　aisle　and　shouted　hoarsely；　〃You　will　weep　as　I　have　wept…　I　will　make　you　weep　as　your　children　make　me　weep〃…　the　linen　at　his　eyes　now。　The　defense　attorneys　bringing　up　the　rear　swept　their　clients　forward　in　a　tight　little　band；　enveloping　the　two　young　men；　who　had　started　back　down　the　aisle　as　if　to　protect　their　parents。　A　huge　bailiff　moved　quickly　to　block　the　row　in　which　Bonasera　stood。　But　it　was　not　necessary。
　
　All　his　years　in　America；　Amerigo　Bonasera　had　trusted　in　law　and　order。　And　he　had　prospered　thereby。　Now；　though　his　brain　smoked　with　hatred；　though　wild　visions　of　buying　a　gun　and　killing　the　two　young　men　jangled　the　very　bones　of　his　skull；　Bonasera　turned　to　his　still　unprehending　wife　and　explained　to　her；　〃They　have　made　fools　of　us。〃　He　paused　and　then　made　his　decision；　no　longer　fearing　the　cost。　〃For　justice　we　must　go　on　our　knees　to　Don　Corleone。〃
　
　**********
　
　In　a　garishly　decorated　Los　Angeles　hotel　suite；　Johnny　Fontane　was　as　jealously　drunk　as　any　ordinary　husband。　Sprawled　on　a　red　couch；　he　drank　straight　from　the　bottle　of　scotch　in　his　hand；　then　washed　the　taste　away　by　dunking　his　mouth　in　a　crystal　bucket　of　ice　cubes　and　water。　It　was　four　in　the　morning　and　he　was　spinning　drunken　fantasies　of　murdering　his　trampy　wife　when　she　got　home。　If　she　ever　did　e　home。　It　was　too　late　to　call　his　first　wife　and　ask　about　the　kids　and　he　felt　funny　about　calling　any　of　his　friends　now　that　his　career　was　plunging　downhill。　There　had　been　a　time　when　they　would　have　been　delighted；　flattered　by　his　calling　them　at　four　in　the　morning　but　now　he　bored　them。　He　could　even　smile　a　little　to　himself　as　he　thought　that　on　the　way　up　Johnny　Fontane's　troubles　had　fascinated　some　of　the　greatest　female　stars　in　America。
　
　Gulping　at　his　bottle　of　scotch；　he　heard　finally　his　wife's　key　in　the　door；　but　he　kept　drinking　until　she　walked　into　the　room　and　stood　before　him。　She　was　to　him　so　very　beautiful；　the　angelic　face；　soulful　violet　eyes；　the　delicately　fragile　but　perfectly　formed　body。　On　the　screen　her　beauty　was　magnified；　spiritualized。　A　hundred　million　men　all　over　the　world　were　in　love　with　the　face　of　Margot　Ashton。　And　paid　to　see　it　on　the　screen。
　
　〃Where　the　hell　were　you？〃　Johnny　Fontane　asked。
　
　〃Out　fucking；〃　she　said。
　
　She　had　misjudged　his　drunkenness。　He　sprang　over　the　cocktail　table　and　grabbed　her　by　the　throat。　But　close　up　to　that　magical　face；　the　lovely　violet　eyes；　he　lost　his　anger　and　became　helpless　again。　She　made　the　mistake　of　smiling　mockingly；　saw　his　fist　draw　back。　She　screamed；　〃Johnny；　not　in　the　face；　I'm　making　a　picture。〃
　
　She　was　laughing。　He　punched　her　in　the　stomach　and　she　fell　to　the　floor。　He　fell　on　top　of　her。　He　could　smell　her　fragrant　breath　as　she　gasped　for　air。　He　punched　her　on　the　arms　and　on　the　thigh　muscles　of　her　silky　tanned　legs。　He　beat　her　as　he　had　beaten　snotty　smaller　kids　long　ago　when　he　had　been　a　tough　teenager　in　New　York's　Hell's　Kitchen。　A　painful　punishment　that　would　leave　no　lasting　disfigurement　of　loosened　teeth　or　broken　nose。
　
　But　he　was　not　hitting　her　hard　enough。　He　couldn't。　And　she　was　giggling　at　him。　Spread…eagled　on　the　floor；　her　brocaded　gown　hitched　up　above　her　thighs；　she　taunted　him　between　giggles。　〃e　on；　stick　it　in。　Stick　it　in；　Johnny；　that's　what　you　really　want。〃
