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 the Corleone Family loses half its strength. Without your
father, the other New York Families might wind up supporting the Tattaglias 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 for a moment as the others waited in embarrassed silence.
Then he sighed and spoke quietly. "OK, we'll sit tight 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. 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.
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, almost ashamed, and he
noticed Clemenza and Tessio with faces so carefully impassive that he was sure
that they were hiding their contempt. He picked up the phone and dialed Luca
Brasi's number and kept the receiver to his ear as it rang and rang.
Chapter 6
1 Peter Clemenza slept badly that night. In the morning he got up early and made his
own breakfast of a glass of grappa, a thick slice of Genoa salami (slice – ломтик) with a
chunk of fresh Italian bread (chunk – толстый кусок /хлеба, сыра, мяса/) that was still
delivered to his door (to deliver – доставлять, разносить) as in the old days. Then he
drank a great, plain china mug filled with hot coffee that had been lashed with anisette
(с добавкой анисового ликера; to lash – хлестать; подхлестывать, возбуждать;
связывать). But as he padded about the house (расхаживал, мягко ступая; pad –
прокладка; подушечка /на кончиках пальцев/) in his old bathrobe and red felt slippers
he pondered on the day's work that lay ahead of him. Last night Sonny Corleone had
made it very clear that Paulie Gatto was to be taken care of immediately. It had to be
today.
2 Clemenza was troubled. Not because Gatto had been his protйgй and had turned
traitor. This did not reflect on the caporegime's judgment. After all, Paulie's background
had been perfect. He came from a Sicilian family, he had grown up in the same
neighborhood as the Corleone children, had indeed even gone to school with one of the
204
sons. He had been brought up through each level (уровень) in the proper manner. He
had been tested and not found wanting (нуждающийся; недостаточный,
неполноценный). And then after he had "made his bones" he had received a good
living from the Family, a percentage of an East Side "book" and a union payroll slot
(щель; место в расписании, надлежащее место; размеченное место для парковки
автомобиля). Clemenza had not been unaware that Paulie Gatto supplemented his
income with free-lance stickups (дополнял свой доход независимыми грабежами; to
supplement [‘sЛplэm*nt]; free-lance – «свободное копье»: ландскнехт /наемный
солдат в Средние века/; независимый, свободный; внештатный; to stick up –
останавливать с целью ограбления /сленг/), strictly against the Family rules, but even
this was a sign of the man's worth. The breaking of such regulations was considered a
sign of high-spiritedness (мужественность, удальство), like that shown by a fine racing
horse fighting the reins (поводья, вожжи).
3 And Paulie had never caused trouble with his stickups. They had always been
meticulously planned (meticulous [mэ’tэkjul*s] – мелочный, дотошный, тщательный)
and carried out with the minimum of fuss and trouble, with no one ever getting hurt: a
three-thousand-dollar Manhattan garment (одежда) center payroll (наличность), a
small chinaware factory (фабрика фарфоровых изделий) payroll in the slums
(трущобы) of Brooklyn. After all, a young man could always use some extra pocket
money. It was all in the pattern (в норме; pattern – образец, модель). Who could ever
foretell (предсказать) that Paulie Gatto would turn traitor*
4 What was troubling Peter Clemenza this morning was an administrative problem.
The actual execution of Gatto was a cut-and-dried chore (рутинное дело; cut-and-dried
– рутинный; chore [t*o:] – рутинная работа, ежедневные обязанности). The problem
was, who should the caporegime bring up from the ranks to replace Gatto in the Family*
It was an important promotion (продвижение, повышение), that to "button" man
(боевик: «солдат» /сленг/), one not to be handed out lightly. The man had to be tough
and he had to be smart. He had to be safe, not a person who would talk to the police if
he got in trouble, one well saturated (to saturate [‘sжt**reэt] – насыщать, пропитывать)
in the Sicilians' law of omerta, the law of silence. And then, what kind of a living would
he receive for his new duties* Clemenza had several times spoken to the Don about
better rewards for the all-important button man who was first in the front line when
trouble arose, but the Don had put him off. If Paulie had been making more money, he
might have been able to resist the blandishments (сопротивляться, противостоять
уговорам, обольщениям) of the wily Turk, Sollozzo.
205
5 Clemenza finally narrowed down the list of candidates to three men. The first was an
enforcer (лицо, принудительно осуществляющий право в судебном порядке; член
гангстерской банды, функцией которого является принуждение к выполнению ее
требований) who worked with the colored policy bankers in Harlem, a big brawny brute
of a man of great physical strength, a man with a great deal of personal charm who
could get along with people and yet when necessary make them go in fear of him. But
Clemenza scratched him off the list (вычеркнул; scratch – царапать; to scratch –
вычеркивать) after considering his name for a half hour. This man got along too well
with the black people, which hinted at some flaw of character (flaw – трещина, порок).
