152
need a friend who can guarantee that when my people get in trouble they won't spend
more than a year or two in jail. Then they won't talk. But if they get ten and twenty years,
who knows* In this world there are many weak individuals. They may talk, they may
jeopardize more important people (подвергнуть опасности, поставить в рискованное
положение ['dGep*daэz]). Legal protection is a must (/абсолютная/ необходимость). I
hear, Don Corleone, that you have as many judges in your pocket as a bootblack
(чистильщик сапог) has pieces of silver."
7 Don Corleone didn't bother to acknowledge the compliment (не подумал: «не
побеспокоился» показать, что ему приятен комплимент: «признать комплимент»).
"What percentage for my family*" he asked.
8 Sollozzo's eyes gleamed. "Fifty percent." He paused and then said in a voice that
was almost a caress (ласка), "In the first year your share (доля) would be three or four
million dollars. Then it would go up."
9 Don Corleone said, "And what is the percentage of the Tattaglia family*"
10 For the first time Sollozzo seemed to be nervous. "They will receive something from
my share. I need some help in the operations."
11 "So," Don Corleone said, "I receive fifty percent merely for finance and legal
protection. I have no worries about operations, is that what you tell me*"
12 Sollozzo nodded. "If you think two million dollars in cash is 'merely finance,' I
congratulate you, Don Corleone (поздравляю)."
1 Virgil "the Turk" Sollozzo was a powerfully built, medium-sized man of dark
complexion who could have been taken for a true Turk. He had a scimitar of a
nose and cruel black eyes. He also had an impressive dignity.
2 Sonny Corleone met him at the door and brought him into the office where
Hagen and the Don waited. Hagen thought he had never seen a more dangerous-
looking man except for Luca Brasi.
3 There were polite handshakings all around. If the Don ever asks me if this man
has balls, I would have to answer yes, Hagen thought. He had never seen such
force in one man, not even the Don. In fact the Don appeared at his worst. He was
being a little too simple, a little too peasantlike in his greeting.
4 Sollozzo came to the point immediately. The business was narcotics.
Everything was set up. Certain poppy fields in Turkey had pledged him certain
amounts every year. He had a protected plant in France to convert into morphine.
He had an absolutely secure plant in Sicily to process into heroin. Smuggling into
both countries was as positively safe as such matters could be. Entry into the
United States would entail about five percent losses since the FBI itself was
incorruptible, as they both knew. But the profits would be enormous, the risk
nonexistent.
5 "Then why do you come to me*" the Don asked politely. "How have I deserved
your generosity*"
6 Sollozzo's dark face remained impassive. "I need two million dollars cash," he
said. "Equally important, I need a man who has powerful friends in the important
places. Some of my couriers will be caught over the years. That is inevitable.
They will all have clean records, that I promise. So it will be logical for judges to
give light sentences. I need a friend who can guarantee that when my people get
in trouble they won't spend more than a year or two in jail. Then they won't talk.
But if they get ten and twenty years, who knows* In this world there are many
weak individuals. They may talk, they may jeopardize more important people.
Legal protection is a must. I hear, Don Corleone, that you have as many judges in
your pocket as a bootblack has pieces of silver."
7 Don Corleone didn't bother to acknowledge the compliment. "What percentage
for my family*" he asked.
8 Sollozzo's eyes gleamed. "Fifty percent." He paused and then said in a voice
that was almost a caress, "In the first year your share would be three or four
million dollars. Then it would go up."
9 Don Corleone said, "And what is the percentage of the Tattaglia family*"
10 For the first time Sollozzo seemed to be nervous. "They will receive
something from my share. I need some help in the operations."
11 "So," Don Corleone said, "I receive fifty percent merely for finance and legal
protection. I have no worries about operations, is that what you tell me*"
12 Sollozzo nodded. "If you think two million dollars in cash is 'merely finance,' I
congratulate you, Don Corleone."
1 The Don said quietly, "I consented to see you (согласился) out of my respect for the
Tattaglias and because I've heard you are a serious man to be treated also with respect
(с которым надо обращаться также уважительно). I must say no to you but I must
give you my reasons (причины, доводы). The profits in your business are huge but so
are the risks. Your operation, if I were part of it, could damage my other interests
(повредить, нанести ущерб ['dжmэdG]). It's true I have many, many friends in politics,
but they would not be so friendly if my business were narcotics instead of gambling.
They think gambling is something like liquor, a harmless vice (безобидный порок), and
they think narcotics a dirty business. No, don't protest. I'm telling you their thoughts, not
mine. How a man makes his living is not my concern (не моя забота). And what I am
telling you is that this business of yours is too risky. All the members of my family have
lived well the last ten years, without danger, without harm. I can't endanger them
(подвергнуть опасности) or their livelihoods (средства к жизни, заработки ['laэvlэhud])
out of greed (из жадности, алчности)."
2 The only sign of Sollozzo's disappointment (разочарования) was a quick flickering
of his eyes (быстрое движение = стрельнул глазами; to flicker – мигать; мелькнуть)
around the room, as if he hoped Hagen or Sonny would speak in his support (в его
поддержку). Then he said, "Are you worried about security for your two million
(волнуетесь за сохранность)*"
3 The Don smiled coldly. "No," he said.
4 Sollozzo tried again. "The Tattaglia family will guarantee your investment also."
5 It was then that Sonny Corleone made an unforgivable error (непростительную
ошибку) in judgment and procedure (в суждении и в ходе дела, в процедуре
[pr*’si:dG*]). He said eagerly («рьяно, оживленно, жадно»; eager – страстно
желающий /о человеке/; интенсивный, напряженный /о взгляде, жесте/), "The
Tattaglia family guarantees the return of our investment (возвращение нашего вклада)
without any percentage from us*"
6 Hagen was horrified at this break (был в ужасе от этого нарушения). He saw the
Don turn cold, malevolent eyes (злобные: «недоброжелательные» [m*’lev*l*nt]) on
his eldest son, who froze (застыл: «замерз, оледенел»; to freeze) in
uncomprehending dismay (в непонимающем испуге, смятении [dэs'meэ]). Sollozzo's
eyes flickered again but this time with satisfaction (с удовлетворением). He had
discovered a chink in the Don's fortress (обнаружил трещинку, разлом = брешь в
крепости). When the Don spoke his voice held a dismissal (по его голосу было
понятно, что разговор окончен; dismissal [dэs’mэs*l] – увольнение, отпуск, роспуск).
"Young people are greedy (жадные, алчные)," he said. "And today they have no
manners. They interrupt their elders (обрывают, перебивают старших). They meddle
(вмешиваются). But I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I have spoiled
them (избаловал). As you see. Signor Sollozzo, my no is final (окончательное). Let
me say that I myself wish you good fortune in your business. It has no conflict with my
own. I'm sorry that I had to disappoint you (что пришлось разочаровать)."
155
7 Sollozzo bowed (поклонился), shook the Don's hand and let Hagen take him to his
car outside. There was no expression on his face when he said good-bye to Hagen.
8 Back in the room, Don Corleone asked Hagen, "What did you think of that man*"
9 "He's a Sicilian," Hagen said dryly.
10 The Don nodded his head thoughtfully. Then he turned to his son and said gently,
"Santino, never let anyone outside the family know what you are thinking. Never let
them know what you have under your fingernails (под ногтями). I think your brain is
going soft (размягчился) from all that comedy you play with that young girl. Stop it and
pay attention to business. Now get out of my sight (уйди с глаз долой)."
11 Hagen saw the surprise on Sonny's face, then anger at his father's reproach
(упрек). Did he really think the Don would be ignorant of his conquest (не знает о его
победе, завоевании ['ko*kwest]), Hagen wondered. And did he really not know what a
dangerous mistake he had made this morning* If that were true, Hagen would never
wish to be the Consigliori to the Don of Santino Corleone.
12 Don Corleone waited until Sonny had left the room. Then he sank back into his
leather armchair and motioned brusquely for a drink (резким движением; brusque
[brusk] – отрывистый, резкий). Hagen poured him a glass of anisette (налил
анисового ликера; to pour [po:]). The Don looked up at him. "Send Luca Brasi to see
me," he said.
1 The Don said quietly, "I consented to see you out of my respect for the
Tattaglias and because I've heard you are a serious man to be treated also with
respect. I must say no to you but I must give you my reasons. The profits in your
business are huge but so are the risks. Your operation, if I were part of it, could
damage my other interests. It's true I have many, many friends in politics, but
they would not be so friendly if my business were narcotics instead of gambling.
They think gambling is something like liquor, a harmless vice, and they think
narcotics a dirty business. No, don't protest. I'm telling you their thoughts, not
mine. How a man makes his living is not my concern. And what I am telling you is
that this business of yours is too risky. All the members of my family have lived
well the last ten years, without danger, without harm. I can't endanger them or
their livelihoods out of greed."
2 The only sign of Sollozzo's disappointment was a quick flickering of his eyes
around the room, as if he hoped Hagen or Sonny would speak in his support.
Then he said, "Are you worried about security for your two million*"
3 The Don smiled coldly. "No," he said.
4 Sollozzo tried again. "The Tattaglia family will guarantee your investment
also."
5 It was then that Sonny Corleone made an unforgivable error in judgment and
procedure. He said eagerly, "The Tattaglia family guarantees the return of our
investment without any percentage from us*"
6 Hagen was horrified at this break. He saw the Don turn cold, malevolent eyes
on his eldest son, who froze in uncomprehending dismay. Sollozzo's eyes
flickered again but this time with satisfaction. He had discovered a chink in the
Don's fortress. When the Don spoke his voice held a dismissal. "Young people
are greedy," he said. "And today they have no manners. They interrupt their
elders. They meddle. But I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I
have spoiled them. As you see. Signor Sollozzo, my no is final. Let me say that I
myself wish you good fortune in your business. It has no conflict with my own.
I'm sorry that I had to disappoint you."
7 Sollozzo bowed, shook the Don's hand and let Hagen take him to his car
outside. There was no expression on his face when he said good-bye to Hagen.
8 Back in the room, Don Corleone asked Hagen, "What did you think of that
man*"
9 "He's a Sicilian," Hagen said dryly.
10 The Don nodded his head thoughtfully. Then he turned to his son and said
gently, "Santino, never let anyone outside the family know what you are thinking.
Never let them know what you have under your fingernails. I think your brain is
going soft from all that comedy you play with that young girl. Stop it and pay
attention to business. Now get out of my sight."
11 Hagen saw the surprise on Sonny's face, then anger at his father's reproach.
Did he really think the Don would be ignorant of his conquest, Hagen wondered.
And did he really not know what a dangerous mistake he had made this morning*
If that were true, Hagen would never wish to be the Consigliori to the Don of
Santino Corleone.
12 Don Corleone waited until Sonny had left the room. Then he sank back into
his leather armchair and motioned brusquely for a drink. Hagen poured him a
glass of anisette. The Don looked up at him. "Send Luca Brasi to see me," he said.
157
1 Three months later, Hagen hurried through the paper work in his city office hoping to
leave early enough for some Christmas shopping for his wife and children (для
Рождественских покупок). He was interrupted by a phone call from a Johnny Fontane
bubbling with high spirits («пузырящегося хорошим настроением»; bubble – пузырек).
The picture had been shot (снята), the rushes (первые отснятые эпизоды для
показа), whatever the hell they were (как будто я знаю, что это такое), Hagen thought,
were fabulous (сказочны ['fжbjul*s]). He was sending the Don a present for Christmas
that would knock his eyes out («выбьет его глаза» = поразит его), he'd bring it himself
but there were some little things to be done in the movie. He would have to stay out on
the Coast. Hagen tried to conceal his impatience (скрыть нетерпение = раздражение
[эm'peэ**ns]). Johnny Fontane's charm had always been lost on him (был потерян на
нем = он не был подвержен шарму Джонни). But his interest was aroused (разбужен,
пробудился). "What is it*" he asked. Johnny Fontane chuckled (хохотнул, издал
горловой, как бы захлебывающийся, смешок) and said, "I can't tell, that's the best
part of a Christmas present." Hagen immediately lost all interest and finally managed,
politely, to hang up (и наконец ему удалось вежливо повесить трубку).
2 Ten minutes later his secretary told him that Connie Corleone was on the phone and
wanted to speak to him. Hagen sighed. As a young girl Connie had been nice, as a
married woman she was a nuisance (досада, неприятность; надоедливый человек,
зануда ['nju:sns]). She made complaints about her husband (жаловалась). She kept
going home to visit her mother for two or three days. And Carlo Rizzi was turning out to
be a real loser (оказался: «оказывался» = становилось ясно, что он настоящий
неудачник, олух: «проигрывающий»). He had been fixed up with a nice little business
(ему устроили) and was running it into the ground (а он его разорял: «загонял в
землю»). He was also drinking, whoring around (блядовал вовсю), gambling and
beating his wife up (избивал; to beat up) occasionally (иногда, время от времени
[*'keэGn*lэ]; occasion [*'keэG*n] – случай, возможность). Connie hadn't told her family
about that but she had told Hagen. He wondered what new tale of woe (горестное
предание; woe [w*u] – горе, скорбь /поэт./) she had for him now.
3 But the Christmas spirit (дух = настроение Рождества) seemed to have cheered
her up (ободрил, развеселил). She just wanted to ask Hagen what her father would
really like for Christmas. And Sonny and Fred and Mike. She already knew what she
would get her mother. Hagen made some suggestions (предположений, советов; to
suggest [s*’dGest] – предлагать, советовать), all of which she rejected as silly
(отвергла: «отбросила» как глупые). Finally she let him go (отстала от него:
«отпустила его»).
4 When the phone rang again, Hagen threw his papers back into the basket (в
корзину ['bб:skэt]). The hell with it. He'd leave. It never occurred to him to refuse to take
the call, however (однако ему никогда не приходило в голову отказаться снять
трубку). When his secretary told him it was Michael Corleone he picked up the phone
with pleasure. He had always liked Mike.
5 "Tom," Michael Corleone said, "I'm driving down to the city with Kay tomorrow.