　
　Johnny　Fontane　got　up。　He　hated　the　woman　on　the　floor　but　her　beauty　was　a　magic　shield。　Margot　rolled　away；　and　in　a　dancer's　spring　was　on　her　feet　facing　him。　She　went　into　a　childish　mocking　dance　and　chanted；　〃Johnny　never　hurt　me；　Johnny　never　hurt　me。〃　Then　almost　sadly　with　grave　beauty　she　said；　〃You　poor　silly　bastard；　giving　me　cramps　like　a　kid。　Ah；　Johnny；　you　always　will　be　a　dumb　romantic　guinea；　you　even　make　love　like　a　kid。　You　still　think　screwing　is　really　like　those　dopey　songs　you　used　to　sing。〃　She　shook　her　head　and　said；　〃Poor　Johnny。　Goodbye；　Johnny。〃　She　walked　into　the　bedroom　and　he　heard　her　turn　the　key　in　the　lock。
　
　Johnny　sat　on　the　floor　with　his　face　in　his　hands。　The　sick；　humiliating　despair　overwhelmed　him。　And　then　the　gutter　toughness　that　had　helped　him　survive　the　jungle　of　Hollywood　made　him　pick　up　the　phone　and　call　for　a　car　to　take　him　to　the　airport。　There　was　one　person　who　could　save　him。　He　would　go　back　to　New　York。　He　would　go　back　to　the　one　man　with　the　power；　the　wisdom　he　needed　and　a　love　he　still　trusted。　His　Godfather　Corleone。
　
　**********
　
　The　baker；　Nazorine；　pudgy　and　crusty　as　his　great　Italian　loaves；　still　dusty　with　flour；　scowled　at　his　wife；　his　nubile　daughter；　Katherine；　and　his　baker's　helper；　Enzo。　Enzo　had　changed　into　his　prisoner…of…war　uniform　with　its　green…lettered　armband　and　was　terrified　that　this　scene　would　make　him　late　reporting　back　to　Governor's　Island。　One　of　the　many　thousands　of　Italian　Army　prisoners　paroled　daily　to　work　in　the　American　economy；　he　lived　in　constant　fear　of　that　parole　being　revoked。　And　so　the　little　edy　being　played　now　was；　for　him；　a　serious　business。
　
　Nazorine　asked　fiercely；　〃Have　you　dishonored　my　family？　Have　you　given　my　daughter　a　little　package　to　remember　you　by　now　that　the　war　is　over　and　you　know　America　will　kick　your　ass　back　to　your　village　full　of　shit　in　Sicily？〃
　
　Enzo；　a　very　short；　strongly　built　boy；　put　his　hand　over　his　heart　and　said　almost　in　tears；　yet　cleverly；　〃Padrone；　I　swear　by　the　Holy　Virgin　I　have　never　taken　advantage　of　your　kindness。　I　love　your　daughter　with　all　respect。　I　ask　for　her　hand　with　all　respect。　I　know　I　have　no　right；　but　if　they　send　me　back　to　Italy　I　can　never　e　back　to　America。　I　will　never　be　able　to　marry　Katherine。〃
　
　Nazorine's　wife；　Filomena；　spoke　to　the　point。　〃Stop　all　this　foolishness；〃　she　said　to　her　pudgy　husband。　〃You　know　what　you　must　do。　Keep　Enzo　here；　send　him　to　hide　with　our　cousins　in　Long　Island。〃
　
　Katherine　was　weeping。　She　was　already　plump；　homely　and　sprouting　a　faint　moustache。　She　would　never　get　a　husband　as　handsome　as　Enzo；　never　find　another　man　who　touched　her　body　in　secret　places　with　such　respectful　love。　〃I'll　go　and　live　in　Italy；〃　she　screamed　at　her　father。　〃I'll　run　away　if　you　don't　keep　Enzo　here。〃
　
　Nazorine　glanced　at　her　shrewdly。　She　was　a　〃hot　number〃　this　daughter　of　his。　He　had　seen　her　brush　her　swelling　buttocks　against　Enzo's　front　when　the　baker's　helper　squeezed　behind　her　to　fill　the　counter　baskets　with　hot　loaves　from　the　oven。　The　young　rascal's　hot　loaf　would　be　in　her　oven；　Nazorine　thought　lewdly；　if　proper　steps　were　not　taken。　Enzo　must　be　kept　in　America　and　be　made　an