Also he would be too hard to replace in the position he now held.
6 The second name Clemenza considered and almost settled on was a hard-working
chap (парень) who served faithfully and well in the organization. This man was the
collector of delinquent accounts (cборщик процентов по счетам у тех, кто уклоняется
от платежей; delinquent [dэ'lэ*kw*nt] – нарушающий закон, правонарушитель) for
Family-licensed shylocks (ростовщики; Shylock – беспощадный и мстительный
ростовщик в пьесе Шекспира «Венецианский купец») in Manhattan. He had started
off as a bookmaker's runner. But he was not quite yet ready for such an important
promotion.
7 Finally he settled on Rocco Lampone. Lampone had served a short but impressive
apprenticeship (ученичество, срок обучения; apprentice – подмастерье) in the Family.
During the war he had been wounded in Africa and been discharged in 1943. Because
of the shortage of young men, Clemenza had taken him on even though Lampone was
partially incapacitated (был частично сделан непригодным, выведен из строя;
capacity [k*’pжsэtэ] – способность) by his injuries (injury [‘эndG*rэ] – повреждение;
рана) and walked with a pronounced limp (с явным, хорошо заметным
прихрамыванием). Clemenza had used him as a black-market contact in the garment
center and with government employees controlling OPA food stamps. From that,
Lampone had graduated to trouble-shooter (аварийный монтер; специальный
уполномоченный по улаживанию конфликтов; посредник) for the whole operation.
What Clemenza liked about him was his good judgment. He knew that there was no
percentage in being tough about something that would only cost a heavy fine (штраф)
or six months in jail, small prices to pay for the enormous profits earned. He had the
good sense to know that it was not an area for heavy threats but light ones. He kept the
whole operation in a minor key, which was exactly what was needed.
8 Clemenza felt the relief of a conscientious administrator who has solved a knotty
personnel problem. Yes, it would be Rocco Lampone who would assist. For Clemenza
planned to handle this job himself, not only to help a new, inexperienced man "make his
bones," but to settle a personal score with Paulie Gatto. Paulie had been his protйgй,
he had advanced Paulie over the heads of more deserving and more loyal people, he
had helped Paulie "make his bones" and furthered his career in every way (to further –
продвигать, поддерживать, содействовать). Paulie had not only betrayed the Family,
he had betrayed his padrone, Peter Clemenza. This lack of respect had to be repaid.
9 Everything else was arranged. Paulie Gatto had been instructed to pick him up at
three in the afternoon, and to pick him up with his own car, nothing hot (только что
украденный /сленг/). Now Clemenza took up the telephone and dialed Rocco
Lampone's number. He did not identify himself. He simply said, "Come to my house, I
have an errand for you." He was pleased to note that despite the early hour, Lampone's
voice was not surprised or dazed with sleep (to daze – изумить, ошеломить, застать
врасплох) and he simply said, "OK." Good man. Clemenza added, "No rush, have your
breakfast and lunch first before you come see me. But not later than two in the
afternoon."
10 There was another laconic OK on the other end and Clemenza hung up the phone.
He had already alerted his people about replacing caporegime Tessio's people in the
Corleone mall so that was done. He had capable subordinates and never interfered in a
mechanical operation of that kind.
11 He decided to wash his Cadillac. He loved the car. It gave him such a quiet
peaceful ride, and its upholstery (обивка) was so rich that he sometimes sat in it for an
hour when the weather was good because it was more pleasant than sitting in the
house. And it always helped him think when he was grooming the car (to groom –
чистить; холить, наводить лоск; groom – конюх). He remembered his father in Italy
doing the same thing with donkeys (ослы).
12 Clemenza worked inside the heated garage, he hated cold. He ran over his plans
(еще раз перебрал в голове). You had to be careful with Paulie, the man was like a rat,
he could smell danger. And now of course despite being so tough he must be shitting in
his pants because the old man was still alive. He'd be as skittish (норовистый,
пугливый) as a donkey with ants (муравьи) up his ass. But Clemenza was accustomed
to these circumstances (привык к этим обстоятельствам; to accustom [*‘kЛst*m] –
приучать; circumstance ['s*:k*mst*ns]), usual in his work. First, he had to have a good
excuse for Rocco to accompany them. Second, he had to have a plausible
207
(правдоподобный, внешне убедительный ['plo:z*bl]) mission for the three of them to
go on.
13 Of course, strictly speaking, this was not necessary. Paulie Gatto could be killed
without any of these frills (и без этих ухищрений, прикрас; frill – оборка, жабо;
вычурность, манерность). He was locked in, he could not run away. But Clemenza felt
strongly that it was important to keep good working habits and never give away a
fraction (дробь, доля) of a percentage point. You never could tell what might happen
and these matters were, after all, questions of life and death.
