mp.godfather-第55节

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tice　of　her　weeping；　and　Kay　realized　that　her　father　must　have　told　her　about　the　two　detectives。　She　sat　down　at　her　place　and　her　mother　served　her　silently。　When　all　three　were　at　the　table　her　father　said　grace　with　bowed　head。
　
　Mrs。　Adams　was　a　short　stout　woman　always　neatly　dressed；　hair　always　set。　Kay　had　never　seen　her　in　disarray。　Her　mother　too　had　always　been　a　little　disinterested　in　her；　holding　her　at　arm's　length。　And　she　did　so　now。　〃Kay；　stop　being　so　dramatic。　I'm　sure　it's　all　a　great　deal　of　fuss　about　nothing　at　all。　After　all；　the　boy　was　a　Dartmouth　boy；　he　couldn't　possibly　be　mixed　up　in　anything　so　sordid。〃
　
　Kay　looked　up　in　surprise。　〃How　did　you　know　Mike　went　to　Dartmouth？〃
　
　Her　mother　said　placently；　〃You　young　people　are　so　mysterious；　you　think　you're　so　clever。　We've　known　about　him　all　along；　but　of　course　we　couldn't　bring　it　up　until　you　did。〃
　
　〃But　how　did　you　know？〃　Kay　asked。　She　still　couldn't　face　her　father　now　that　he　knew　about　her　and　Mike　sleeping　together。　So　she　didn't　see　the　smile　on　his　face　when　he　said；　〃We　opened　your　mail；　of　course。〃
　
　Kay　was　horrified　and　angry。　Now　she　could　face　him。　What　he　had　done　was　more　shameful　than　her　own　sin。　She　could　never　believe　it　of　him。　〃Father；　you　didn't；　you　couldn't　have。〃
　
　Mr。　Adams　smiled　at　her。　〃I　debated　which　was　the　greater　sin；　opening　your　mail；　or　going　in　ignorance　of　some　hazard　my　only　child　might　be　incurring。　The　choice　was　simple；　and　virtuous。〃
　
　Mrs。　Adams　said　between　mouthfuls　of　boiled　chicken；　〃After　all；　my　dear；　you　are　terribly　innocent　for　your　age。　We　had　to　be　aware。　And　you　never　spoke　about　him。〃
　
　For　the　first　time　Kay　was　grateful　that　Michael　was　never　affectionate　in　his　letters。　She　was　grateful　that　her　parents　hadn't　seen　some　of　her　letters。　〃I　never　told　you　about　him　because　I　thought　you'd　be　horrified　about　his　family。〃
　
　〃We　were；〃　Mr。　Adams　said　cheerfully。　〃By　the　way；　has　Michael　gotten　in　touch　with　you？〃
　
　Kay　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　believe　he's　guilty　of　anything。〃
　
　She　saw　her　parents　exchange　a　glance　over　the　table。　Then　Mr。　Adams　said　gently；　〃If　he's　not　guilty　and　he's　vanished；　then　perhaps　something　else　happened　to　him。〃
　
　At　first　Kay　didn't　understand。　Then　she　got　up　from　the　table　and　ran　to　her　room。
　
　**********
　
　Three　days　later　Kay　Adams　got　out　of　a　taxi　in　front　of　the　Corleone　mall　in　Long　Beach。　She　had　phoned；　she　was　expected。　Tom　Hagen　met　her　at　the　door　and　she　was　disappointed　that　it　was　him。　She　knew　he　would　tell　her　nothing。
　
　In　the　living　room　he　gave　her　a　drink。　She　had　seen　a　couple　of　other　men　lounging　around　the　house　but　not　Sonny。　She　asked　Tom　Hagen　directly；　〃Do　you　know　where　Mike　is？　Do　you　know　where　I　can　get　in　touch　with　him？〃
　
　Hagen　said　smoothly；　〃We　know　he's　all　right　but　we　don't　know　where　he　is　right　now。　When　he　heard　about　that　captain　being　shot　he　was　afraid　they'd　accuse　him。　So　he　just　decided　to　disappear。　He　told　me　he'd　get　in　touch　in　a　few　months。〃