There's something important I want to tell the old man before Christmas. Will he be
home tomorrow night*"
6 "Sure," Hagen said. "He's not going out of town until after Christmas. Anything I can
do for you*"
7 Michael was as closemouthed as his father (неразговорчив). "No," he said. "I guess
I'll see you Christmas, everybody is going to be out at Long Beach, right*"
8 "Right," Hagen said. He was amused (удивлен и развеселен: «развлечен», его
позабавило; to amuse [*‘mju:z]) when Mike hung up on him without any small talk
(безо всякого «светского разговора» = разговора ради любезности).
9 He told his secretary to call his wife and tell her he would be home a little late but to
have some supper for him. Outside the building he walked briskly (живо, быстро)
downtown (в центр; downtown – деловая часть города) toward Macy's (название
торгового центра). Someone stepped in his way. To his surprise he saw it was
Sollozzo.
10 Sollozzo took him by the arm and said quietly, "Don't be frightened (не пугайтесь).
I just want to talk to you." A car parked at the curb (у бордюра, обочины) suddenly had
its door open. Sollozzo said urgently (настойчиво; urgent [‘*:dG*nt] – срочный,
неотложный, необходимый; настойчивый, добивающийся; to urge – подгонять,
подстегивать), "Get in, I want to talk to you."
11 Hagen pulled his arm loose (выдернул, высвободил руку). He was still not
alarmed (не встревожен), just irritated (просто раздражен, возмущен; to irritate [‘эrэteэt]
– возмущать, сердить). "I haven't got time," he said. At that moment two men came up
behind him. Hagen felt a sudden weakness in his legs. Sollozzo said softly, "Get in the
car. If I wanted to kill you you'd be dead now. Trust me."
12 Without a shred of trust («без крупицы доверия»; shred – клочок, кусочек) Hagen
got into the car.
1 Three months later, Hagen hurried through the paper work in his city office
hoping to leave early enough for some Christmas shopping for his wife and
children. He was interrupted by a phone call from a Johnny Fontane bubbling
with high spirits. The picture had been shot, the rushes, whatever the hell they
were, Hagen thought, were fabulous. He was sending the Don a present for
Christmas that would knock his eyes out, he'd bring it himself but there were
some little things to be done in the movie. He would have to stay out on the Coast.
Hagen tried to conceal his impatience. Johnny Fontane's charm had always been
lost on him. But his interest was aroused. "What is it*" he asked. Johnny Fontane
chuckled and said, "I can't tell, that's the best part of a Christmas present." Hagen
immediately lost all interest and finally managed, politely, to hang up.
2 Ten minutes later his secretary told him that Connie Corleone was on the
phone and wanted to speak to him. Hagen sighed. As a young girl Connie had
been nice, as a married woman she was a nuisance. She made complaints about
her husband. She kept going home to visit her mother for two or three days. And
Carlo Rizzi was turning out to be a real loser. He had been fixed up with a nice
little business and was running it into the ground. He was also drinking, whoring
around, gambling and beating his wife up occasionally. Connie hadn't told her
family about that but she had told Hagen. He wondered what new tale of woe she
had for him now.
3 But the Christmas spirit seemed to have cheered her up. She just wanted to
ask Hagen what her father would really like for Christmas. And Sonny and Fred
and Mike. She already knew what she would get her mother. Hagen made some
suggestions, all of which she rejected as silly. Finally she let him go.
4 When the phone rang again, Hagen threw his papers back into the basket. The
hell with it. He'd leave. It never occurred to him to refuse to take the call, however.
When his secretary told him it was Michael Corleone he picked up the phone with
pleasure. He had always liked Mike.
5 "Tom," Michael Corleone said, "I'm driving down to the city with Kay tomorrow.
There's something important I want to tell the old man before Christmas. Will he
be home tomorrow night*"
6 "Sure," Hagen said. "He's not going out of town until after Christmas. Anything
I can do for you*"
7 Michael was as closemouthed as his father. "No," he said. "I guess I'll see you
Christmas, everybody is going to be out at Long Beach, right*"
160
8 "Right," Hagen said. He was amused when Mike hung up on him without any
small talk.
9 He told his secretary to call his wife and tell her he would be home a little late
but to have some supper for him. Outside the building he walked briskly
downtown toward Macy's. Someone stepped in his way. To his surprise he saw it
was Sollozzo.
10 Sollozzo took him by the arm and said quietly, "Don't be frightened. I just
want to talk to you." A car parked at the curb suddenly had its door open.
Sollozzo said urgently, "Get in, I want to talk to you."
11 Hagen pulled his arm loose. He was still not alarmed, just irritated. "I haven't
got time," he said. At that moment two men came up behind him. Hagen felt a
sudden weakness in his legs. Sollozzo said softly, "Get in the car. If I wanted to
kill you you'd be dead now. Trust me."
12 Without a shred of trust Hagen got into the car.
1 Michael Corleone had lied to Hagen. He was already in New York, and he had called
from a room in the Hotel Pennsylvania less than ten blocks away. When he hung up the
phone, Kay Adams put out her cigarette and said, "Mike, what a good fibber you are
(враль, выдумщик)."
2 Michael sat down beside her on the bed. "All for you, honey; if I told my family we
were in town we'd have to go there right away. Then we couldn't go out to dinner, we
couldn't go to the theater, and we couldn't sleep together tonight. Not in my father's
house, not when we're not married." He put his arms around her and kissed her gently
on the lips. Her mouth was sweet and he gently pulled her down on the bed. She closed
her eyes, waiting for him to make love to her and Michael felt an enormous happiness.
He had spent the war years fighting in the Pacific, and on those bloody islands (на этих
окровавленных; проклятых островах) he had dreamed of a girl like Kay Adams. Of a
beauty like hers. A fair (прекрасное; светлое) and fragile (хрупкое ['frжdGaэl]) body,
milky-skinned and electrified by passion. She opened her eyes and then pulled his head
down to kiss him. They made love until it was time for dinner and the theater.
3 After dinner they walked past the brightly lit department stores full of holiday
shoppers and Michael said to her, "What shall I get you for Christmas*"
4 She pressed against him. "Just you," she said. "Do you think your father will approve
of me*"
5 Michael said gently, "That's not really the question. Will your parents approve of
me*"
6 Kay shrugged. "I don't care," she said.
7 Michael said, "I even thought of changing my name, legally, but if something
happened, that wouldn't really help. You sure you want to be a Corleone*" He said it
only half-jokingly.
8 "Yes," she said without smiling. They pressed against each other. They had decided
to get married during Christmas week, a quiet civil ceremony at City Hall with just two
friends as witnesses. But Michael had insisted he must tell his father. He had explained
that his father would not object in any way as long as it was not done in secrecy. Kay
was doubtful. She said she could not tell her parents until after the marriage. "Of course
they'll think I'm pregnant (беременна)," she said. Michael grinned. "So will my parents,"
he said.
9 What neither of them mentioned was the fact that Michael would have to cut his
close ties (порвать близкие связи) with his family. They both understood that Michael
had already done so to some extent (до определенной степени) and yet they both felt
guilty (виноватыми) about this fact.
10 They planned to finish college, seeing each other weekends and living together
during summer vacations. It seemed like a happy life.
11 The play was a musical called Carousel and its sentimental story of a braggart thief
(braggart – хвастун, хвастливый ['brжg*t]) made them smile at each other with
amusement. When they came out of the theater it had turned cold. Kay snuggled up to
him (прижалась) and said, "After we're married, will you beat me and then steal a star
for a present*"
12 Michael laughed. "I'm going to be a mathematics professor," he said. Then he
asked, "Do you want something to eat before we go to the hotel*"
13 Kay shook her head. She looked up at him meaningfully. As always he was
touched by her eagerness to make love. He smiled down at her, and they kissed in the
cold street. Michael felt hungry, and he decided to order sandwiches sent up to the
room.
14 In the hotel lobby (большой коридор, холл) Michael pushed Kay toward the
newsstand and said, "Get the papers while I get the key." He had to wait in a small line
(в очереди); the hotel was still short of help despite the end of the war. Michael got his
room key and looked around impatiently for Kay. She was standing by the newsstand,
staring down at a newspaper she held in her hand. He walked toward her. She looked
162
up at him. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Oh, Mike," she said, "oh, Mike." He took the
paper from her hands. The first thing he saw was a photo of his father lying in the street,
his head in a pool of blood (в луже крови). A man was sitting on the curb weeping like a
child. It was his brother Freddie. Michael Corleone felt his body turning to ice. There
was no grief, no fear, just cold rage. He said to Kay, "Go up to the room." But he had to
take her by the arm and lead her into the elevator. They rode up together in silence. In
their room, Michael sat down on the bed and opened the paper. The headlines said,
VITO CORLEONE SHOT. ALLEGED (предполагаемый) RACKET CHIEF CRITICALLY
WOUNDED. OPERATED ON UNDER HEAVY POLICE GUARD. BLOODY MOB WAR
FEARED (опасность гангстерской войны; mob – толпа, чернь; банда).
15 Michael felt the weakness in his legs. He said to Kay, "He's not dead, the bastards
didn't kill him." He read the story again. His father had been shot at five in the afternoon.
That meant that while he had been making love to Kay, having dinner, enjoying the
theater, his father was near death. Michael felt sick with guilt.
16 Kay said "Shall we go down to the hospital now*" Michael shook his head. "Let me
call the house first. The people who did this are crazy and now that the old man's still
alive they'l be desperate (в отчаянии, готовы на все /в своем безвыходном
положении/ ['desp*rэt]). Who the hell knows what they'll pull next (что они еще устроят,
сделают; to pull – тянуть)."
17 Both phones in the Long Beach house were busy and it was almost twenty minutes
before Michael could get through. He heard Sonny's voice saying, "Yeah."
18 "Sonny, it's me." Michael said.
19 He could hear the relief in Sonny's voice. "Jesus, kid, you had us worried. Where
the hell are you* I've sent people to that hick town of yours (hick – захолустный) to see
what happened."
20 "How's the old man*" Michael said. "How bad is he hurt*"
21 "Pretty bad," Sonny said. "They shot him five times. But he's tough. Sonny's voice
was proud. "The doctors said he'll pull through. Listen, kid, I'm busy, I can't talk, where
are you*"
22 "In New York," Michael said. "Didn't Tom tell you I was coming down*"
23 Sonny's voice dropped a little. "They've snatched Tom (сцапали, стащили). That's
why I was worried about you. His wife is here. She don't know and neither do the cops. I
don't want them to know. The bastards who pulled this must be crazy. I want you to get
out here right away and keep your mouth shut. OK*"
24 "OK," Mike said, "do you know who did it*"
163
25 "Sure," Sonny said. "And as soon as Luca Brasi checks in (объявится; to check in
– регистрироваться; отмечать приход на работу) they're gonna (= going to) be dead
meat. We still have all the horses."
26 "I'll be out in a hour," Mike said. "In a cab." He hung up. The papers had been on
the streets for over three hours. There must have been radio news reports. It was
almost impossible that Luca hadn't heard the news. Thoughtfully Michael pondered the
question (размышлял). Where was Luca Brasi* It was the same question that Hagen
was asking himself at that moment. It was the same question that was worrying Sonny
Corleone out in Long Beach.
1 Michael Corleone had lied to Hagen. He was already in New York, and he had
called from a room in the Hotel Pennsylvania less than ten blocks away. When he
hung up the phone, Kay Adams put out her cigarette and said, "Mike, what a good
fibber you are."
2 Michael sat down beside her on the bed. "All for you, honey; if I told my family
we were in town we'd have to go there right away. Then we couldn't go out to
dinner, we couldn't go to the theater, and we couldn't sleep together tonight. Not
in my father's house, not when we're not married." He put his arms around her
and kissed her gently on the lips. Her mouth was sweet and he gently pulled her
down on the bed. She closed her eyes, waiting for him to make love to her and
Michael felt an enormous happiness. He had spent the war years fighting in the
Pacific, and on those bloody islands he had dreamed of a girl like Kay Adams. Of
a beauty like hers. A fair and fragile body, milky-skinned and electrified by
passion. She opened her eyes and then pulled his head down to kiss him. They
made love until it was time for dinner and the theater.
3 After dinner they walked past the brightly lit department stores full of holiday
shoppers and Michael said to her, "What shall I get you for Christmas*"
4 She pressed against him. "Just you," she said. "Do you think your father will
approve of me*"
5 Michael said gently, "That's not really the question. Will your parents approve
of me*"
6 Kay shrugged. "I don't care," she said.
7 Michael said, "I even thought of changing my name, legally, but if something
happened, that wouldn't really help. You sure you want to be a Corleone*" He
said it only half-jokingly.
8 "Yes," she said without smiling. They pressed against each other. They had
decided to get married during Christmas week, a quiet civil ceremony at City Hall
with just two friends as witnesses. But Michael had insisted he must tell his
father. He had explained that his father would not object in any way as long as it
was not done in secrecy. Kay was doubtful. She said she could not tell her
parents until after the marriage. "Of course they'll think I'm pregnant," she said.
Michael grinned. "So will my parents," he said.
9 What neither of them mentioned was the fact that Michael would have to cut
his close ties with his family. They both understood that Michael had already
done so to some extent and yet they both felt guilty about this fact.
10 They planned to finish college, seeing each other weekends and living
together during summer vacations. It seemed like a happy life.
11 The play was a musical called Carousel and its sentimental story of a
braggart thief made them smile at each other with amusement. When they came
out of the theater it had turned cold. Kay snuggled up to him and said, "After
we're married, will you beat me and then steal a star for a present*"
12 Michael laughed. "I'm going to be a mathematics professor," he said. Then he
asked, "Do you want something to eat before we go to the hotel*"
13 Kay shook her head. She looked up at him meaningfully. As always he was
touched by her eagerness to make love. He smiled down at her, and they kissed
in the cold street. Michael felt hungry, and he decided to order sandwiches sent
up to the room.
14 In the hotel lobby Michael pushed Kay toward the newsstand and said, "Get
the papers while I get the key." He had to wait in a small line; the hotel was still
short of help despite the end of the war. Michael got his room key and looked
around impatiently for Kay. She was standing by the newsstand, staring down at
a newspaper she held in her hand. He walked toward her. She looked up at him.
Her eyes were filled with tears. "Oh, Mike," she said, "oh, Mike." He took the
paper from her hands. The first thing he saw was a photo of his father lying in the
street, his head in a pool of blood. A man was sitting on the curb weeping like a
child. It was his brother Freddie. Michael Corleone felt his body turning to ice.