14 As he washed his baby-blue Cadillac, Peter Clemenza pondered and rehearsed his
lines (повторял, репетировал «реплики, строки»; to rehearse [rэ’h*:s]), the
expressions of his face. He would be curt with Paulie, as if displeased with him. With a
man so sensitive and suspicious as Gatto this would throw him off the track or at least
leave him uncertain. Undue friendliness would make him wary (подозрительный,
настороженный [‘wе*rэ]). But of course the curtness must not be too angry. It had to be
rather an absentminded sort of irritation. And why Lampone* Paulie would find that
most alarming, especially since Lampone had to be in the rear seat. Paulie wouldn't like
being helpless at the wheel with Lampone behind his head. Clemenza rubbed and
polished the metal of his Cadillac furiously. It was going to be tricky. Very tricky. For a
moment he debated whether to recruit another man but decided against it. Here he
followed basic reasoning. In years to come a situation might arise where it might be
profitable for one of his partners to testify against him. If there were just one accomplice
(сообщник [*'komplэs]) it was one's word against the other. But the word of a second
accomplice could swing the balance. No, they would stick to procedure
(придерживаться намеченного плана).
15 What annoyed (to annoy [*‘noэ] – докучать; раздражать) Clemenza was that the
execution had to be "public." That is, the body was to be found. He would have much
preferred having it disappear. (Usual burying grounds were the nearby ocean or the
swamplands (болота) of New Jersey on land owned by friends of the Family or by other
more complicated methods.) But it had to be public so that embryo traitors (предатели
«в зародыше») would be frightened and the enemy warned that the Corleone Family
had by no means gone stupid or soft (вовсе не поглупела и не ослабла, размякла).
Sollozzo would be made wary by this quick discovery of his spy (шпион). The Corleone
Family would win back some of its prestige (престиж [pres’ti:G]). It had been made to
look foolish by the shooting of the old man.
16 Clemenza sighed. The Cadillac gleamed like a huge blue steel egg, and he was
nowhere near the solving of his problem. Then the solution hit him, logical and to the
point. It would explain Rocco Lampone, himself and Paulie being together and give
them a mission of sufficient secrecy and importance (sufficient – достаточный
[s*’fэ**nt]).
17 He would tell Paulie that their job today was to find an apartment in case the Family
decided to "go to the mattresses (залечь в матрасы)."
18 Whenever a war between the Families became bitterly intense, the opponents
would set up headquarters (устраивать штаб-квартиры) in secret apartments where
the "soldiers" could sleep on mattresses scattered (разбросанные) through the rooms.
This was not so much (не столько для того /чтобы/) to keep their families out of
danger, their wives and little children, since any attack on noncombatants (на «мирных
жителей», на не участвующих в сражении) was undreamed of (немыслима). All
parties were too vulnerable (ранимы) to similar retaliation (для подобного ответного
удара; retaliation – возмездие). But it was always smarter to live in some secret place
where your everyday movements could not be charted (нанесены на карту =
прослежены) either by your opponents or by some police who might arbitrarily (без
достаточных оснований, своевольно) decide to meddle.
19 And so usually a trusted caporegime would be sent out to rent a secret apartment
and fill it with mattresses. That apartment would be used as a sally port (проход /в
укреплении/, используемый войсками для совершения вылазки; sally – вылазка)
into the city when an offensive was mounted (когда организуется, предпринимается
нападение; to mount – подниматься, восходить; предпринимать). It was natural for
Clemenza to be sent on such an errand. It was natural for him to take Gatto and
Lampone with him to arrange all the details, including the furnishing of the apartment
(меблировку помещения; to furnish – снабжать; обставлять, меблировать). Also,
Clemenza thought with a grin, Paulie Gatto had proved he was greedy and the first
thought that would pop into his head (неожиданно появится) was how much he could
get from Sollozzo for this valuable intelligence (за это ценное сведение).
20 Rocco Lampone arrived early and Clemenza explained what had to be done and
what their roles would be. Lampone's face lit up with surprised gratitude and he thanked
Clemenza respectfully for the promotion allowing him (позволяющее) to serve the
Family. Clemenza was sure he had done well. He clapped Lampone on the shoulder
and said, "You'll get something better for your living after today. We'll talk about that
later. You understand the Family now is occupied with more critical matters, more
important things to do." Lampone made a gesture that said he would be patient,
knowing his reward was certain.
