mp.godfather-第7节

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s　arm　around　her　as　others　came　up　to　greet　him。　They　were　all　his　old　friends；　people　he　had　grown　up　with　on　the　West　Side。　Then　Connie　was　dragging　him　to　her　new　husband。　Johnny　saw　with　amusement　that　the　blond　young　man　looked　a　little　sour　at　no　longer　being　the　star　of　the　day。　He　turned　on　all　his　charm；　shaking　the　groom's　hand；　toasting　him　with　a　glass　of　wine。
　
　A　familiar　voice　called　from　the　bandstand；　〃How　about　giving　us　a　song；　Johnny？〃　He　looked　up　and　saw　Nino　Valenti　smiling　down　at　him。　Johnny　Fontane　jumped　up　on　the　bandstand　and　threw　his　arms　around　Nino。　They　had　been　inseparable；　singing　together；　going　out　with　girls　together；　until　Johnny　had　started　to　bee　famous　and　sing　on　the　radio。　When　he　had　gone　to　Hollywood　to　make　movies　Johnny　had　phoned　Nino　a　couple　of　times　just　to　talk　and　had　promised　to　get　him　a　club　singing　date。　But　he　had　never　done　so。　Seeing　Nino　now；　his　cheerful；　mocking；　drunken　grin；　all　the　affection　returned。
　
　Nino　began　strumming　on　the　mandolin。　Johnny　Fontane　put　his　hand　on　Nino's　shoulder。　〃This　is　for　the　bride；〃　he　said；　and　stamping　his　foot；　chanted　the　words　to　an　obscene　Sicilian　love　song。　As　he　sang；　Nino　made　suggestive　motions　with　his　body。　The　bride　blushed　proudly；　the　throng　of　guests　roared　its　approval。　Before　the　song　ended　they　were　all　stamping　with　their　feet　and　roaring　out　the　sly；　double…meaning　tag　line　that　finished　each　stanza。　At　the　end　they　would　not　stop　applauding　until　Johnny　cleared　his　throat　to　sing　another　song。
　
　They　were　all　proud　of　him。　He　was　of　them　and　he　had　bee　a　famous　singer；　a　movie　star　who　slept　with　the　most　desired　women　in　the　world。　And　yet　he　had　shown　proper　respect　for　his　Godfather　by　traveling　three　thousand　miles　to　attend　this　wedding。　He　still　loved　old　friends　like　Nino　Valenti。　Many　of　the　people　there　had　seen　Johnny　and　Nino　singing　together　when　they　were　just　boys；　when　no　one　dreamed　that　Johnny　Fontane　would　grow　up　to　hold　the　hearts　of　fifty　million　women　in　his　hands。
　
　Johnny　Fontane　reached　down　and　lifted　the　bride　up　onto　the　bandstand　so　that　Connie　stood　between　him　and　Nino。　Both　men　crouched　down；　facing　each　other；　Nino　plucking　the　mandolin　for　a　few　harsh　chords。　It　was　an　old　routine　of　theirs；　a　mock　battle　and　wooing；　using　their　voices　like　swords；　each　shouting　a　chorus　in　turn。　With　the　most　delicate　courtesy；　Johnny　let　Nino's　voice　overwhelm　his　own；　let　Nino　take　the　bride　from　his　arm；　let　Nino　swing　into　the　last　victorious　stanza　while　his　own　voice　died　away。　The　whole　wedding　party　broke　into　shouts　of　applause；　the　three　of　them　embraced　each　other　at　the　end。　The　guests　begged　for　another　song。
　
　Only　Don　Corleone；　standing　in　the　corner　entrance　of　the　house；　sensed　something　amiss。　Cheerily；　with　bluff　good　humor；　careful　not　to　give　offense　to　his　guests；　he　called　out；　〃My　godson　has　e　three　thousand　miles　to　do　us　honor　and　no　one　thinks　to　wet　his　throat？〃　At　once　a　dozen　full　wineglasses　were　thrust　at　Johnny　Fontane。　He　took　a　sip　from　all　and　rushed　to　embrace　his　Godfather。　As　he　did　so　he　whispered　something　into　the　older　man's　ear。　Don　Corleone　led　him　into　the　house。