There was no grief, no fear, just cold rage. He said to Kay, "Go up to the room."
But he had to take her by the arm and lead her into the elevator. They rode up
together in silence. In their room, Michael sat down on the bed and opened the
paper. The headlines said, VITO CORLEONE SHOT. ALLEGED RACKET CHIEF
CRITICALLY WOUNDED. OPERATED ON UNDER HEAVY POLICE GUARD.
BLOODY MOB WAR FEARED.
15 Michael felt the weakness in his legs. He said to Kay, "He's not dead, the
bastards didn't kill him." He read the story again. His father had heen shot at five
in the afternoon. That meant that while he had been making love to Kay, having
dinner, enjoying the theater, his father was near death. Michael felt sick with guilt.
16 Kay said "Shall we go down to the hospital now*" Michael shook his head.
"Let me call the house first. The people who did this are crazy and now that the
old man's still alive they'll be desperate. Who the hell knows what they'll pull
next."
17 Both phones in the Long Beach house were busy and it was almost twenty
minutes before Michael could get through. He heard Sonny's voice saying,
"Yeah."
18 "Sonny, it's me." Michael said.
19 He could hear the relief in Sonny's voice. "Jesus, kid, you had us worried.
Where the hell are you* I've sent people to that hick town of yours to see what
happened."
20 "How's the old man*" Michael said. "How bad is he hurt*"
21 "Pretty bad," Sonny said. "They shot him five times. But he's tough. Sonny's
voice was proud. "The doctors said he'll pull through. Listen, kid, I'm busy, I can't
talk, where are you*"
22 "In New York," Michael said. "Didn't Tom tell you I was coming down*"
23 Sonny's voice dropped a little. "They've snatched Tom. That's why I was
worried about you. His wife is here. She don't know and neither do the cops. I
don't want them to know. The bastards who pulled this must be crazy. I want you
to get out here right away and keep your mouth shut. OK*"
24 "OK," Mike said, "do you know who did it*"
25 "Sure," Sonny said. "And as soon as Luca Brasi checks in they're gonna be
dead meat. We still have all the horses."
26 "I'll be out in a hour," Mike said. "In a cab." He hung up. The papers had been
on the streets for over three hours. There must have been radio news reports. It
was almost impossible that Luca hadn't heard the news. Thoughtfully Michael
pondered the question. Where was Luca Brasi* It was the same question that
Hagen was asking himself at that moment. It was the same question that was
worrying Sonny Corleone out in Long Beach.
166
1 At a quarter to five that afternoon, Don Corleone had finished checking the papers
the office manager of his olive oil company had prepared for him. He put on his jacket
and rapped his knuckles (слегка постучал костяшками пальцев) on his son Freddie's
head to make him take his nose out of the afternoon newspaper. "Tell Gatto to get the
car from the lot (с автостоянки: parking lot)," he said. "I'll be ready to go home in a few
minutes."
2 Freddie grunted (замычал, проворчал: «хрюкнул»). "I'll have to get it myself. Paulie
called in sick this morning. Got a cold again (простудился)."
3 Don Corleone looked thoughtful for a moment. "That's the third time this month. I
think maybe you'd better get a healthier fellow for this job. Tell Tom."
4 Fred protested. "Paulie's a good kid. If he says he's sick, he's sick. I don't mind
getting the car," He left the office. Don Corleone watched out the window as his son
crossed Ninth Avenue to the parking lot. He stopped to call Hagen's office but there was
no answer. He called the house at Long Beach but again there was no answer. Irritated,
he looked out the window. His car was parked at the curb in front of his building.
Freddie was leaning against the fender, arms folded, watching the throng of Christmas
shoppers. Don Corleone put on his jacket. The office manager helped him with his
overcoat. Don Corleone grunted his thanks and went out the door and started down the
two flights (два пролета) of steps.
5 Out in the street the early winter light was failing. Freddie leaned casually against the
fender of the heavy Buick. When he saw his father come out of the building Freddie
went out into the street to the driver's side of the car and got in. Don Corleone was
about to get in on the sidewalk side of the car when he hesitated (помедлил:
«засомневался») and then turned back to the long open fruit stand near the corner.
This had been his habit (привычка) lately, he loved the big but-of-season fruits, yellow
peaches and oranges, that glowed (светились, рдели, румянились) in their green
boxes. The proprietor sprang to serve him. Don Corleone did not handle the fruit (не
брал в руки, не перебирал). He pointed. The fruit man disputed his decisions only
once, to show him that one of his choices had a rotten underside (гнилой низ). Don
Corleone took the paper bag in his left hand and paid the man with a five-dollar bill. He
took his change and, as he turned to go back to the waiting car, two men stepped from
around the corner. Don Corleone knew immediately what was to happen.
6 The two men wore black overcoats and black hats pulled low to prevent identification
by witnesses (to prevent – предотвратить, не допустить [pri’vent]). They had not
expected Don Corleone's alert reaction (alert – бдительный, проворный [*'l*:t]). He
dropped the bag of fruit and darted toward the parked car (бросился; dart – стрела,
дротик) with startling quickness for a man of his bulk. At the same time he shouted,
"Fredo, Fredo." It was only then that the two men drew their guns and fired.
7 The first bullet caught Don Corleone in the back. He felt the hammer shock of its
impact but made his body move toward the car. The next two bullets hit him in the
buttocks and sent him sprawling in the middle of the street (to sprawl – растянуться,
развалиться). Meanwhile the two gunmen, careful not to slip on the rolling fruit (to slip
– поскользнуться), started to follow in order to finish him off. At that moment, perhaps
no more than five seconds after the Don's call to his son, Frederico Corleone appeared
out of his car, looming over it (to loom – виднеться, неясно вырисовываться, маячить;
принимать угрожающие размеры). The gunmen fired two more hasty shots at the Don
lying in the gutter (в /сточной/ канаве). One hit him in the fleshy part of his arm and the
second hit him in the calf of his right leg. Though these wounds were the least serious
they bled profusely (обильно; profuse [pr*’fju:s] – изобилующий, расточительный),
forming small pools of blood beside his body. But by this time Don Corleone had lost
consciousness (потерял сознание; conscious ['kon**s] – сознательный; ощущающий).
8 Freddie had heard his father shout, calling him by his childhood name, and then he
had heard the first two loud reports (report – звенящее эхо /выстрела/). By the time he
got out of the car he was in shock, he had not even drawn his gun. The two assassins
(assassin [*'sжsэn] – /наемный, нападающий из-за угла/ убийца) could easily have
shot him down. But they too panicked.
9 They must have known the son was armed, and besides too much time had passed.
They disappeared around the corner, leaving Freddie alone in the street with his father's
bleeding body. Many of the people thronging the avenue had flung themselves into
doorways or on the ground (бросились; to fling), others had huddled together in small
groups (толпились, жались друг к другу).
10 Freddie still had not drawn his weapon. He seemed stunned (to stun – оглушать
ударом). He stared down at his father's body lying face down on the tarred street (на
испачканной: «просмоленной» улице; tar – смола, гудрон), lying now in what
seemed to him a blackish lake of blood (черноватое озеро). Freddie went into physical
shock. People eddied out again (снова появились, вышли наружу; eddy – маленький
водоворот, воронка; to eddy – крутиться в водовороте) and someone, seeing him
start to sag (начал оседать), led him to the curbstone and made him sit down on it. A
crowd gathered around Don Corleone's body, a circle that shattered (рассыпался)
168
when the first police car sirened a path through them. Directly behind the police was the
Daily News radio car and even before it stopped a photographer jumped out to snap
pictures (щелкнуть, нащелкать) of the bleeding Don Corleone. A few moments later an
ambulance arrived. The photographer turned his attention to Freddie Corleone, who
was now weeping openly, and this was a curiously comical sight, because of his tough,
Cupid-featured face, heavy nose and thick mouth smeared with snot (измаранные
соплями; to smear – размазывать; пачкать). Detectives were spreading through the
crowd and more police cars were coming up. One detective knelt beside Freddie,
questioning him, but Freddie was too deep in shock to answer. The detective reached
inside Freddie's coat and lifted his wallet. He looked at the identification inside and
whistled to his partner. In just a few seconds Freddie had been cut off from the crowd by
a flock of plainclothesmen (группкой: «стадом» сыщиков: «людей в штатском»). The
first detective found Freddie's gun in its shoulder holster (в кобуре) and took it. Then
they lifted Freddie off his feet and shoved him into an unmarked car. As that car pulled
away it was followed by the Daily News radio car. The photographer was still snapping
pictures of everybody and everything.
1 At a quarter to five that afternoon, Don Corleone had finished checking the
papers the office manager of his olive oil company had prepared for him. He put
on his jacket and rapped his knuckles on his son Freddie's head to make him take
his nose out of the afternoon newspaper. "Tell Gatto to get the car from the lot,"
he said. "I'll be ready to go home in a few minutes."
2 Freddie grunted. "I'll have to get it myself. Paulie called in sick this morning.
Got a cold again."
3 Don Corleone looked thoughtful for a moment. "That's the third time this
month. I think maybe you'd better get a healthier fellow for this job. Tell Tom."
4 Fred protested. "Paulie's a good kid. If he says he's sick, he's sick. I don't mind
getting the car," He left the office. Don Corleone watched out the window as his
son crossed Ninth Avenue to the parking lot. He stopped to call Hagen's office
but there was no answer. He called the house at Long Beach but again there was
no answer. Irritated, he looked out the window. His car was parked at the curb in
front of his building. Freddie was leaning against the fender, arms folded,
watching the throng of Christmas shoppers. Don Corleone put on his jacket. The
office manager helped him with his overcoat. Don Corleone grunted his thanks
and went out the door and started down the two flights of steps.
5 Out in the street the early winter light was failing. Freddie leaned casually
against the fender of the heavy Buick. When he saw his father come out of the
building Freddie went out into the street to the driver's side of the car and got in.
Don Corleone was about to get in on the sidewalk side of the car when he
hesitated and then turned back to the long open fruit stand near the corner. This
had been his habit lately, he loved the big but-of-season fruits, yellow peaches
and oranges, that glowed in their green boxes. The proprietor sprang to serve
him. Don Corleone did not handle the fruit. He pointed. The fruit man disputed his
decisions only once, to show him that one of his choices had a rotten underside.
Don Corleone took the paper bag in his left hand and paid the man with a five-
dollar bill. He took his change and, as he turned to go back to the waiting car, two
men stepped from around the corner. Don Corleone knew immediately what was
to happen.
6 The two men wore black overcoats and black hats pulled low to prevent
identification by witnesses. They had not expected Don Corleone's alert reaction.
He dropped the bag of fruit and darted toward the parked car with startling
quickness for a man of his bulk. At the same time he shouted, "Fredo, Fredo." It
was only then that the two men drew their guns and fired.
7 The first bullet caught Don Corleone in the back. He felt the hammer shock of
its impact but made his body move toward the car. The next two bullets hit him in
the buttocks and sent him sprawling in the middle of the street. Meanwhile the
two gunmen, careful not to slip on the rolling fruit, started to follow in order to
finish him off. At that moment, perhaps no more than five seconds after the Don's
call to his son, Frederico Corleone appeared out of his car, looming over it. The
gunmen fired two more hasty shots at the Don lying in the gutter. One hit him in
the fleshy part of his arm and the second hit him in the calf of his right leg.
Though these wounds were the least serious they bled profusely, forming small
pools of blood beside his body. But by this time Don Corleone had lost
consciousness.
8 Freddie had heard his father shout, calling him by his childhood name, and
then he had heard the first two loud reports. By the time he got out of the car he
was in shock, he had not even drawn his gun. The two assassins could easily
have shot him down. But they too panicked.
9 They must have known the son was armed, and besides too much time had
passed. They disappeared around the corner, leaving Freddie alone in the street
with his father's bleeding body. Many of the people thronging the avenue had
flung themselves into doorways or on the ground, others had huddled together in
small groups.
10 Freddie still had not drawn his weapon. He seemed stunned. He stared down
at his father's body lying face down on the tarred street, lying now in what
seemed to him a blackish lake of blood. Freddie went into physical shock. People
eddied out again and someone, seeing him start to sag, led him to the curbstone
and made him sit down on it. A crowd gathered around Don Corleone's body, a
circle that shattered when the first police car sirened a path through them.
Directly behind the police was the Daily News radio car and even before it
stopped a photographer jumped out to snap pictures of the bleeding Don
Corleone. A few moments later an ambulance arrived. The photographer turned
his attention to Freddie Corleone, who was now weeping openly, and this was a
curiously comical sight, because of his tough, Cupid-featured face, heavy nose
and thick mouth smeared with snot. Detectives were spreading through the
crowd and more police cars were coming up. One detective knelt beside Freddie,
questioning him, but Freddie was too deep in shock to answer. The detective
reached inside Freddie's coat and lifted his wallet. He looked at the identification
inside and whistled to his partner. In just a few seconds Freddie had been cut off
from the crowd by a flock of plainclothesmen. The first detective found Freddie's
gun in its shoulder holster and took it. Then they lifted Freddie off his feet and
shoved him into an unmarked car. As that car pulled away it was followed by the
Daily News radio car. The photographer was still snapping pictures of everybody
and everything.
1 In the half hour after the shooting of his father, Sonny Corleone received five phone
calls in rapid succession (в быстром следовании /друг за другом/; rapid ['rжpэd] –
скорый, стремительный). The first was from Detective John Phillips, who was on the
family payroll and had been in the lead car of plainclothesmen at the scene of the
shooting. The first thing he said to Sonny over the phone was, "Do you recognize my
voice*"
2 "Yeah," Sonny said. He was fresh from a nap (дремота, короткий сон), called to the
phone by his wife.
3 Phillips said quickly without preamble (преамбула; предисловие, вступление
[pri:’жmbl]), "Somebody shot your father outside his place. Fifteen minutes ago. He's
171
alive but hurt bad. They've taken him to French Hospital. They got your brother Freddie
down at the Chelsea precinct. You better get him a doctor when they turn him loose
(отпустят). I'm going down to the hospital now to help question your old man, if he can
talk. I'll keep you posted (держать в курсе)."