21 Clemenza went to his den's safe (den – берлога, нора; укрытие; каморка,
уединенная комната) and opened it. He took out a gun and gave it to Lampone. "Use
this one," he said. "They can never trace it. Leave it in the car with Paulie. When this job
is finished I want you to take your wife and children on a vacation to Florida. Use your
own money now and I'll pay you back later. Relax, get the sun. Use the Family hotel in
Miami Beach so I'll know where I can get you when I want."
22 Clemenza's wife knocked on the door of the den to tell them that Paulie Gatto had
arrived. He was parked in the driveway. Clemenza led the way through the garage and
Lampone followed him. When Clemenza got into the front seat with Gatto he merely
grunted in greeting, an exasperated look on his face. He looked at his wrist watch as if
he expected to find that Gatto was late.
23 The ferret-faced button man was watching him intently, looking for a clue (клубок,
моток /ниток/; ключ /к разгадке/). He flinched (вздрогнул, передернулся) a little when
Lampone got into the rear seat behind him and said, "Rocco, sit on the other side. A big
guy like you blocks up my rear-view mirror." Lampone shifted dutifully (как положено =
послушно) so that he was sitting behind Clemenza, as if such a request (просьба) was
the most natural thing in the world.
24 Clemenza said sourly to Gatto, "Damn that Sonny, he's running scared (сильно
напуган). He's already thinking of going to the mattresses. We have to find a place on
the West Side. Paulie, you and Rocco gotta staff and supply it (набрать людей и всем
обеспечить) until the word comes down for the rest of the soldiers to use it. You know a
good location (помещение, место; размещение, дислокация)*"
25 As he had expected, Gatto's eyes became greedily interested. Paulie had
swallowed the bait (проглотил наживку, приманку) and because he was thinking how
much the information was worth to Sollozzo, he was forgetting to think about whether he
was in danger. Also, Lampone was acting his part perfectly, staring out the window in a
disinterested, relaxed way. Clemenza congratulated himself on his choice.
26 Gatto shrugged. "I'd have to think about it," he said.
27 Clemenza grunted. "Drive while you think, I want to get to New York today."
28 Paulie was an expert driver and traffic going into the city was light at this time in the
afternoon, so the early winter darkness was just beginning to fall when they arrived.
There was no small talk in the car. Clemenza directed Paulie to drive up to the
Washington Heights section. He checked a few apartment buildings and told him to park
210
near Arthur Avenue and wait. He also left Rocco Lampone in the car. He went into the
Vera Mario Restaurant and had a light dinner of veal (телятина) and salad, nodding his
hello's to some acquaintances (знакомым; acquaintance [*'kweэnt*ns] – знакомство;
знакомый). After an hour had gone by he walked the several blocks (несколько
кварталов) to where the car was parked and entered it. Gatto and Lampone were still
waiting. "Shit," Clemenza said, "they want us back in Long Beach. They got some other
job for us now. Sonny says we can let this one go until later. Rocco, you live in the city,
can we drop you off (подвезти: «сбросить»)*"
29 Rocco said quietly, "I have my car out at your place and my old lady needs it first
thing in the morning (прямо с самого утра)."
30 "That's right," Clemenza said. "Then you have to come back with us, after all."
31 Again on the ride back to Long Beach nothing was said. On the stretch of road (на
отрезке дороги; to stretch – тянуть/ся/, растягивать/ся/) that led into the city,
Clemenza said suddenly, "Paulie, pull over (останови машину: «отъезжай-ка к
обочине»), I gotta take a leak (мне надо спустить; leak – течь, утечка; to leak –
просачиваться)." From working together so long, Gatto knew the fat caporegime had a
weak bladder (мочевой пузырь). He had often made such a request (просьба,
требование, заявка [rэ'kwest]). Gatto pulled the car off the highway onto the soft earth
that led to the swamp (вела к болоту). Clemenza climbed out of the car and took a few
steps into the bushes. He actually relieved himself (и в самом деле облегчился). Then
as he opened the door to get back into the car he took a quick look up and down the
highway. There were no lights, the road was completely dark. "Go ahead," Clemenza
said. A second later the interior of the car reverberated with the report of a gun (to
reverberate – отражаться, отдаваться /о звуке/; report – звенящее эхо /выстрела/).
Paulie Gatto seemed to jump forward, his body flinging against the steering wheel and
then slumping over to the seat (осев, резко упав). Clemenza had stepped back hastily
to avoid being hit with fragments of skull bone and blood.
32 Rocco Lampone scrambled out (выкарабкался, вылез) of the back seat. He still
held the gun and he threw it into the swamp. He and Clemenza walked hastily to a car
parked nearby and got in. Lampone reached underneath the seat and found the key
that had been left for them. He started the car and drove Clemenza to his home. Then
instead of going back by the same route, he took the Jones Beach Causeway right on
through to the town of Merrick and onto the Meadowbrook Parkway until he reached the
Northern State Parkway. He rode that to the Long Island Expressway and then
continued on to the Whitestone Bridge and through the Bronx to his home in Manhattan.