　
　The　story　was　not　only　false　but　meant　to　be　seen　through；　he　was　giving　her　that　much。　〃Did　that　captain　really　break　his　jaw？〃　Kay　asked。
　
　〃I'm　afraid　that's　true；〃　Tom　said。　〃But　Mike　was　never　a　vindictive　man。　I'm　sure　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　what　happened。〃
　
　Kay　opened　her　purse　and　took　out　a　letter。　〃Will　you　deliver　this　to　him　if　he　gets　in　touch　with　you？〃
　
　Hagen　shook　his　head。　〃If　I　accepted　that　letter。　and　you　told　a　court　of　law　I　accepted　that　letter；　it　might　be　interpreted　as　my　having　knowledge　of　his　whereabouts。　Why　don't　you　just　wait　a　bit？　I'm　sure　Mike　will　get　in　touch。〃
　
　She　finished　her　drink　and　got　up　to　leave。　Hagen　escorted　her　to　the　hall　but　as　he　opened　the　door；　a　woman　came　in　from　outside。　A　short；　stout　woman　dressed　in　black。　Kay　recognized　her　as　Michael's　mother。　She　held　out　her　hand　and　said；　〃How　are　you；　Mrs。　Corleone？〃
　
　The　woman's　small　black　eyes　darted　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　the　wrinkled；　leathery；　olive　skinned　face　broke　into　a　small　curt　smile　of　greeting　that　was　yet　in　some　curious　way　truly　friendly。　〃Ah；　you　Mikey's　little　girl；〃　Mrs。　Corleone　said。　She　had　a　heavy　Italian　accent；　Kay　could　barely　understand　her。　〃You　eat　something？〃　Kay　said　no；　meaning　she　didn't　want　anything　to　eat；　but　Mrs。　Corleone　turned　furiously　on　Tom　Hagen　and　berated　him　in　Italian　ending　with；　〃You　don't　even　give　this　poor　girl　coffee；　you　disgrazia。〃　She　took　Kay　by　the　hand；　the　old　woman's　hand　surprisingly　warm　and　alive；　and　led　her　into　the　kitchen。　〃You　have　coffee　and　eat　something；　then　somebody　drive　you　home。　A　nice　girl　like　you；　I　don't　want　you　to　take　the　train。〃　She　made　Kay　sit　down　and　bustled　around　the　kitchen；　tearing　off　her　coat　and　hat　and　draping　them　over　a　chair。　In　a　few　seconds　there　was　bread　and　cheese　and　salami　on　the　table　and　coffee　perking　on　the　stove。
　
　Kay　said　timidly；　〃I　came　to　ask　about　Mike；　I　haven't　heard　from　him。　Mr。　Hagen　said　nobody　knows　where　he　is；　that　he'll　turn　up　in　a　little　while。〃
　
　Hagen　spoke　quickly；　〃That's　all　we　can　tell　her　now；　Ma。〃
　
　Mrs。　Corleone　gave　him　a　look　of　withering　contempt。　〃Now　you　gonna　tell　me　what　to　do？　My　husband　don't　tell　me　what　to　do；　God　have　mercy　on　him。〃　She　crossed　herself。
　
　〃Is　Mr。　Corleone　all　right？〃　Kay　asked。
　
　〃Fine；〃　Mrs。　Corleone　said。　〃Fine。　He's　getting　old；　he's　getting　foolish　to　let　something　like　that　happen。〃　She　tapped　her　head　disrespectfully。　She　poured　the　coffee　and　forced　Kay　to　eat　some　bread　and　cheese。
　
　After　they　drank　their　coffee　Mrs。　Corleone　took　one　of　Kay's　hands　in　her　two　brown　ones。　She　said　quietly；　〃Mikey　no　gonna　write　you；　you　no　gonna　hear　from　Mikey。　He　hide　two…　three　years。　Maybe　more；　maybe　much　more。　You　go　home　to　your　family　and　find　a　nice　young　fellow　and　get　married。〃
　
　Kay　took　the　letter　out　of　her　purse。　〃Will　you　send　this　to　him？〃
　