4 Across the table, Sonny's wife Sandra noticed that her husband's face had gone red
with flushing blood. His eyes were glazed over (остекленели, потускнели; to glaze –
покрывать глазурью). She whispered, "What's the matter*" He waved at her
impatiently to shut up (чтобы заткнулась), swung his body away so that his back was
toward her and said into the phone, "You sure he's alive*"
5 "Yeah, I'm sure," the detective said. "A lot of blood but I think maybe he's not as bad
as he looks."
6 "Thanks, " Sonny said. "Be home tomorrow morning eight sharp. You got a grand
coming."
7 Sonny cradled the phone (повесил трубку; cradle – колыбель; to cradle – класть в
колыбель; вешать трубку). He forced himself to sit still. He knew that his greatest
weakness was his anger and this was one time when anger could be fatal. The first
thing to do was get Tom Hagen. But before he could pick up the phone, it rang. The call
was from the bookmaker (букмекер – получающий деньги с тех, кто делает ставки
на скачках) licensed by the Family to operate in the district of the Don's office. The
bookmaker had called to tell him that the Don had been killed, shot dead in the street.
After a few questions to make sure that the bookmaker's informant had not been close
to the body, Sonny dismissed the information as incorrect. Phillips' dope would be more
accurate. The phone rang almost immediately a third time. It was a reporter from the
Daily News. As soon as he identified himself, Sonny Corleone hung up.
8 He dialed Hagen's house and asked Hagen's wife, "Did Tom come home yet*" She
said, "No," that he was not due for another twenty minutes but she expected home for
supper. "Have him call me," Sonny said.
9 He tried to think things out. He tried to imagine (вообразить [э’mжdGэn]) how his
father would react in a like situation. He had known immediately that this was an attack
by Sollozzo, but Sollozzo would never have dared to eliminate (устранить [э’lэmэneэt])
so high-ranking a leader as the Don unless he was backed by other powerful people.
The phone, ringing for the fourth time, interrupted his thoughts. The voice on the other
end was very soft, very gentle. "Santino Corleone*" it asked.
10 "Yeah," Sonny said.
172
11 "We have Tom Hagen," the voice said. "In about three hours he'll be released with
our proposition. Don't do anything rash until you've heard what he has to say. You can
only cause a lot of trouble. What's done is done. Everybody has to be sensible now.
Don't lose that famous temper of yours (самообладание; нрав, характер)." The voice
was slightly mocking. Sonny couldn't be sure, but it sounded like Sollozzo. He made his
voice sound muted, depressed. "I'll wait," he said. He heard the receiver on the other
end click. He looked at his heavy gold-banded wristwatch and noted the exact time of
the call and jotted it down on the tablecloth (to jot – кратко записать, набросать).
12 He sat at the kitchen table, frowning (нахмурившись). His wife asked, "Sonny,
what is it*" He told her calmly, "They shot the old man." When he saw the shock on her
face he said roughly, "Don't worry, he's not dead. And nothing else is going to happen."
He did not tell her about Hagen. And then the phone rang for the fifth time.
13 It was Clemenza. The fat man's voice came wheezing over the phone in gruntlike
gasps (затрудненное дыханье, удушье). "You hear about your father*" he asked.
14 "Yeah," Sonny said. "But he's not dead." There was a long pause over the phone
and then Clemenza's voice came packed with emotion, "Thank God, thank God." Then
anxiously, "You sure* I got word he was dead in the street."
15 "He's alive," Sonny said. He was listening intently to every intonation in Clemenza's
voice. The emotion had seemed genuine but it was part of the fat man's profession to
be a good actor.
16 "You'll have to carry the ball, Sonny," Clemenza said. "What do you want me to
do*"
17 "Get over to my father's house," Sonny said. "Bring Paulie Gatto."
18 "That's all*" Clemenza asked. "Don't you want me to send some people to the
hospital and your place*"
19 "No, I just want you and Paulie Gatto," Sonny said. There was a long pause.
Clemenza was getting the message. To make it a little more natural, Sonny asked,
"Where the hell was Paulie anyway* What the hell was he doing*"
20 There was no longer any wheezing on the other end of the line. Clemenza's voice
was guarded. "Paulie was sick, he had a cold, so he stayed home. He's been a little sick
all winter."
21 Sonny was instantly alert. "How many times did he stay home the last couple of
months*"
173
22 "Maybe three or four times," Clemenza said. "I always asked Freddie if he wanted
another guy but he said no. There's been no cause, the last ten years things been
smooth, you know."
23 "Yeah," Sonny said. "I'll see you at my father's house. Be sure you bring Paulie.
Pick him up on your way over. I don't care how sick he is. You got that*" He slammed
down the phone (to slam – хлопнуть /дверью/, бросить со стуком) without waiting for
an answer.
24 His wife was weeping silently. He stared at her for a moment, then said in a harsh
voice (harsh – жесткий, грубый), "Any of our people call, tell them to get me in my
father's house on his special phone. Anybody else call, you don't know nothing. If Tom's
wife calls, tell her that Tom won't be home for a while, he's on business.
25 He pondered for a moment. "A couple of our people will come to stay here." He saw
her look of fright and said impatiently, "You don't have to be scared, I just want them
here. Do whatever they tell you to do. If you wanta (= want to) talk to me, get me on
Pop's special phone but don't call me unless it's really important. And don't worry." He
went out of the house.
26 Darkness had fallen and the December wind whipped through the mall (хлестал по
аллее; whip – хлыст). Sonny had no fear about stepping out into the night. All eight
houses were owned by Don Corleone. At the mouth of the mall the two houses on either
side were rented by family retainers (retainer – слуга /постоянно живущий в какой-
либо семье/) with their own families and star boarders (и постоянными
квартирантами, пансионерами), single men who lived in the basement apartments
(basement – подвал; цокольный этаж). Of the remaining six houses that formed the
rest of the half circle, one was inhabited by Tom Hagen and his family, his own, and the
smallest and least ostentatious (бросающийся в глаза, показной [osten'teэ**s]) by the
Don himself. The other three houses were given rent-free to retired friends of the Don
with the understanding that they would be vacated whenever he requested
(освобождены по первому требованию). The harmless-looking mall was an
impregnable fortress («непроницаемая» крепость).
27 All eight houses were equipped with floodlights which bathed the grounds around
them and made the mall impossible to lurk in (прокрасться; to lurk – скрываться в
засаде, прятаться). Sonny went across the street to his father's house and let himself
inside with his own key. He yelled out, "Ma, where are you*" and his mother came out
of the kitchen. Behind her rose the smell of frying peppers (жарящегося перца). Before
she could say anything, Sonny took her by the arm and made her sit down. "I just got a
174
call," he said. "Now don't get worried. Pop's in the hospital, he's hurt. Get dressed and
get ready to get down there. I'll have a car and a driver for you in a little while. OK*"
28 His mother looked at him steadily (пристально: «неподвижно») for a moment and
then asked in Italian, "Have they shot him*"
29 Sonny nodded. His mother bowed her head for a moment. Then she went back into
the kitchen. Sonny followed her. He watched her turn off the gas under the panful of
peppers (под сковородой с перцем) and then go out and up to the bedroom. He took
peppers from the pan and bread from the basket on the table and made a sloppy
sandwich (sloppy – мокрый, водянистый) with hot olive oil dripping from his fingers. He
went into the huge corner room that was his father's office and took the special phone
from a locked cabinet box (to lock – запирать). The phone had been especially installed
and was listed under a phony (фальшивое) name and a phony address. The first
person he called was Luca Brasi. There was no answer. Then he called the safety-valve
caporegime in Brooklyn, a man of unquestioned loyalty to the Don. This man's name
was Tessio. Sonny told him what had happened and what he wanted. Tessio was to
recruit fifty absolutely reliable men (надежных; to rely on … – полагаться на …). He
was to send guards to the hospital, he was to send men out to Long Beach to work here.
Tessio asked, "Did they get Clemenza too*" Sonny said, "I don't want to use
Clemenza's people right now." Tessio understood immediately, there was a pause, and
then he said, "Excuse me, Sonny, I say this as your father would say it. Don't move too
fast. I can't believe Clemenza would betray us."
30 "Thanks," Sonny said. "I don't think so but I have to be careful. Right*"
31 "Right," Tessio said.
32 "Another thing," Sonny said. "My kid brother Mike goes to college in Hanover, New
Hampshire. Get some people we know in Boston to go up and get him and bring him
down here to the house until this blow’s over. I'll call him up so he'll expect them. Again
I'm just playing the percentages, just to make sure."
33 "OK," Tessio said, "I'll be over your father's house as soon as I get things rolling.
OK* You know my boys, right*"
34 "Yeah," Sonny said. He hung up. He went over to a small wall safe and unlocked it.
From it he took an indexed book (с алфавитным индексом) bound in blue leather. He
opened it to the T's until he found the entry he was looking for. It read, "Ray Farrell
$5,000 Christmas Eve (Сочельник)." This was followed by a telephone number. Sonny
dialed the number and said, "Farrell*" The man on the other end answered, "Yes."
Sonny said, "This is Santino Corleone. I want you to do me a favor and I want you to do
175
it right away (сейчас же, незамедлительно). I want you to check two phone numbers
and give me all the calls they got and all the calls they made for the last three months."
He gave Farrell the number of Paulie Gatto's home and Clemenza's home. Then he
said, "This is important. Get it to me before midnight and you'll have an extra very Merry
Christmas."
35 Before he settled back to think things out he gave Luca Brasi's number one more
call. Again there was no answer. This worried him but he put it out of his mind. Luca
would come to the house as soon as he heard the news. Sonny leaned back in the
swivel chair (вращающееся кресло; swivel [swэvl] – шарнирное соединение). In an
hour the house would be swarming with Family people (to swarm – кишеть, роиться;
swarm – рой, стая) and he would have to tell them all what to do, and now that he
finally had time to think he realized how serious the situation was. It was the first
challenge (вызов) to the Corleone Family and their power in ten years. There was no
doubt that Sollozzo was behind it, but he would never have dared attempt such a stroke
(никогда бы не отважился на такой удар; to attempt – попытаться) unless he had
support from at least one of the five great New York families. And that support must
have come from the Tattaglias. Which meant a full-scale war (полномасштабную;
scale – чаша весов; градация; масштаб) or an immediate settlement on Sollozzo's
terms (немедленное принятие его условий; settlement – урегулирование,
соглашение). Sonny smiled grimly. The wily (коварный, хитрый) Turk had planned
well but he had been unlucky. The old man was alive and so it was war. With Luca Brasi
and the resources of the Corleone Family there could be but one outcome. But again
the nagging worry (грызущее беспокойство). Where was Luca Brasi*
1 In the half hour after the shooting of his father, Sonny Corleone received five
phone calls in rapid succession. The first was from Detective John Phillips, who
was on the family payroll and had been in the lead car of plainclothesmen at the
scene of the shooting. The first thing he said to Sonny over the phone was, "Do
you recognize my voice*"
2 "Yeah," Sonny said. He was fresh from a nap, called to the phone by his wife.
3 Phillips said quickly without preamble, "Somebody shot your father outside
his place. Fifteen minutes ago. He's alive but hurt bad. They've taken him to
French Hospital. They got your brother Freddie down at the Chelsea precinct. You
better get him a doctor when they turn him loose. I'm going down to the hospital
now to help question your old man, if he can talk. I'll keep you posted."
4 Across the table, Sonny's wife Sandra noticed that her husband's face had
gone red with flushing blood. His eyes were glazed over. She whispered, "What's
the matter*" He waved at her impatiently to shut up, swung his body away so that
his back was toward her and said into the phone, "You sure he's alive*"
5 "Yeah, I'm sure," the detective said. "A lot of blood but I think maybe he's not
as bad as he looks."
6 "Thanks, " Sonny said. "Be home tomorrow morning eight sharp. You got a
grand coming."
7 Sonny cradled the phone. He forced himself to sit still. He knew that his
greatest weakness was his anger and this was one time when anger could be
fatal. The first thing to do was get Tom Hagen. But before he could pick up the
phone, it rang. The call was from the bookmaker licensed by the Family to
operate in the district of the Don's office. The bookmaker had called to tell him
that the Don had been killed, shot dead in the street. After a few questions to
make sure that the bookmaker's informant had not been close to the body, Sonny
dismissed the information as incorrect. Phillips' dope would be more accurate.
The phone rang almost immediately a third time. It was a reporter from the Daily
News. As soon as he identified himself, Sonny Corleone hung up.
8 He dialed Hagen's house and asked Hagen's wife, "Did Tom come home yet*"
She said, "No," that he was not due for another twenty minutes but she expected
home for supper. "Have him call me," Sonny said.
9 He tried to think things out. He tried to imagine how his father would react in a
like situation. He had known immediately that this was an attack by Sollozzo, but
Sollozzo would never have dared to eliminate so high-ranking a leader as the Don
unless he was backed by other powerful people. The phone, ringing for the fourth
time, interrupted his thoughts. The voice on the other end was very soft, very
gentle. "Santino Corleone*" it asked.
10 "Yeah," Sonny said.
11 "We have Tom Hagen," the voice said. "In about three hours he'll be released
with our proposition. Don't do anything rash until you've heard what he has to
say. You can only cause a lot of trouble. What's done is done. Everybody has to
be sensible now. Don't lose that famous temper of yours." The voice was slightly
mocking. Sonny couldn't be sure, but it sounded like Sollozzo. He made his voice
sound muted, depressed. "I'll wait," he said. He heard the receiver on the other
end click. He looked at his heavy gold-banded wristwatch and noted the exact
time of the call and jotted it down on the tablecloth.
12 He sat at the kitchen table, frowning. His wife asked, "Sonny, what is it*" He
told her calmly, "They shot the old man." When he saw the shock on her face he
said roughly, "Don't worry, he's not dead. And nothing else is going to happen."
He did not tell her about Hagen. And then the phone rang for the fifth time.
13 It was Clemenza. The fat man's voice came wheezing over the phone in
gruntlike gasps. "You hear about your father*" he asked.
14 "Yeah," Sonny said. "But he's not dead." There was a long pause over the
phone and then Clemenza's voice came packed with emotion, "Thank God, thank
God." Then anxiously, "You sure* I got word he was dead in the street."