1 Peter Clemenza slept badly that night. In the morning he got up early and
made his own breakfast of a glass of grappa, a thick slice of Genoa salami with a
chunk of fresh Italian bread that was still delivered to his door as in the old days.
Then he drank a great, plain china mug filled with hot coffee that had been lashed
with anisette. But as he padded about the house in his old bathrobe and red felt
slippers he pondered on the day's work that lay ahead of him. Last night Sonny
Corleone had made it very clear that Paulie Gatto was to be taken care of
immediately. It had to be today.
2 Clemenza was troubled. Not because Gatto had been his protйgй and had
turned traitor. This did not reflect on the caporegime's judgment. After all,
Paulie's background had been perfect. He came from a Sicilian family, he had
grown up in the same neighborhood as the Corleone children, had indeed even
gone to school with one of the sons. He had been brought up through each level
in the proper manner. He had been tested and not found wanting. And then after
he had "made his bones" he had received a good living from the Family, a
percentage of an East Side "book" and a union payroll slot. Clemenza had not
been unaware that Paulie Gatto supplemented his income with free-lance
stickups, strictly against the Family rules, but even this was a sign of the man's
worth. The breaking of such regulations was considered a sign of high-
spiritedness, like that shown by a fine racing horse fighting the reins.
3 And Paulie had never caused trouble with his stickups. They had always been
meticulously planned and carried out with the minimum of fuss and trouble, with
no one ever getting hurt: a three-thousand-dollar Manhattan garment center
payroll, a small chinaware factory payroll in the slums of Brooklyn. After all, a
young man could always use some extra pocket money. It was all in the pattern.
Who could ever foretell that Paulie Gatto would turn traitor*
4 What was troubling Peter Clemenza this morning was an administrative
problem. The actual execution of Gatto was a cut-and-dried chore. The problem
was, who should the caporegime bring up from the ranks to replace Gatto in the
Family* It was an important promotion, that to "button" man, one not to be
handed out lightly. The man had to be tough and he had to be smart. He had to be
safe, not a person who would talk to the police if he got in trouble, one well
saturated in the Sicilians' law of omerta, the law of silence. And then, what kind of
a living would he receive for his new duties* Clemenza had several times spoken
212
to the Don about better rewards for the all-important button man who was first in
the front line when trouble arose, but the Don had put him off. If Paulie had been
making more money, he might have been able to resist the blandishments of the
wily Turk, Sollozzo.
5 Clemenza finally narrowed down the list of candidates to three men. The first
was an enforcer who worked with the colored policy bankers in Harlem, a big
brawny brute of a man of great physical strength, a man with a great deal of
personal charm who could get along with people and yet when necessary make
them go in fear of him. But Clemenza scratched him off the list after considering
his name for a half hour. This man got along too well with the black people, which
hinted at some flaw of character. Also he would be too hard to replace in the
position he now held.
6 The second name Clemenza considered and almost settled on was a hard-
working chap who served faithfully and well in the organization. This man was the
collector of delinquent accounts for Family-licensed shylocks in Manhattan. He
had started off as a bookmaker's runner. But he was not quite yet ready for such
an important promotion.
7 Finally he settled on Rocco Lampone. Lampone had served a short but
impressive apprenticeship in the Family. During the war he had been wounded in
Africa and been discharged in 1943. Because of the shortage of young men,
Clemenza had taken him on even though Lampone was partially incapacitated by
his injuries and walked with a pronounced limp. Clemenza had used him as a
black-market contact in the garment center and with government employees
controlling OPA food stamps. From that, Lampone had graduated to trouble-
shooter for the whole operation. What Clemenza liked about him was his good
judgment. He knew that there was no percentage in being tough about something
that would only cost a heavy fine or six months in jail, small prices to pay for the
enormous profits earned. He had the good sense to know that it was not an area
for heavy threats but light ones. He kept the whole operation in a minor key,
which was exactly what was needed.
8 Clemenza felt the relief of a conscientious administrator who has solved a
knotty personnel problem. Yes, it would be Rocco Lampone who would assist.
For Clemenza planned to handle this job himself, not only to help a new,
inexperienced man "make his bones," but to settle a personal score with Paulie
Gatto. Paulie had been his protйgй, he had advanced Paulie over the heads of
213
more deserving and more loyal people, he had helped Paulie "make his bones"
and furthered his career in every way. Paulie had not only betrayed the Family, he
had betrayed his padrone, Peter Clemenza. This lack of respect had to be repaid.