　The　old　lady　took　the　letter　and　patted　Kay　on　the　cheek。　〃Sure；　sure；〃　she　said。　Hagen　started　to　protest　and　she　screamed　at　him　in　Italian。　Then　she　led　Kay　to　the　door。　There　she　kissed　her　on　the　cheek　very　quickly　and　said；　〃You　forget　about　Mikey；　he　no　the　man　for　you　anymore。〃
　
　There　was　a　car　waiting　for　her　with　two　men　up　front。　They　drove　her　all　the　way　to　her　hotel　in　New　York　never　saying　a　word。　Neither　did　Kay。　She　was　trying　to　get　used　to　the　fact　that　the　young　man　she　had　loved　was　a　coldblooded　murderer。　And　that　she　had　been　told　by　the　most　unimpeachable　source：　his　mother。
　
　Chapter　16
　
　Carlo　Rizzi　was　punk　sore　at　the　world。　Once　married　into　the　Corleone　Family；　he'd　been　shunted　aside　with　a　small　bookmaker's　business　on　the　Upper　East　Side　of　Manhattan。　He'd　counted　on　one　of　the　houses　in　the　mall　on　Long　Beach；　he　knew　the　Don　could　move　retainer　families　out　when　he　pleased　and　he　had　been　sure　it　would　happen　and　he　would　be　on　the　inside　of　everything。　But　the　Don　wasn't　treating　him　right。　The　〃Great　Don；〃　he　thought　with　scorn。　An　old　Moustache　Pete　who'd　been　caught　out　on　the　street　by　gunmen　like　any　dumb　small…time　hood。　He　hoped　the　old　bastard　croaked。　Sonny　had　been　his　friend　once　and　if　Sonny　became　the　head　of　the　Family　maybe　he'd　get　a　break；　get　on　the　inside。
　
　He　watched　his　wife　pour　his　coffee。　Christ；　what　a　mess　she　turned　out　to　be。　Five　months　of　marriage　and　she　was　already　spreading；　besides　blowing　up。　Real　guinea　broads　all　these　Italians　in　the　East。
　
　He　reached　out　and　felt　Connie's　soft　spreading　buttocks。　She　smiled　at　him　and　he　said　contemptuously；　〃You　got　more　ham　than　a　hog。〃　It　pleased　him　to　see　the　hurt　look　on　her　face；　the　tears　springing　into　her　eyes。　She　might　be　a　daughter　of　the　Great　Don　but　she　was　his　wife；　she　was　his　property　now　and　he　could　treat　her　as　he　pleased。　It　made　him　feel　powerful　that　one　of　the　Corleones　was　his　doormat。
　
　He　had　started　her　off　just　right。　She　had　tried　to　keep　that　purse　full　of　money　presents　for　herself　and　he　had　given　her　a　nice　black　eye　and　taken　the　money　from　her。　Never　told　her　what　he'd　done　with　it；　either。　That　might　have　really　caused　some　trouble。　Even　now　he　felt　just　the　slightest　twinge　of　remorse。　Christ；　he'd　blown　nearly　fifteen　grand　on　the　track　and　show　girl　bimbos。
　
　He　could　feel　Connie　watching　his　back　and　so　he　flexed　his　muscles　as　he　reached　for　the　plate　of　sweet　buns　on　the　other　side　of　the　table。　He'd　just　polished　off　ham　and　eggs　but　he　was　a　big　man　and　needed　a　big　breakfast。　He　was　pleased　with　the　picture　he　knew　he　presented　to　his　wife。　Not　the　usual　greasy　dark　guinzo　husband　but　crew…cut　blond；　huge　golden…haired　forearms　and　broad　shoulders　and　thin　waist。　And　he　knew　he　was　physically　stronger　than　any　of　those　so…called　hard　guys　that　worked　for　the　family。　Guys　like　Clemenza；　Tessio；　Rocco　Lampone；　and　that　guy　Paulie　that　somebody　had　knocked　off。　He　wondered　what　the　story　was　about　that。　Then　for　some　reason　he　thought　about　Sonny。　Man　to　man　he　could　take　Sonny；　he　thought；　even　though　Sonny　was　a　little　bigger　and　a　little　heavier。　But　what　scared　him　was　Sonny's　rep；　though　he　himself　had