15 "He's alive," Sonny said. He was listening intently to every intonation in
Clemenza's voice. The emotion had seemed genuine but it was part of the fat
man's profession to be a good actor.
16 "You'll have to carry the ball, Sonny," Clemenza said. "What do you want me
to do*"
17 "Get over to my father's house," Sonny said. "Bring Paulie Gatto."
18 "That's all*" Clemenza asked. "Don't you want me to send some people to the
hospital and your place*"
19 "No, I just want you and Paulie Gatto," Sonny said. There was a long pause.
Clemenza was getting the message. To make it a little more natural, Sonny asked,
"Where the hell was Paulie anyway* What the hell was he doing*"
20 There was no longer any wheezing on the other end of the line. Clemenza's
voice was guarded. "Paulie was sick, he had a cold, so he stayed home. He's
been a little sick all winter."
21 Sonny was instantly alert. "How many times did he stay home the last couple
of months*"
22 "Maybe three or four times," Clemenza said. "I always asked Freddie if he
wanted another guy but he said no. There's been no cause, the last ten years
things been smooth, you know."
23 "Yeah," Sonny said. "I'll see you at my father's house. Be sure you bring
Paulie. Pick him up on your way over. I don't care how sick he is. You got that*"
He slammed down the phone without waiting for an answer.
24 His wife was weeping silently. He stared at her for a moment, then said in a
harsh voice, "Any of our people call, tell them to get me in my father's house on
178
his special phone. Anybody else call, you don't know nothing. If Tom's wife calls,
tell her that Tom won't be home for a while, he's on business.
25 He pondered for a moment. "A couple of our people will come to stay here."
He saw her look of fright and said impatiently, "You don't have to be scared, I just
want them here. Do whatever they tell you to do. If you wanta talk to me, get me
on Pop's special phone but don't call me unless it's really important. And don't
worry." He went out of the house.
26 Darkness had fallen and the December wind whipped through the mall. Sonny
had no fear about stepping out into the night. All eight houses were owned by
Don Corleone. At the mouth of the mall the two houses on either side were rented
by family retainers with their own families and star boarders, single men who
lived in the basement apartments. Of the remaining six houses that formed the
rest of the half circle, one was inhabited by Tom Hagen and his family, his own,
and the smallest and least ostentatious by the Don himself. The other three
houses were given rent-free to retired friends of the Don with the understanding
that they would be vacated whenever he requested. The harmless-looking mall
was an impregnable fortress.
27 All eight houses were equipped with floodlights which bathed the grounds
around them and made the mall impossible to lurk in. Sonny went across the
street to his father's house and let himself inside with his own key. He yelled out,
"Ma, where are you*" and his mother came out of the kitchen. Behind her rose
the smell of frying peppers. Before she could say anything, Sonny took her by the
arm and made her sit down. "I just got a call," he said. "Now don't get worried.
Pop's in the hospital, he's hurt. Get dressed and get ready to get down there. I'll
have a car and a driver for you in a little while. OK*"
28 His mother looked at him steadily for a moment and then asked in Italian,
"Have they shot him*"
29 Sonny nodded. His mother bowed her head for a moment. Then she went
back into the kitchen. Sonny followed her. He watched her turn off the gas under
the panful of peppers and then go out and up to the bedroom. He took peppers
from the pan and bread from the basket on the table and made a sloppy sandwich
with hot olive oil dripping from his fingers. He went into the huge corner room
that was his father's office and took the special phone from a locked cabinet box.
The phone had been especially installed and was listed under a phony name and
a phony address. The first person he called was Luca Brasi. There was no answer.
179
Then he called the safety-valve caporegime in Brooklyn, a man of unquestioned
loyalty to the Don. This man's name was Tessio. Sonny told him what had
happened and what he wanted. Tessio was to recruit fifty absolutely reliable men.
He was to send guards to the hospital, he was to send men out to Long Beach to
work here. Tessio asked, "Did they get Clemenza too*" Sonny said, "I don't want
to use Clemenza's people right now." Tessio understood immediately, there was
a pause, and then he said, "Excuse me, Sonny, I say this as your father would say
it. Don't move too fast. I can't believe Clemenza would betray us."
30 "Thanks," Sonny said. "I don't think so but I have to be careful. Right*"
31 "Right," Tessio said.
32 "Another thing," Sonny said. "My kid brother Mike goes to college in Hanover,
New Hampshire. Get some people we know in Boston to go up and get him and
bring him down here to the house until this blow’s over. I'll call him up so he'll
expect them. Again I'm just playing the percentages, just to make sure."
33 "OK," Tessio said, "I'll be over your father's house as soon as I get things
rolling. OK* You know my boys, right*"
34 "Yeah," Sonny said. He hung up. He went over to a small wall safe and
unlocked it. From it he took an indexed book bound in blue leather. He opened it
to the T's until he found the entry he was looking for. It read, "Ray Farrell $5,000
Christmas Eve." This was followed by a telephone number. Sonny dialed the
number and said, "Farrell*" The man on the other end answered, "Yes." Sonny
said, "This is Santino Corleone. I want you to do me a favor and I want you to do
it right away. I want you to check two phone numbers and give me all the calls
they got and all the calls they made for the last three months." He gave Farrell the
number of Paulie Gatto's home and Clemenza's home. Then he said, "This is
important. Get it to me before midnight and you'll have an extra very Merry
Christmas."
35 Before he settled back to think things out he gave Luca Brasi's number one
more call. Again there was no answer. This worried him but he put it out of his
mind. Luca would come to the house as soon as he heard the news. Sonny
leaned back in the swivel chair. In an hour the house would be swarming with
Family people and he would have to tell them all what to do, and now that he
finally had time to think he realized how serious the situation was. It was the first
challenge to the Corleone Family and their power in ten years. There was no
doubt that Sollozzo was behind it, but he would never have dared attempt such a
180
stroke unless he had support from at least one of the five great New York families.
And that support must have come from the Tattaglias. Which meant a full-scale
war or an immediate settlement on Sollozzo's terms. Sonny smiled grimly. The
wily Turk had planned well but he had been unlucky. The old man was alive and
so it was war. With Luca Brasi and the resources of the Corleone Family there
could be but one outcome. But again the nagging worry. Where was Luca Brasi*
Chapter 3
1 Counting the driver, there were four men in the car with Hagen. They put him in the
back seat, in the middle of the two men who had come up behind him in the street.
Sollozzo sat up front. The man on Hagen's right reached over across his body and tilted
Hagen's hat (наклонил, отвернул) over his eyes so that he could not see. "Don't even
move your pinkie (мизинец)," he said.
2 It was a short ride, not more than twenty minutes and when they got out of the car
Hagen could not recognize the neighborhood because darkness had fallen. They led
him into a basement apartment and made him sit on a straight-backed kitchen chair.
Sollozzo sat across the kitchen table from him. His dark face had a peculiarly vulterine
look (особенно хищное выражение /лица/; vulture [‘vЛlt**] – гриф /птица/; peculiarly
[pэ’kju:l*lэ] – особо; странно, необычно).
3 "I don't want you to be afraid," he said. "I know you're not in the muscle end of the
Family (не обладаешь реальной властью, силой). I want you to help the Corleones
and I want you to help me."
4 Hagen's hands were shaking as he put a cigarette in his mouth. One of the men
brought a bottle of rye to the table and gave him a slug of it in a china coffee cup.
Hagen drank the fiery liquid gratefully. It steadied his hands and took the weakness out
of his legs.
5 "Your boss is dead," Sollozzo said. He paused, surprised at the tears that sprang to
Hagen's eyes. Then he went on. "We got him outside his office, in the street. As soon
as I got the word, I picked you up. You have to make the peace between me and
Sonny."
6 Hagen didn't answer. He was surprised at his own grief (скорбь, горе). And the
feeling of desolation (опустошенность; безутешность [des*'leэ**n]) mixed with his fear
of death. Sollozzo was speaking again. "Sonny was hot for my deal (был в восторге от
моего предложения, был за). Right* You know it's the smart thing to do too. Narcotics
is the coming thing. There's so much money in it that everybody can get rich just in a
couple of years. The Don was an old 'Moustache Pete,' (человек старого закала) his
day was over but he didn't know it. Now he's dead, nothing can bring him back. I'm
ready to make a new deal, I want you to talk Sonny into taking it."
7 Hagen said, "You haven't got a chance. Sonny will come after you with everything
he's got (to come after – преследовать)."
8 Sollozzo said impatiently, "That's gonna be his first reaction. You have to talk some
sense to him. The Tattaglia Family stands behind me with all their people. The other
New York families will go along with anything that will stop a full-scale war between us.
Our war has to hurt them and their businesses. If Sonny goes along with the deal (to go
along – сопровождать; соглашаться), the other Families in the country will consider it
none of their affair, even the Don's oldest friends."
9 Hagen stared down at his hands, not answering. Sollozzo went on persuasively
(убеждая, стараясь убедить; to persuade [p*s’weэd] – убеждать). "The Don was
slipping (сильно сдал; to slip – соскальзывать; ухудшаться, деградировать). In the
old days I could never have gotten to him (не смог бы к нему подобраться). The other
Families distrust him (не доверяют) because he made you his Consigliori and you're
not even Italian, much less Sicilian. If it goes to all-out war (дойдет до полной,
тотальной войны; all-out – изо всех сил, всеми средствами) the Corleone Family will
be smashed and everybody loses, me included. I need the Family political contacts
more than I need the money even. So talk to Sonny, talk to the caporegimes; you'll save
a lot of bloodshed (кровопролитие)."
10 Hagen held out his china cup for more whiskey. "I'll try," he said. "But Sonny is
strong-headed (упрям). And even Sonny won't be able to call off Luca. You have to
worry about Luca. I'll have to worry about Luca if I go for your deal."
11 Sollozzo said quietly, "I'll take care of Luca. You take care of Sonny and the other
two kids. Listen, you can tell them that Freddie would have gotten it today with his old
man but my people had strict orders (строгие указания, определенный, точный указ)
not to gun him. I didn't want any more hard feelings (раздражение, гнев, вражда) than
necessary. You can tell them that, Freddie is alive because of me."
12 Finally Hagen's mind was working. For the first time he really believed that Sollozzo
did not mean to kill him or hold him as a hostage (заложник). The sudden relief
(облегчение, освобождение) from fear that flooded his body made him flush with
shame. Sollozzo watched him with a quiet understanding smile. Hagen began to think
things out. If he did not agree to argue Sollozzo's case (to argue [‘б:gju:] – спорить,
доказывать, утверждать; здесь: поддержать, выступить в защиту), he might be
killed. But then he realized that Sollozzo expected him only to present it (представить,
показать, передать) and present it properly, as he was bound (обязан) to do as a
responsible Consigliori. And now, thinking about it, he also realized that Sollozzo was
right. An unlimited war between the Tattaglias and the Corleones must be avoided at all
costs (to avoid – избежать). The Corleones must bury their dead and forget, make a
deal. And then when the time was right they could move against Sollozzo.
13 But glancing up, he realized that Sollozzo knew exactly what he was thinking. The
Turk was smiling. And then it struck Hagen. What had happened to Luca Brasi that
Sollozzo was so unconcerned* Had Luca made a deal* He remembered that on the
night Don Corleone had refused Sollozzo, Luca had been summoned into the office for
a private conference with the Don. But now was not the time to worry about such details.
He had to get back to the safety of the Corleone Family fortress in Long Beach. "I'll do
my best," he said to Sollozzo. "I believe you're right, it's even what the Don would want
us to do."
14 Sollozzo nodded gravely. "Fine," he said. "I don't like bloodshed, I'm a businessman
and blood costs too much money." At that moment the phone rang and one of the men
sitting behind Hagen went to answer it. He listened and then said curtly, "OK, I'll tell
him." He hung up the phone, went to Sollozzo's side and whispered in the Turk's ear.
Hagen saw Sollozzo's face go pale, his eyes glitter with rage (to glitter – блестеть,
сверкать). He himself felt a thrill of fear. Sollozzo was looking at him speculatively
(задумчиво, размышляя) and suddenly Hagen knew that he was no longer going to be
set free. That something had happened that might mean his death. Sollozzo said, "The
old man is still alive. Five bullets in his Sicilian hide (кожа, шкура) and he's still alive."
He gave a fatalistic shrug. "Bad luck," he said to Hagen. "Bad luck for me. Bad luck for
you."
1 Counting the driver, there were four men in the car with Hagen. They put him
in the back seat, in the middle of the two men who had come up behind him in the
street. Sollozzo sat up front. The man on Hagen's right reached over across his
body and tilted Hagen's hat over his eyes so that he could not see. "Don't even
move your pinkie," he said.
2 It was a short ride, not more than twenty minutes and when they got out of the
car Hagen could not recognize the neighborhood because darkness had fallen.
They led him into a basement apartment and made him sit on a straight-backed
183
kitchen chair. Sollozzo sat across the kitchen table from him. His dark face had a
peculiarly vulterine look.
3 "I don't want you to be afraid," he said. "I know you're not in the muscle end of
the Family. I want you to help the Corleones and I want you to help me."
4 Hagen's hands were shaking as he put a cigarette in his mouth. One of the
men brought a bottle of rye to the table and gave him a slug of it in a china coffee
cup. Hagen drank the fiery liquid gratefully. It steadied his hands and took the
weakness out of his legs.
5 "Your boss is dead," Sollozzo said. He paused, surprised at the tears that
sprang to Hagen's eyes. Then he went on. "We got him outside his office, in the
street. As soon as I got the word, I picked you up. You have to make the peace
between me and Sonny."
6 Hagen didn't answer. He was surprised at his own grief. And the feeling of
desolation mixed with his fear of death. Sollozzo was speaking again. "Sonny
was hot for my deal. Right* You know it's the smart thing to do too. Narcotics is
the coming thing. There's so much money in it that everybody can get rich just in
a couple of years. The Don was an old 'Moustache Pete,' his day was over but he
didn't know it. Now he's dead, nothing can bring him back. I'm ready to make a
new deal, I want you to talk Sonny into taking it."
7 Hagen said, "You haven't got a chance. Sonny will come after you with
everything he's got."