9 Everything else was arranged. Paulie Gatto had been instructed to pick him up
at three in the afternoon, and to pick him up with his own car, nothing hot. Now
Clemenza took up the telephone and dialed Rocco Lampone's number. He did not
identify himself. He simply said, "Come to my house, I have an errand for you."
He was pleased to note that despite the early hour, Lampone's voice was not
surprised or dazed with sleep and he simply said, "OK." Good man. Clemenza
added, "No rush, have your breakfast and lunch first before you come see me.
But not later than two in the afternoon."
10 There was another laconic OK on the other end and Clemenza hung up the
phone. He had already alerted his people about replacing caporegime Tessio's
people in the Corleone mall so that was done. He had capable subordinates and
never interfered in a mechanical operation of that kind.
11 He decided to wash his Cadillac. He loved the car. It gave him such a quiet
peaceful ride, and its upholstery was so rich that he sometimes sat in it for an
hour when the weather was good because it was more pleasant than sitting in the
house. And it always helped him think when he was grooming the car. He
remembered his father in Italy doing the same thing with donkeys.
12 Clemenza worked inside the heated garage, he hated cold. He ran over his
plans. You had to be careful with Paulie, the man was like a rat, he could smell
danger. And now of course despite being so tough he must be shitting in his
pants because the old man was still alive. He'd be as skittish as a donkey with
ants up his ass. But Clemenza was accustomed to these circumstances, usual in
his work. First, he had to have a good excuse for Rocco to accompany them.
Second, he had to have a plausible mission for the three of them to go on.
13 Of course, strictly speaking, this was not necessary. Paulie Gatto could be
killed without any of these frills. He was locked in, he could not run away. But
Clemenza felt strongly that it was important to keep good working habits and
never give away a fraction of a percentage point. You never could tell what might
happen and these matters were, after all, questions of life and death.
14 As he washed his baby-blue Cadillac, Peter Clemenza pondered and
rehearsed his lines, the expressions of his face. He would be curt with Paulie, as
if displeased with him. With a man so sensitive and suspicious as Gatto this
214
would throw him off the track or at least leave him uncertain. Undue friendliness
would make him wary. But of course the curtness must not be too angry. It had to
be rather an absentminded sort of irritation. And why Lampone* Paulie would
find that most alarming, especially since Lampone had to be in the rear seat.
Paulie wouldn't like being helpless at the wheel with Lampone behind his head.
Clemenza rubbed and polished the metal of his Cadillac furiously. It was going to
be tricky. Very tricky. For a moment he debated whether to recruit another man
but decided against it. Here he followed basic reasoning. In years to come a
situation might arise where it might be profitable for one of his partners to testify
against him. If there were just one accomplice it was one's word against the other.
But the word of a second accomplice could swing the balance. No, they would
stick to procedure.
15 What annoyed Clemenza was that the execution had to be "public." That is,
the body was to be found. He would have much preferred having it disappear.
(Usual burying grounds were the nearby ocean or the swamplands of New Jersey
on land owned by friends of the Family or by other more complicated methods.)
But it had to be public so that embryo traitors would be frightened and the enemy
warned that the Corleone Family had by no means gone stupid or soft. Sollozzo
would be made wary by this quick discovery of his spy. The Corleone Family
would win back some of its prestige. It had been made to look foolish by the
shooting of the old man.
16 Clemenza sighed. The Cadillac gleamed like a huge blue steel egg, and he
was nowhere near the solving of his problem. Then the solution hit him, logical
and to the point. It would explain Rocco Lampone, himself and Paulie being
together and give them a mission of sufficient secrecy and importance.
17 He would tell Paulie that their job today was to find an apartment in case the
Family decided to "go to the mattresses."
18 Whenever a war between the Families became bitterly intense, the opponents
would set up headquarters in secret apartments where the "soldiers" could sleep
on mattresses scattered through the rooms. This was not so much to keep their
families out of danger, their wives and little children, since any attack on
noncombatants was undreamed of. All parties were too vulnerable to similar
retaliation. But it was always smarter to live in some secret place where your
everyday movements could not be charted either by your opponents or by some
police who might arbitrarily decide to meddle.
19 And so usually a trusted caporegime would be sent out to rent a secret
apartment and fill it with mattresses. That apartment would be used as a sally
port into the city when an offensive was mounted. It was natural for Clemenza to
be sent on such an errand. It was natural for him to take Gatto and Lampone with
him to arrange all the details, including the furnishing of the apartment. Also,
Clemenza thought with a grin, Paulie Gatto had proved he was greedy and the
first thought that would pop into his head was how much he could get from
Sollozzo for this valuable intelligence.