　
　Tom　Hagen　held　out　his　hand　when　Johnny　came　into　the　room。　Johnny　shook　it　and　said；　〃How　are　you；　Tom？〃　But　without　his　usual　charm　that　consisted　of　a　genuine　warmth　for　people。　Hagen　was　a　little　hurt　by　this　coolness　but　shrugged　it　off。　It　was　one　of　the　penalties　for　being　the　Don's　hatchet　man。
　
　Johnny　Fontane　said　to　the　Don；　〃When　I　got　the　wedding　invitation　I　said　to　myself；　'My　Godfather　isn't　mad　at　me　anymore。'　I　called　you　five　times　after　my　divorce　and　Tom　always　told　me　you　were　out　or　busy　so　I　knew　you　were　sore。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　was　filling　glasses　from　the　yellow　bottle　of　Strega。　〃That's　all　forgotten。　Now。　Can　I　do　something　for　you　still？　You're　not　too　famous；　too　rich；　that　I　can't　help　you？〃
　
　Johnny　gulped　down　the　yellow　fiery　liquid　and　held　out　his　glass　to　be　refilled。　He　tried　to　sound　jaunty。　〃I'm　not　rich；　Godfather。　I'm　going　down。　You　were　right。　I　should　never　have　left　my　wife　and　kids　for　that　tramp　I　married。　I　don't　blame　you　for　getting　sore　at　me。〃
　
　The　Don　shrugged。　〃I　worried　about　you；　you're　my　godson；　that's　all。〃
　
　Johnny　paced　up　and　down　the　room。　〃I　was　crazy　about　that　bitch。　The　biggest　star　in　Hollywood。　She　looks　like　an　angel。　And　you　know　what　she　does　after　a　picture？　If　the　makeup　man　does　a　good　job　on　her　face；　she　lets　him　bang　her。　If　the　cameraman　made　her　look　extra　good；　she　brings　him　into　her　dressing　room　and　gives　him　a　screw。　Anybody。　She　uses　her　body　like　I　use　the　loose　change　in　my　pocket　for　a　tip。　A　whore　made　for　the　devil。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　curtly　broke　in。　〃How　is　your　family？〃
　
　Johnny　sighed。　〃I　took　care　of　them。　After　the　divorce　I　gave　Ginny　and　the　kids　more　than　the　courts　said　I　should。　I　go　see　them　once　a　week。　I　miss　them。　Sometimes　I　think　I'm　going　crazy。〃　He　took　another　drink。　〃Now　my　second　wife　laughs　at　me。　She　can't　understand　my　being　jealous。　She　calls　me　an　old…fashioned　guinea；　she　makes　fun　of　my　singing。　Before　I　left　I　gave　her　a　nice　beating　but　not　in　the　face　because　she　was　making　a　picture。　I　gave　her　cramps；　I　punched　her　on　the　arms　and　legs　like　a　kid　and　she　kept　laughing　at　me。〃　He　lit　a　cigarette。　〃So；　Godfather；　right　now；　life　doesn't　seem　worth　living。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　said　simply。　〃These　are　troubles　I　can't　help　you　with。〃　He　paused；　then　asked；　〃What's　the　matter　with　your　voice？〃
　
　All　the　assured　charm；　the　self…mockery；　disappeared　from　Johnny　Fontane's　face。　He　said　almost　brokenly；　〃Godfather；　I　can't　sing　anymore；　something　happened　to　my　throat；　the　doctors　don't　know　what。〃　Hagen　and　the　Don　looked　at　him　with　surprise；　Johnny　had　always　been　so　tough。　Fontane　went　on。　〃My　two　pictures　made　a　lot　of　money。　I　was　a　big　star。　Now　they　throw　me　out。　The　head　of　the　studio　always　hated　my　guts　and　now　he's　paying　me　off。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　stood　before　his　godson　and　asked　grimly；　〃Why　doesn't　this　man　like　you？〃