8 Sollozzo said impatiently, "That's gonna be his first reaction. You have to talk
some sense to him. The Tattaglia Family stands behind me with all their people.
The other New York families will go along with anything that will stop a full-scale
war between us. Our war has to hurt them and their businesses. If Sonny goes
along with the deal, the other Families in the country will consider it none of their
affair, even the Don's oldest friends."
9 Hagen stared down at his hands, not answering. Sollozzo went on
persuasively. "The Don was slipping. In the old days I could never have gotten to
him. The other Families distrust him because he made you his Consigliori and
you're not even Italian, much less Sicilian. If it goes to all-out war the Corleone
Family will be smashed and everybody loses, me included. I need the Family
political contacts more than I need the money even. So talk to Sonny, talk to the
caporegimes; you'll save a lot of bloodshed."
184
10 Hagen held out his china cup for more whiskey. "I'll try," he said. "But Sonny
is strong-headed. And even Sonny won't be able to call off Luca. You have to
worry about Luca. I'll have to worry about Luca if I go for your deal."
11 Sollozzo said quietly, "I'll take care of Luca. You take care of Sonny and the
other two kids. Listen, you can tell them that Freddie would have gotten it today
with his old man but my people had strict orders not to gun him. I didn't want any
more hard feelings than necessary. You can tell them that, Freddie is alive
because of me."
12 Finally Hagen's mind was working. For the first time he really believed that
Sollozzo did not mean to kill him or hold him as a hostage. The sudden relief from
fear that flooded his body made him flush with shame. Sollozzo watched him with
a quiet understanding smile. Hagen began to think things out. If he did not agree
to argue Sollozzo's case, he might be killed. But then he realized that Sollozzo
expected him only to present it and present it properly, as he was bound to do as
a responsible Consigliori. And now, thinking about it, he also realized that
Sollozzo was right. An unlimited war between the Tattaglias and the Corleones
must be avoided at all costs. The Corleones must bury their dead and forget,
make a deal. And then when the time was right they could move against Sollozzo.
13 But glancing up, he realized that Sollozzo knew exactly what he was thinking.
The Turk was smiling. And then it struck Hagen. What had happened to Luca
Brasi that Sollozzo was so unconcerned* Had Luca made a deal* He remembered
that on the night Don Corleone had refused Sollozzo, Luca had been summoned
into the office for a private conference with the Don. But now was not the time to
worry about such details. He had to get back to the safety of the Corleone Family
fortress in Long Beach. "I'll do my best," he said to Sollozzo. "I believe you're
right, it's even what the Don would want us to do."
14 Sollozzo nodded gravely. "Fine," he said. "I don't like bloodshed, I'm a
businessman and blood costs too much money." At that moment the phone rang
and one of the men sitting behind Hagen went to answer it. He listened and then
said curtly, "OK, I'll tell him." He hung up the phone, went to Sollozzo's side and
whispered in the Turk's ear. Hagen saw Sollozzo's face go pale, his eyes glitter
with rage. He himself felt a thrill of fear. Sollozzo was looking at him speculatively
and suddenly Hagen knew that he was no longer going to be set free. That
something had happened that might mean his death. Sollozzo said, "The old man
is still alive. Five bullets in his Sicilian hide and he's still alive." He gave a
fatalistic shrug. "Bad luck," he said to Hagen. "Bad luck for me. Bad luck for
you."
Chapter 4
1 When Michael Corleone arrived at his father's house in Long Beach he found the
narrow entrance mouth of the mall blocked off with a link chain. The mall itself was
bright with the floodlights of all eight houses, outlining at least ten cars parked along the
curving cement walk (вдоль «изгибающегося» тротуара; to curve – изгибаться; curve
– кривая линия, дуга).
2 Two men he didn't know were leaning against the chain. One of them asked in a
Brooklyn accent, "Who're you*"
3 He told them. Another man came out of the nearest house and peered at his face (to
peer – вглядываться). "That's the Don's kid," he said. "I'll bring him inside." Mike
followed this man to his father's house, where two men at the door let him and his
escort pass inside.
4 The house seemed to be full of men he didn't know, until he went into the living room.
There Michael saw Tom Hagen's wife, Theresa, sitting stiffly on the sofa (stiff – тугой,
негибкий; одеревенелый), smoking a cigarette. On the coffee table in front of her was
a glass of whiskey. On the other side of the sofa sat the bulky (грузный, тучный)
Clemenza. The caporegime's face was impassive, but he was sweating and the cigar in
his hand glistened slickly black with his saliva (slick – гладкий, скользкий; saliva
[s*’laэv*] – слюна).
5 Clemenza came to wring his hand in a consoling way (пожать ему руку, утешая =
сочувственно, стараясь успокоить; to console [k*n’s*ul]), muttering, "Your mother is
at the hospital with your father, he's going to be all right." Paulie Gatto stood up to
shake hands. Michael looked at him curiously. He knew Paulie was his father's
bodyguard but did not know that Paulie had stayed home sick that day. But he sensed
tension (напряжение, напряженность) in the thin dark face. He knew Gatto's
reputation as an up-and-coming man (подающий надежды, перспективный), a very
quick man who knew how to get delicate jobs done without complications (без
осложнений), and today he had failed in his duty (не исполнил свой долг). He noticed
several other men in the corners of the room but he did not recognize them. They were
not of Clemenza's people. Michael put these facts together and understood. Clemenza
and Gatto were suspect (подозреваемы, под подозрением ['sЛspekt]). Thinking that
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Paulie had been at the scene, he asked the ferret-faced young man, "How is Freddie*
He OK*"
6 "The doctor gave him a shot (укол)," Clemenza said. "He's sleeping."
7 Michael went to Hagen's wife and bent down to kiss her cheek. They had always
liked each other. He whispered, "Don't worry, Tom will be OK. Have you talked to Sonny
yet*"
8 Theresa clung to him (to cling – цепляться, прилипнуть, крепко держаться) for a
moment and shook her head. She was a delicate, very pretty woman, more American
than Italian, and very scared (испуганная). He took her hand and lifted her off the sofa.
Then he led her into his father's corner room office.
9 Sonny was sprawled out (развалился) in his chair behind the desk holding a yellow
pad (блокнот) in one hand and a pencil in the other. The only other man in the room
with him was the caporegime Tessio, whom Michael recognized and immediately
realized that it must be his men who were in the house and forming the new palace
guard. He too had a pencil and pad in his hands.
10 When Sonny saw them he came from behind his desk and took Hagen's wife in his
arms. "Don't worry, Theresa," he said. "Tom's OK. They just wanta give him the
proposition (предложение), they said they'd turn him loose (отпустят). He's not on the
operating end, he's just our lawyer. There's no reason for anybody to do him harm."
11 He released Theresa and then to Michael's surprise he too, got a hug («получил»
объятие = был обнят) and a kiss on the cheek. He pushed Sonny away and said
grinning, "After I get used to you beating me up I gotta put up with this (после того, как
я привык к тому, как ты меня лупил, мне еще и с этим придется мириться, и к
этому привыкать)*" They had often fought when they were younger.
12 Sonny shrugged. "Listen, kid, I was worried when I couldn't get ahold of you (не
мог тебя найти; ahold – захват, удержание) in that hick town. Not that I gave a crap if
they knocked you off (не то чтобы я очень волновался, переживал бы, если бы они
тебя укокошили; crap – дерьмо; ерунда, мелочь; to knock off – убить /сленг/), but I
didn't like the idea of bringing the news to the old lady. I had to tell her about Pop (о
папе)."
13 "How'd she take it*" Michael asked.
14 "Good," Sonny said. "She's been through it before. Me too. You were too young to
know about it and then things got pretty smooth while you were growing up." He paused
and then said, "She's down at the hospital with the old man. He's gonna pull through
(выкарабкается)."
15 "How about us going down (съездить туда /в центр города/)*" Michael asked.
16 Sonny shook his head and said dryly, "I can't leave this house until it's all over."
The phone rang. Sonny picked it up and listened intently (внимательно,
сосредоточенно). While he was listening Michael sauntered over to the desk
(медленно прошел; to saunter [‘so:nt*] – медленно гулять, прохаживаться) and
glanced down at the yellow pad Sonny had been writing on. There was a list of seven
names. The first three were Sollozzo, Phillip Tattaglia, and John Tattaglia. It struck
Michael with full force that he had interrupted Sonny and Tessio as they were making
up a list of men to be killed.
17 When Sonny hung up the phone he said to Theresa Hagen and Michael, "Can you
two wait outside* I got some business with Tessio we have to finish."
18 Hagen's wife said, "Was that call about Tom*" She said it almost truculently
(truculent [‘trЛkjul*nt] – жестокий, свирепый; грубый, вызывающий) but she was
weeping with fright. Sonny put his arm around her and led her to the door. "I swear he's
going to be OK," he said. "Wait in the living room. I'll come out as soon as I hear
something." He shut the door behind her. Michael had sat down in one of the big leather
armchairs. Sonny gave him a quick sharp look and then went to sit down behind the
desk.
19 "You hang around me (держись возле меня), Mike," he said, "you're gonna hear
things you don't wanta hear."
20 Michael lit a cigarette. "I can help out," he said.
21 "No, you can't," Sonny said. "The old man would be sore as hell (чертовски
раздражен, разозлен) if I let you get mixed up in this (позволю тебе быть
замешанным в этом, втяну тебя в это)."
22 Michael stood up and yelled. "You lousy bastard, he's my father. I'm not supposed
to help him* I can help. I don't have to go out and kill people but I can help. Stop
treating me like a kid brother. I was in the war. I got shot (меня подстрелили = я был
ранен), remember* I killed some Japs (япошек). What the hell do you think I'll do when
you knock somebody off* Faint (упаду в обморок)*"
23 Sonny grinned at him. "Pretty soon you'll want me to put up my dukes (поднять
руки /приняв боксерскую стойку/; dukes – кулаки /сленг/). OK, stick around, you can
handle the phone." He turned to Tessio. "That call I just got gave me dope (подсказку,
информацию) we needed." He turned to Michael. "Somebody had to finger the old man
(должен был указать = подставить). It could have been Clemenza, it could have been
Paulie Gatto, who was very conveniently sick today (convenient [k*n’vi:nj*nt] –
удобный, подходящий). I know the answer now, let's see how smart you are, Mike,
you're the college boy. Who sold out to Sollozzo*"
24 Michael sat down again and relaxed back into the leather armchair. He thought
everything over very carefully. Clemenza was a caporegime in the Corleone Family
structure. Don Corleone had made him a millionaire and they had been intimate friends
for over twenty years. He held one of the most powerful posts in the organization. What
could Clemenza gain for betraying his Don* More money* He was rich enough but then
men are always greedy. More power* Revenge for some fancied insult or slight (месть
за какое-нибудь воображаемое, надуманное оскорбление или проявление
пренебрежительности; to fancy – воображать, представлять себе)* That Hagen had
been made the Consigliori* Or perhaps a businessman's conviction (убеждение) that
Sollozzo would win out* No, it was impossible for Clemenza to be a traitor, and then
Michael thought sadly it was only impossible because he didn't want Clemenza to die.
The fat man had always brought him gifts when he was growing up, had sometimes
taken him on outings (загородные прогулки) when the Don had been too busy. He
could not believe that Clemenza was guilty of treachery (виновен в предательстве;
treachery [‘tret**rэ] – вероломство, измена).
25 But, on the other hand, Sollozzo would want Clemenza in his pocket more than any
other man in the Corleone Family.
26 Michael thought about Paulie Gatto. Paulie as yet had not become rich. He was
well thought of (о нем хорошо позаботились), his rise in the organization was certain
but he would have to put in his time like everybody else. Also he would have wilder
dreams of power, as the young always do. It had to be Paulie. And then Michael
remembered that in the sixth grade (в шестом классе) he and Paulie had been in the
same class in school and he didn't want it to be Paulie either.
27 He shook his head. "Neither one of them," he said. But he said it only because
Sonny had said he had the answer. If it had been a vote (голосование), he would have
voted Paulie guilty.
28 Sonny was smiling at him. "Don't worry," he said. "Clemenza is OK. It's Paulie."
29 Michael could see that Tessio was relieved. As a fellow caporegime his sympathy
would be with Clemenza. Also the present situation was not so serious if treachery did
not reach so high. Tessio said cautiously (cautious ['ko:**s] – осторожный), "Then I can
send my people home tomorrow*"
30 Sonny said, "The day after tomorrow. I don't want anybody to know about this until
then. Listen, I want to talk some family business with my brother, personal. Wait out in
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the living room, eh* We can finish our list later. You and Clemenza will work together on
it."
31 "Sure," Tessio said. He went out.
32 "How do you know for sure it's Paulie*" Michael asked.
33 Sonny said, "We have people in the telephone company and they tracked down
(проследили, восстановили) all of Paulie's phone calls in and out Clemenza's too. On
the three days Paulie was sick this month he got a call from a street booth across from
the old man's building. Today too. They were checking to see if Paulie was coming
down or somebody was being sent down to take his place. Or for some other reason. It
doesn't matter." Sonny shrugged. "Thank God it was Paulie. We'll need Clemenza bad
(он нам очень будет нужен)."
34 Michael asked hesitantly (hesitant [‘hezэt*nt] – колеблющийся, нерешительный,
сомневающийся), "Is it going to be an all-out war*"
35 Sonny's eyes were hard. "That's how I'm going to play it as soon as Tom checks in.
Until the old man tells me different."
36 Michael asked, "So why don't you wait until the old man can tell you*"
37 Sonny looked at him curiously. "How the hell did you win those combat medals
(боевые медали; combat [‘komb*t] – бой, сражение)* We are under the gun, man, we
gotta fight. I'm just afraid they won't let Tom go."
38 Michael was surprised at this. "Why not*"
39 Again Sonny's voice was patient "They snatched Tom because they figured the old
man was finished and they could make a deal with me and Tom would be the sit-down
guy in the preliminary stages (парень для переговоров на предварительных стадиях
[prэ'lэmэn*rэ]), carry the proposition. Now with the old man alive they know I can't make a
deal so Tom's no good to them. They can turn him loose or dump him (прикончить
/сленг/; dump – мусорная куча, отвал /земли, руды/; to dump – выгружать,
сваливать), depending how Sollozzo feels. If they dump him, it would be just to show
us they really mean business, trying to bulldoze us (запугать; to bulldoze [‘buld*uz] –
разбивать крупные куски /руды/; расчищать при помощи бульдозера; запугивать,
шантажировать /сленг/)."