20 Rocco Lampone arrived early and Clemenza explained what had to be done
and what their roles would be. Lampone's face lit up with surprised gratitude and
he thanked Clemenza respectfully for the promotion allowing him to serve the
Family. Clemenza was sure he had done well. He clapped Lampone on the
shoulder and said, "You'll get something better for your living after today. We'll
talk about that later. You understand the Family now is occupied with more
critical matters, more important things to do." Lampone made a gesture that said
he would be patient, knowing his reward was certain.
21 Clemenza went to his den's safe and opened it. He took out a gun and gave it
to Lampone. "Use this one," he said. "They can never trace it. Leave it in the car
with Paulie. When this job is finished I want you to take your wife and children on
a vacation to Florida. Use your own money now and I'll pay you back later. Relax,
get the sun. Use the Family hotel in Miami Beach so I'll know where I can get you
when I want."
22 Clemenza's wife knocked on the door of the den to tell them that Paulie Gatto
had arrived. He was parked in the driveway. Clemenza led the way through the
garage and Lampone followed him. When Clemenza got into the front seat with
Gatto he merely grunted in greeting, an exasperated look on his face. He looked
at his wrist watch as if he expected to find that Gatto was late.
23 The ferret-faced button man was watching him intently, looking for a clue. He
flinched a little when Lampone got into the rear seat behind him and said, "Rocco,
sit on the other side. A big guy like you blocks up my rear-view mirror." Lampone
shifted dutifully so that he was sitting behind Clemenza, as if such a request was
the most natural thing in the world.
24 Clemenza said sourly to Gatto, "Damn that Sonny, he's running scared. He's
already thinking of going to the mattresses. We have to find a place on the West
216
Side. Paulie, you and Rocco gotta staff and supply it until the word comes down
for the rest of the soldiers to use it. You know a good location*"
25 As he had expected, Gatto's eyes became greedily interested. Paulie had
swallowed the bait and because he was thinking how much the information was
worth to Sollozzo, he was forgetting to think about whether he was in danger.
Also, Lampone was acting his part perfectly, staring out the window in a
disinterested, relaxed way. Clemenza congratulated himself on his choice.
26 Gatto shrugged. "I'd have to think about it," he said.
27 Clemenza grunted. "Drive while you think, I want to get to New York today."
28 Paulie was an expert driver and traffic going into the city was light at this time
in the afternoon, so the early winter darkness was just beginning to fall when they
arrived. There was no small talk in the car. Clemenza directed Paulie to drive up
to the Washington Heights section. He checked a few apartment buildings and
told him to park near Arthur Avenue and wait. He also left Rocco Lampone in the
car. He went into the Vera Mario Restaurant and had a light dinner of veal and
salad, nodding his hello's to some acquaintances. After an hour had gone by he
walked the several blocks to where the car was parked and entered it. Gatto and
Lampone were still waiting. "Shit," Clemenza said, "they want us back in Long
Beach. They got some other job for us now. Sonny says we can let this one go
until later. Rocco, you live in the city, can we drop you off*"
29 Rocco said quietly, "I have my car out at your place and my old lady needs it
first thing in the morning."
30 "That's right," Clemenza said. "Then you have to come back with us, after
all."
31 Again on the ride back to Long Beach nothing was said. On the stretch of
road that led into the city, Clemenza said suddenly, "Paulie, pull over, I gotta take
a leak." From working together so long, Gatto knew the fat caporegime had a
weak bladder. He had often made such a request. Gatto pulled the car off the
highway onto the soft earth that led to the swamp. Clemenza climbed out of the
car and took a few steps into the bushes. He actually relieved himself. Then as he
opened the door to get back into the car he took a quick look up and down the
highway. There were no lights, the road was completely dark. "Go ahead,"
Clemenza said. A second later the interior of the car reverberated with the report
of a gun. Paulie Gatto seemed to jump forward, his body flinging against the
217
steering wheel and then slumping over to the seat. Clemenza had stepped back
hastily to avoid being hit with fragments of skull bone and blood.
32 Rocco Lampone scrambled out of the back seat. He still held the gun and he
threw it into the swamp. He and Clemenza walked hastily to a car parked nearby
and got in. Lampone reached underneath the seat and found the key that had
been left for them. He started the car and drove Clemenza to his home. Then
instead of going back by the same route, he took the Jones Beach Causeway
right on through to the town of Merrick and onto the Meadowbrook Parkway until
he reached the Northern State Parkway. He rode that to the Long Island
Expressway and then continued on to the Whitestone Bridge and through the
Bronx to his home in Manhattan.
Chapter 7
1 On the night before the shooting of Don Corleone, his strongest and most loyal and
most feared retainer (cлуга /постоянно живущий в семье/) prepared to meet with the
enemy. Luca Brasi had made contact with the forces of Sollozzo several months before.