　
　〃I　used　to　sing　those　songs　for　the　liberal　organizations；　you　know；　all　that　stuff　you　never　liked　me　to　do。　Well；　Jack　Woltz　didn't　like　it　either。　He　called　me　a　munist；　but　he　couldn't　make　it　stick。　Then　I　snatched　a　girl　he　had　saved　for　himself。　It　was　strictly　a　one…night　stand　and　she　came　after　me。　What　the　hell　could　I　do？　Then　my　whore　second　wife　throws　me　out。　And　Ginny　and　the　kids　won't　take　me　back　unless　I　e　crawling　on　my　hands　and　knees；　and　I　can't　sing　anymore。　Godfather；　what　the　hell　can　I　do？〃
　
　Don　Corleone's　face　had　bee　cold　without　a　hint　of　sympathy。　He　said　contemptuously；　〃You　can　start　by　acting　like　a　man。〃　Suddenly　anger　contorted　his　face。　He　shouted。　〃LIKE　A　MAN！〃　He　reached　over　the　desk　and　grabbed　Johnny　Fontane　by　the　hair　of　his　head　in　a　gesture　that　was　savagely　affectionate。　〃By　Christ　in　heaven；　is　it　possible　that　you　spent　so　much　time　in　my　presence　and　turned　out　no　better　than　this？　A　Hollywood　finocchio　who　weeps　and　begs　for　pity？　Who　cries　out　like　a　woman…　'What　shall　I　do？　Oh；　what　shall　I　do？〃'
　
　The　mimicry　of　the　Don　was　so　extraordinary；　so　unexpected；　that　Hagen　and　Johnny　were　startled　into　laughter。　Don　Corleone　was　pleased。　For　a　moment　he　reflected　on　how　much　he　loved　this　godson。　How　would　his　own　three　sons　have　reacted　to　such　a　tongue…lashing？　Santino　would　have　sulked　and　behaved　badly　for　weeks　afterward。　Fredo　would　have　been　cowed。　Michael　would　have　given　him　a　cold　smile　and　gone　out　of　the　house；　not　to　be　seen　for　months。　But　Johnny；　ah；　what　a　fine　chap　he　was；　smiling　now；　gathering　strength；　knowing　already　the　true　purpose　of　his　Godfather。
　
　Don　Corleone　went　on。　〃You　took　the　woman　of　your　boss；　a　man　more　powerful　than　yourself；　then　you　plain　he　won't　help　you。　What　nonsense。　You　left　your　family；　your　children　without　a　father；　to　marry　a　whore　and　you　weep　because　they　don't　wele　you　back　with　open　arms。　The　whore；　you　don't　hit　her　in　the　face　because　she　is　making　a　picture；　then　you　are　amazed　because　she　laughs　at　you。　You　lived　like　a　fool　and　you　have　e　to　a　fool's　end。〃
　
　Don　Corleone　paused　to　ask　in　a　patient　voice；　〃Are　you　willing　to　take　my　advice　this　time？〃
　
　Johnny　Fontane　shrugged。　〃I　can't　marry　Ginny　again；　not　the　way　she　wants。　I　have　to　gamble；　I　have　to　drink；　I　have　to　go　out　with　the　boys。　Beautiful　broads　run　after　me　and　I　never　could　resist　them。　Then　I　used　to　feel　like　a　heel　when　I　went　back　to　Ginny。　Christ；　I　can't　go　through　all　that　crap　again。〃
　
　It　was　rare　that　Don　Corleone　showed　exasperation。　〃I　didn't　tell　you　to　get　married　again。　Do　what　you　want。　It's　good　you　wish　to　be　a　father　to　your　children。　A　man　who　is　not　a　father　to　his　children　can　never　be　a　real　man。　But　then；　you　must　make　their　mother　accept　you。　Who　says　you　can't　see　them　every　day？　Who　says　you　can't　live　in　the　same　house？　Who　says　you　can't　live　your　life　exactly　as　you　want　to　live　it？〃
　
　Johnny　Fontane　laughed。　〃Godfather；　not　all　women　are　like　the　old　Italian　wives。　Ginny　won't　stand　for　it。〃
　
　Now　the　Don　was　mocking。　〃Because　you　acted