40 Michael said quietly, "What think he could get a deal with you*"
41 Sonny flushed and he didn't answer for a moment. Then he said, "We had a
meeting a few months ago, Sollozzo came to us with a proposition on drugs. The old
man turned him down (отклонил). But during the meeting I shot off my mouth a little
(проболтался; to shot off – стрелять в воздух, пускать /фейерверк, ракету/), I
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showed I wanted the deal. Which is absolutely the wrong thing to do; if there's one thing
the old man hammered into me (вбивал, вколачивал; hammer – молоток) it's never to
do a thing like that, to let other people know there's a split of opinion (разделение
мнений, расхождение во мнениях; to split – раскалывать, расщеплять) in the Family.
So Sollozzo figures he gets rid of the old man (воображает, что если избавится), I
have to go in with him on the drugs. With the old man gone, the Family power is cut at
least in half. I would be fighting for my life anyway to keep all the businesses the old
man got together. Drugs are the coming thing, we should get into it. And his knocking
off the old man is purely business, nothing personal. As a matter of business I would go
in with him. Of course he would never let me get too close, he'd make sure I'd never get
a clean shot at him, just in case (на всякий случай). But he also knows that once I
accepted the deal the other Families would never let me start a war a couple of years
later just for revenge. Also, the Tattaglia Family is behind him."
42 "If they had gotten the old man, what would you have done*" Michael asked.
43 Sonny said very simply, "Sollozzo is dead meat. I don't care what it costs. I don't
care if we have to fight all the five families in New York. The Tattaglia Family is going to
be wiped out (будет истреблена; to wipe – стирать; уничтожать; убивать /сленг/). I
don't care if we all go down together (если все, пусть даже мы все загнемся)."
44 Michael said softly, "That's not how Pop would have played it."
Sonny made a violent gesture (violent – неистовый, вспыльчивый). "I know I'm not the
man he was. But I'll tell you this and he'll tell you too. When it comes to real action I can
operate as good as anybody, short-range (в ближнем бою: «в малом радиусе
действия»). Sollozzo knows that and so do Clemenza and Tessio, I 'made my bones'
when I was nineteen, the last time the Family had a war, and I was a big help to the old
man. So I'm not worried now. And our Family has all the horses in a deal like this. I just
wish we could get contact with Luca."
45 Michael asked curiously, "Is Luca that tough (действительно настолько крутой),
like they say* Is he that good*"
46 Sonny nodded. "He's in a class by himself. I’m going to send him after the three
Tattaglias. I'll get Sollozzo myself."
47 Michael shifted uneasily in his chair (задвигался, заерзал беспокойно). He looked
at his older brother. He remembered Sonny as being sometimes casually brutal (подчас
жесток, груб) but essentially warmhearted (по сути, в основе своей добр). A nice guy.
It seemed unnatural to hear him talking this way, it was chilling (жутко; to chill –
замораживать, охлаждать) to see the list of names he had scribbled down (набросал;
to scribble – писать неразборчивым почерком, небрежно), men to be executed
(которые должны быть казнены), as if he were some newly crowned Roman Emperor.
He was glad that he was not truly part of all this, that now his father lived he did not
have to involve himself in vengeance (месть, мщение ['vendG*ns]). He'd help out,
answering the phone, running errands (бегая по поручениям) and messages. Sonny
and the old man could take care of themselves, especially with Luca behind them.
48 At that moment they heard a woman scream in the living room. Oh, Christ, Michael
thought, it sounded like Tom's wife. He rushed to the door and opened it. Everybody in
the living room was standing. And by the sofa Tom Hagen was holding Theresa close to
him, his face embarrassed (смущенное). Theresa was weeping and sobbing, and
Michael realized that the scream he had heard had been her calling out her husband's
name with joy. As he watched, Tom Hagen disentangled himself from his wife's arms
(освободился: «выпутался»; entangle [эn'tж*gl] – запутывать, сплетаться; tangle –
запутанный клубок) and lowered her back onto the sofa. He smiled at Michael grimly
(мрачно). "Glad to see you, Mike, really glad." He strode (to stride – идти большими
шагами, быстрой походкой) into the office without another look at his still-sobbing wife.
He hadn't lived with the Corleone Family ten years for nothing (недаром, не бесследно
прожил), Michael thought with a queer flush of pride. Some of the old man had rubbed
off on him (что-то перешло к нему от старика, какой-то налет остался; to rub –
тереть; to rub off – стирать), as it had on Sonny, and he thought, with surprise, even
on himself.
1 When Michael Corleone arrived at his father's house in Long Beach he found
the narrow entrance mouth of the mall blocked off with a link chain. The mall
itself was bright with the floodlights of all eight houses, outlining at least ten cars
parked along the curving cement walk.
2 Two men he didn't know were leaning against the chain. One of them asked in
a Brooklyn accent, "Who're you*"
3 He told them. Another man came out of the nearest house and peered at his
face. "That's the Don's kid," he said. "I'll bring him inside." Mike followed this
man to his father's house, where two men at the door let him and his escort pass
inside.
4 The house seemed to be full of men he didn't know, until he went into the
living room. There Michael saw Tom Hagen's wife, Theresa, sitting stiffly on the
sofa, smoking a cigarette. On the coffee table in front of her was a glass of
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whiskey. On the other side of the sofa sat the bulky Clemenza. The caporegime's
face was impassive, but he was sweating and the cigar in his hand glistened
slickly black with his saliva.
5 Clemenza came to wring his hand in a consoling way, muttering, "Your mother
is at the hospital with your father, he's going to be all right." Paulie Gatto stood
up to shake hands. Michael looked at him curiously. He knew Paulie was his
father's bodyguard but did not know that Paulie had stayed home sick that day.
But he sensed tension in the thin dark face. He knew Gatto's reputation as an up-
and-coming man, a very quick man who knew how to get delicate jobs done
without complications, and today he had failed in his duty. He noticed several
other men in the corners of the room but he did not recognize them. They were
not of Clemenza's people. Michael put these facts together and understood.
Clemenza and Gatto were suspect. Thinking that Paulie had been at the scene, he
asked the ferret-faced young man, "How is Freddie* He OK*"
6 "The doctor gave him a shot," Clemenza said. "He's sleeping."
7 Michael went to Hagen's wife and bent down to kiss her cheek. They had
always liked each other. He whispered, "Don't worry, Tom will be OK. Have you
talked to Sonny yet*"
8 Theresa clung to him for a moment and shook her head. She was a delicate,
very pretty woman, more American than Italian, and very scared. He took her
hand and lifted her off the sofa. Then he led her into his father's corner room
office.
9 Sonny was sprawled out in his chair behind the desk holding a yellow pad in
one hand and a pencil in the other. The only other man in the room with him was
the caporegime Tessio, whom Michael recognized and immediately realized that it
must be his men who were in the house and forming the new palace guard. He
too had a pencil and pad in his hands.
10 When Sonny saw them he came from behind his desk and took Hagen's wife
in his arms. "Don't worry, Theresa," he said. "Tom's OK. They just wanta give him
the proposition, they said they'd turn him loose (отпустят). He's not on the
operating end, he's just our lawyer. There's no reason for anybody to do him
harm."
11 He released Theresa and then to Michael's surprise he too, got a hug and a
kiss on the cheek. He pushed Sonny away and said grinning, "After I get used to
you beating me up I gotta put up with this*" They had often fought when they
were younger.
12 Sonny shrugged. "Listen, kid, I was worried when I couldn't get ahold of you
in that hick town. Not that I gave a crap if they knocked you off, but I didn't like
the idea of bringing the news to the old lady. I had to tell her about Pop."
13 "How'd she take it*" Michael asked.
14 "Good," Sonny said. "She's been through it before. Me too. You were too
young to know about it and then things got pretty smooth while you were
growing up." He paused and then said, "She's down at the hospital with the old
man. He's gonna pull through."
15 "How about us going down*" Michael asked.
16 Sonny shook his head and said dryly, "I can't leave this house until it's all
over." The phone rang. Sonny picked it up and listened intently. While he was
listening Michael sauntered over to the desk and glanced down at the yellow pad
Sonny had been writing on. There was a list of seven names. The first three were
Sollozzo, Phillip Tattaglia, and John Tattaglia. It struck Michael with full force that
he had interrupted Sonny and Tessio as they were making up a list of men to be
killed.
17 When Sonny hung up the phone he said to Theresa Hagen and Michael, "Can
you two wait outside* I got some business with Tessio we have to finish."
18 Hagen's wife said, "Was that call about Tom*" She said it almost truculently
but she was weeping with fright. Sonny put his arm around her and led her to the
door. "I swear he's going to be OK," he said. "Wait in the living room. I'll come out
as soon as I hear something." He shut the door behind her. Michael had sat down
in one of the big leather armchairs. Sonny gave him a quick sharp look and then
went to sit down behind the desk.
19 "You hang around me, Mike," he said, "you're gonna hear things you don't
wanta hear."
20 Michael lit a cigarette. "I can help out," he said.
21 "No, you can't," Sonny said. "The old man would be sore as hell if I let you
get mixed up in this."
22 Michael stood up and yelled. "You lousy bastard, he's my father. I'm not
supposed to help him* I can help. I don't have to go out and kill people but I can
help. Stop treating me like a kid brother. I was in the war. I got shot, remember* I
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killed some Japs. What the hell do you think I'll do when you knock somebody off*
Faint*"
23 Sonny grinned at him. "Pretty soon you'll want me to put up my dukes. OK,
stick around, you can handle the phone." He turned to Tessio. "That call I just got
gave me dope we needed." He turned to Michael. "Somebody had to finger the old
man. It could have been Clemenza, it could have been Paulie Gatto, who was very
conveniently sick today. I know the answer now, let's see how smart you are,
Mike, you're the college boy. Who sold out to Sollozzo*"
24 Michael sat down again and relaxed back into the leather armchair. He
thought everything over very carefully. Clemenza was a caporegime in the
Corleone Family structure. Don Corleone had made him a millionaire and they
had been intimate friends for over twenty years. He held one of the most powerful
posts in the organization. What could Clemenza gain for betraying his Don* More
money* He was rich enough but then men are always greedy. More power*
Revenge for some fancied insult or slight* That Hagen had been made the
Consigliori* Or perhaps a businessman's conviction that Sollozzo would win out*
No, it was impossible for Clemenza to be a traitor, and then Michael thought sadly
it was only impossible because he didn't want Clemenza to die. The fat man had
always brought him gifts when he was growing up, had sometimes taken him on
outings when the Don had been too busy. He could not believe that Clemenza
was guilty of treachery.
25 But, on the other hand, Sollozzo would want Clemenza in his pocket more
than any other man in the Corleone Family.
26 Michael thought about Paulie Gatto. Paulie as yet had not become rich. He
was well thought of, his rise in the organization was certain but he would have to
put in his time like everybody else. Also he would have wilder dreams of power,
as the young always do. It had to be Paulie. And then Michael remembered that in
the sixth grade he and Paulie had been in the same class in school and he didn't
want it to be Paulie either.
27 He shook his head. "Neither one of them," he said. But he said it only
because Sonny had said he had the answer. If it had been a vote, he would have
voted Paulie guilty.
28 Sonny was smiling at him. "Don't worry," he said. "Clemenza is OK. It's
Paulie."
29 Michael could see that Tessio was relieved. As a fellow caporegime his
sympathy would be with Clemenza. Also the present situation was not so serious
if treachery did not reach so high. Tessio said cautiously, "Then I can send my
people home tomorrow*"
30 Sonny said, "The day after tomorrow. I don't want anybody to know about
this until then. Listen, I want to talk some family business with my brother,
personal. Wait out in the living room, eh* We can finish our list later. You and
Clemenza will work together on it."
31 "Sure," Tessio said. He went out.
32 "How do you know for sure it's Paulie*" Michael asked.
33 Sonny said, "We have people in the telephone company and they tracked
down all of Paulie's phone calls in and out Clemenza's too. On the three days
Paulie was sick this month he got a call from a street booth across from the old
man's building. Today too. They were checking to see if Paulie was coming down
or somebody was being sent down to take his place. Or for some other reason. It
doesn't matter." Sonny shrugged. "Thank God it was Paulie. We'll need Clemenza
bad."
34 Michael asked hesitantly, "Is it going to be an all-out war*"
35 Sonny's eyes were hard. "That's how I'm going to play it as soon as Tom
checks in. Until the old man tells me different."
36 Michael asked, "So why don't you wait until the old man can tell you*"
37 Sonny looked at him curiously. "How the hell did you win those combat
medals* We are under the gun, man, we gotta fight. I'm just afraid they won't let
Tom go."
38 Michael was surprised at this. "Why not*"
39 Again Sonny's voice was patient "They snatched Tom because they figured
the old man was finished and they could make a deal with me and Tom would be
the sit-down guy in the preliminary stages, carry the proposition. Now with the
old man alive they know I can't make a deal so Tom's no good to them. They can
turn him loose or dump him, depending how Sollozzo feels. If they dump him, it
would be just to show us they really mean business, trying to bulldoze us."
40 Michael said quietly, "What think he could get a deal with you*"
41 Sonny flushed and he didn't answer for a moment. Then he said, "We had a
meeting a few months ago, Sollozzo came to us with a proposition on drugs. The
old man turned him down. But during the meeting I shot off my mouth a little, I
showed I wanted the deal. Which is absolutely the wrong thing to do; if there's
one thing the old man hammered into me it's never to do a thing like that, to let
other people know there's a split of opinion in the Family. So Sollozzo figures he
gets rid of the old man, I have to go in with him on the drugs. With the old man
gone, the Family power is cut at least in half. I would be fighting for my life
anyway to keep all the businesses the old man got together. Drugs are the
coming thing, we should get into it. And his knocking off the old man is purely
business, nothing personal. As a matter of business I would go in with him. Of
course he would never let me get too close, he'd make sure I'd never get a clean
shot at him, just in case. But he also knows that once I accepted the deal the
other Families would never let me start a war a couple of years later just for
revenge. Also, the Tattaglia Family is behind him."
42 "If they had gotten the old man, what would you have done*" Michael asked.
43 Sonny said very simply, "Sollozzo is dead meat. I don't care what it costs. I
don't care if we have to fight all the five families in New York. The Tattaglia Family
is going to be wiped out. I don't care if we all go down together."
44 Michael said softly, "That's not how Pop would have played it."
Sonny made a violent gesture. "I know I'm not the man he was. But I'll tell you this
and he'll tell you too. When it comes to real action I can operate as good as
anybody, short-range. Sollozzo knows that and so do Clemenza and Tessio, I
'made my bones' when I was nineteen, the last time the Family had a war, and I
was a big help to the old man. So I'm not worried now. And our Family has all the
horses in a deal like this. I just wish we could get contact with Luca."
45 Michael asked curiously, "Is Luca that tough, like they say* Is he that good*"
46 Sonny nodded. "He's in a class by himself. I’m going to send him after the
three Tattaglias. I'll get Sollozzo myself."
47 Michael shifted uneasily in his chair. He looked at his older brother. He
remembered Sonny as being sometimes casually brutal but essentially
warmhearted. A nice guy. It seemed unnatural to hear him talking this way, it was
chilling to see the list of names he had scribbled down, men to be executed, as if
he were some newly crowned Roman Emperor. He was glad that he was not truly
part of all this, that now his father lived he did not have to involve himself in
vengeance. He'd help out, answering the phone, running errands and messages.
Sonny and the old man could take care of themselves, especially with Luca
behind them.
48 At that moment they heard a woman scream in the living room. Oh, Christ,
Michael thought, it sounded like Tom's wife. He rushed to the door and opened it.
Everybody in the living room was standing. And by the sofa Tom Hagen was
holding Theresa close to him, his face embarrassed. Theresa was weeping and
sobbing, and Michael realized that the scream he had heard had been her calling
out her husband's name with joy. As he watched, Tom Hagen disentangled
himself from his wife's arms and lowered her back onto the sofa. He smiled at
Michael grimly. "Glad to see you, Mike, really glad." He strode into the office
without another look at his still-sobbing wife. He hadn't lived with the Corleone
Family ten years for nothing, Michael thought with a queer flush of pride. Some of
the old man had rubbed off on him, as it had on Sonny, and he thought, with
surprise, even on himself.
Chapter 5
1 It was nearly four o'clock in the morning as they all sat in the corner room office –
Sonny, Michael, Tom Hagen, Clemenza and Tessio. Theresa Hagen had been
persuaded to go to her own home next door. Paulie Gatto was still waiting in the living
room, not knowing that Tessio's men had been instructed not to let him leave or let him
out of their sight.
2 Tom Hagen relayed the deal (передавал, пересказывал) Sollozzo offered. He told
how after Sollozzo had learned the Don still lived, it was obvious that he meant to kill
Hagen. Hagen grinned. "If I ever plead (защищать интересы подсудимого, выступать
в суде с заявлением) before the Supreme Court (Верховный суд /суд первой
инстанции в штате Нью-Йорк/; supreme [sju:’pri:m] – высший), I'll never plead better
than I did with that goddamn Turk tonight. I told him I'd talk the Family into the deal even
though the Don was alive. I told him I could wrap you around my finger (обмотать
вокруг пальца), Sonny. How we were buddies (приятелями, дружками) as kids; and
don't get sore, but I let him get the idea that maybe you weren't too sorry about getting
the old man's job, God forgive me." He smiled apologetically at Sonny, who made a
gesture signifying that he understood, that it was of no consequence (не имеет
значения, ерунда; consequence ['konsэkw*ns] – последствие).
3 Michael, leaning back in his armchair with the phone at his right hand, studied both
men. When Hagen had entered the room Sonny had come rushing to embrace him.
Michael realized with a faint twinge of jealousy (с легким уколом ревности, зависти;
twinge – приступ боли; моральная мука, угрызения) that in many ways Sonny and
Tom Hagen were closer than he himself could ever be to his own brother.
4 "Let's get down to business," Sonny said. "We have to make plans. Take a look at
this list me and Tessio made up. Tessio, give Clemenza your copy."
5 "If we make plans," Michael said, "Freddie should be here."
6 Sonny said grimly, "Freddie is no use to us. The doctor says he's in shock so bad he
has to have complete rest. I don't understand that. Freddie was always a pretty tough
guy. I guess seeing the old man gunned down was hard on him, he always thought the
Don was God. He wasn't like you and me, Mike."
7 Hagen said quickly, "OK, leave Freddie out. Leave him out of everything, absolutely
everything. Now, Sonny, until this is all over I think you should stay in the house. I mean
never leave it. You're safe here. Don't underrate Sollozzo (не недооценивай), he's got
to be a pezzonovante, a real .90 caliber. Is the hospital covered (надежно прикрыт =
охраняем, следят ли за ним)*"
8 Sonny nodded. "The cops have it locked in and I got my people there visiting Pop all
the time. What do you think of that list, Tom*"
9 Hagen frowned down at the list of names. "Jesus Christ, Sonny, you're really taking
this personal, The Don would consider it a purely business dispute. Sollozzo is the key.
Get rid of Sollozzo and everything falls in line (утрясется, придет в норму). You don't
have to go after the Tattaglias."
10 Sonny looked at his two caporegimes. Tessio shrugged. "It's tricky (запутанно =
сложное дело, трудно сказать)," he said. Clemenza didn't answer at all.
11 Sonny said to Clemenza, "One thing we can take care of without discussion. I don't
want Paulie around here anymore. Make that first on your list." The fat caporegime
nodded.
12 Hagen said, "What about Luca* Sollozzo didn't seem worried about Luca. That
worries me. If Luca sold us out, we're in real trouble. That's the first thing we have to
know. Has anybody been able to get in touch with him*"
13 "No," Sonny said. "I've been calling him all night. Maybe he's shacked up (где-то
не у себя, с женщиной сейчас проживает; shack – лачуга, хижина; to shack up –
сожительствовать с кем-то /сленг/)."
14 "No," Hagen said. "He never sleeps over with a broad (никогда не проводит с
девкой всю ночь). He always goes home when he's through (закончит). Mike, keep
ringing his number until you get an answer." Michael dutifully picked up the phone and
199
dialed. He could hear the phone ringing on the other end but no one answered. Finally
he hung up. "Keep trying every fifteen minutes," Hagen said.
15 Sonny said impatiently, "OK, Tom you're the Consigliori, how about some advice
(как насчет какого-нибудь совета)* What the hell do you think we should do*"
16 Hagen helped himself to the whiskey bottle on the desk. "We negotiate with
Sollozzo until your father is in shape to take charge (будет в форме, чтобы взять на
себя нагрузку, заботу /обо всем/). We might even make a deal if we have to. When
your father gets out of bed he can settle the whole business without a fuss (без суеты,
шума, 'базара') and all the Families will go along with him."
17 Sonny said angrily, "You think I can't handle this guy Sollozzo (не справлюсь)*"
18 Tom Hagen looked him directly in the eye. "Sonny, sure you can outfight him
(победить в бою). The Corleone Family has the power. You have Clemenza and
Tessio here and they can muster a thousand men (собрать, созвать) if it comes to an
all-out war. But at the end there will be a shambles (бойня; разрушения, руины) over
the whole East Coast and all the other Families will blame the Corleones (to blame –
винить). We'll make a lot of enemies. And that's something your father never believed
in."
19 Michael, watching Sonny, thought he took this well. But then Sonny said to Hagen,
"What if the old man dies, what do you advise then, Consigliori*"
20 Hagen said quietly, "I know you won't do it, but I would advise you to make a real
deal with Sollozzo on the drugs. Without your father's political contacts and personal
influence (влияние ['эnflu*ns]) the Corleone Family loses half its strength. Without your
father, the other New York Families might wind up supporting the Tattaglias (кончат
тем, что будут поддерживать) and Sollozzo just to make sure there isn't a long
destructive war. If your father dies, make the deal. Then wait and see."
21 Sonny was white-faced with anger. "That's easy for you to say, it's not your father
they killed."
22 Hagen said quickly and proudly, "I was as good a son to him as you or Mike,
maybe better. I'm giving you a professional opinion. Personally I want to kill all those
bastards." The emotion in his voice shamed Sonny, who said, "Oh, Christ, Tom, I didn't
mean it that way." But he had, really. Blood was blood and nothing else was its equal.
23 Sonny brooded (to brood – сидеть на яйцах, высиживать; размышлять,
вынашивать /в уме/) for a moment as the others waited in embarrassed silence. Then
he sighed and spoke quietly. "OK, we'll sit tight (будем сидеть тихо) until the old man
can give us the lead. But, Tom, I want you to stay inside the mall, too. Don't take any
chances (не рискуй). Mike, you be careful, though I don't think even Sollozzo would
bring personal family into the war. Everybody would be against him then. But be careful.
Tessio, you hold your people in reserve but have them nosing around the city (пусть
разнюхивают). Clemenza, after you settle the Paulie Gatto thing, you move your men
into the house and the mall to replace Tessio's people. Tessio, you keep your men at
the hospital, though. Tom, start negotiation over the phone or by messenger with
Sollozzo and the Tattaglias the first thing in the morning. Mike, tomorrow you take a
couple of Clemenza's people and go to Luca's house and wait for him to show up or find
out where the hell he is. That crazy bastard might be going after Sollozzo right now if
he's heard the news. I can't believe he'd ever go against his Don, no matter what the
Turk offered him."
24 Hagen said reluctantly, "Maybe Mike shouldn't get mixed up in this so directly."
25 "Right," Sonny said. "Forget that, Mike. Anyway I need you on the phone here in
the house, that's more important."
26 Michael didn't say anything. He felt awkward (неловко [‘o:kwed]), almost ashamed
(пристыженно), and he noticed Clemenza and Tessio with faces so carefully impassive
that he was sure that they were hiding their contempt (скрывали презрение). He
picked up the phone and dialed Luca Brasi's number and kept the receiver to his ear as
it rang and rang.
1 It was nearly four o'clock in the morning as they all sat in the corner room
office – Sonny, Michael, Tom Hagen, Clemenza and Tessio. Theresa Hagen had
been persuaded to go to her own home next door. Paulie Gatto was still waiting in
the living room, not knowing that Tessio's men had been instructed not to let him
leave or let him out of their sight.
2 Tom Hagen relayed the deal Sollozzo offered. He told how after Sollozzo had
learned the Don still lived, it was obvious that he meant to kill Hagen. Hagen
grinned. "If I ever plead before the Supreme Court, I'll never plead better than I did
with that goddamn Turk tonight. I told him I'd talk the Family into the deal even
though the Don was alive. I told him I could wrap you around my finger, Sonny.
How we were buddies as kids; and don't get sore, but I let him get the idea that
maybe you weren't too sorry about getting the old man's job, God forgive me." He
smiled apologetically at Sonny, who made a gesture signifying that he
understood, that it was of no consequence.
201
3 Michael, leaning back in his armchair with the phone at his right hand, studied
both men. When Hagen had entered the room Sonny had come rushing to
embrace him. Michael realized with a faint twinge of jealousy that in many ways
Sonny and Tom Hagen were closer than he himself could ever be to his own
brother.
4 "Let's get down to business," Sonny said. "We have to make plans. Take a
look at this list me and Tessio made up. Tessio, give Clemenza your copy."
5 "If we make plans," Michael said, "Freddie should be here."
6 Sonny said grimly, "Freddie is no use to us. The doctor says he's in shock so
bad he has to have complete rest. I don't understand that. Freddie was always a
pretty tough guy. I guess seeing the old man gunned down was hard on him, he
always thought the Don was God. He wasn't like you and me, Mike."
7 Hagen said quickly, "OK, leave Freddie out. Leave him out of everything,
absolutely everything. Now, Sonny, until this is all over I think you should stay in
the house. I mean never leave it. You're safe here. Don't underrate Sollozzo, he's
got to be a pezzonovante, a real .90 caliber. Is the hospital covered*"
8 Sonny nodded. "The cops have it locked in and I got my people there visiting
Pop all the time. What do you think of that list, Tom*"
9 Hagen frowned down at the list of names. "Jesus Christ, Sonny, you're really
taking this personal, The Don would consider it a purely business dispute.
Sollozzo is the key. Get rid of Sollozzo and everything falls in line. You don't have
to go after the Tattaglias."
10 Sonny looked at his two caporegimes. Tessio shrugged. "It's tricky," he said.
Clemenza didn't answer at all.
11 Sonny said to Clemenza, "One thing we can take care of without discussion. I
don't want Paulie around here anymore. Make that first on your list." The fat
caporegime nodded.
12 Hagen said, "What about Luca* Sollozzo didn't seem worried about Luca.
That worries me. If Luca sold us out, we're in real trouble. That's the first thing we
have to know. Has anybody been able to get in touch with him*"
13 "No," Sonny said. "I've been calling him all night. Maybe he's shacked up."
14 "No," Hagen said. "He never sleeps over with a broad. He always goes home
when he's through. Mike, keep ringing his number until you get an answer."
Michael dutifully picked up the phone and dialed. He could hear the phone ringing
on the other end but no one answered. Finally he hung up. "Keep trying every
fifteen minutes," Hagen said.
15 Sonny said impatiently, "OK, Tom you're the Consigliori, how about some
advice* What the hell do you think we should do*"
16 Hagen helped himself to the whiskey bottle on the desk. "We negotiate with
Sollozzo until your father is in shape to take charge. We might even make a deal if
we have to. When your father gets out of bed he can settle the whole business
without a fuss and all the Families will go along with him."
17 Sonny said angrily, "You think I can't handle this guy Sollozzo*"
18 Tom Hagen looked him directly in the eye. "Sonny, sure you can outfight him.
The Corleone Family has the power. You have Clemenza and Tessio here and
they can muster a thousand men if it comes to an all-out war. But at the end there
will be a shambles over the whole East Coast and all the other Families will blame
the Corleones. We'll make a lot of enemies. And that's something your father
never believed in."
19 Michael, watching Sonny, thought he took this well. But then Sonny said to
Hagen, "What if the old man dies, what do you advise then, Consigliori*"