He had done so on the orders of Don Corleone himself. He had done so by frequenting
the nightclubs (посещая; to frequent [fri:’kwent] – часто посещать, бывать) controlled
by the Tattaglia Family and by taking up with one of their top call girls (завязав
отношения, занявшись одной из их основных девушек по вызову). In bed with this
call girl he grumbled about how he was held down in the Corleone Family (ворчал, что
ему не дают ходу; to hold down – удерживать, держать в подчинении), how his
worth was not recognized (его достоинство /то, на что он способен/, не признается,
не ценится; to recognize [‘rek*gnaэz] – признавать). After a week of this affair with the
call girl (affair [*'fе*] – связь), Luca was approached by Bruno Tattaglia (к нему
обратился; to approach [*‘pr*ut*] – приближаться, подходить; обращаться /с
просьбой, предложением/), manager of the nightclub. Bruno was the youngest son,
and ostensibly not connected (якобы, по видимости не связанный, не причастный)
with the Family business of prostitution. But his famous nightclub with its dancing line of
long-stemmed beauties (длинноногих красоток; stem – стебель; long-stemmed – c
длинным стеблем; длинноногая) was the finishing school for many of the city hookers
(уличных проституток).
2 The first meeting was all above-board (открытый, прямой), Tattaglia offering him a
job to work in the Family business as enforcer (enforcer – «принудитель», член
218
гангстерской банды, функцией которого является принуждение к выполнению ее
требований или приведение в исполнение ее приговоров). The flirtation went on for
nearly a month. Luca played his role of man infatuated with a young beautiful girl (to
infatuate [эn’fжtjueэt] – свести с ума, внушить сильную страсть), Bruno Tattaglia the
role of a businessman trying to recruit an able executive from a rival (от соперника,
конкурента). At one such meeting, Luca pretended to be swayed (сделал вид, что
соглашается: «что уговорен»; to sway – качаться, колебаться; склонять /к чему-
либо/), then said, "But one thing must be understood. I will never go against the
Godfather. Don Corleone is a man I respect. I understand that he must put his sons
before me in the Family business."
3 Bruno Tattaglia was one of the new generation with a barely hidden contempt (с
едва скрываемым презрением) for the old Moustache Petes like Luca Brasi, Don
Corleone and even his own father. He was just a little too respectful. Now he said, "My
father wouldn't expect you to do anything against the Corleones. Why should he*
Everybody gets along with everybody else now (все уживаются, договариваются), it's
not like the old days. It's just that if you're looking for a new job, I can pass along the
word to my father (передать). There's always need for a man like you in our business.
It's a hard business and it needs hard men to keep it running smooth. Let me know if
you ever make up your mind (если надумаешь)."
4 Luca shrugged. "It's not so bad where I'm at." And so they left it.
5 The general idea had been to lead the Tattaglias to believe that he knew about the
lucrative narcotics operation (lucrative [‘lu:kr*tэv] – прибыльный) and that he wanted a
piece of it free-lance. In that fashion he might hear something about Sollozzo's plans if
the Turk had any, or whether he was getting ready to step on the toes of Don Corleone
(собирается ли он что-либо предпринять против Дона Корлеоне: «наступить на
пальцы ног»). After waiting for two months with nothing else happening, Luca reported
to the Don that obviously Sollozzo was taking his defeat graciously (gracious ['greэ**s] –
милостивый; любезный, обходительный, вежливый). The Don had told him to keep
trying but merely as a sideline, not to press it.
6 Luca had dropped into the nightclub the evening before Don Corleone's being shot.
Almost immediately Bruno Tattaglia had come to his table and sat down.
7 "I have a friend who wants to talk to you," he said.
8 "Bring him over," Luca said. "I'll talk to any friend of yours."
9 "No," Bruno said. "He wants to see you in private."
10 "Who is he*" Luca asked.
219
11 "Just a friend of mine," Bruno Tattaglia said. "He wants to put a proposition to you.
Can you meet him later on tonight*"
12 "Sure," Luca said. "What time and where*"
13 Tattaglia said softly, "The club closes at four in the morning. Why don't you meet in
here while the waiters are cleaning up*"
14 They knew his habits (привычки ['hжbэt]), Luca thought, they must have been
checking him out (они, должно быть, следили за ним, выслеживали его). He usually
got up about three or four in the afternoon and had breakfast, then amused himself by
gambling with cronies in the Family (crony – закадычный друг, дружок) or had a girl.
Sometimes he saw one of the midnight movies and then would drop in for a drink at one
of the clubs. He never went to bed before dawn. So the suggestion (предложение) of a
four A.M. meeting was not as outlandish (странным, диковинным: «заморским») as it
seemed.
15 "Sure, sure," he said. "I'll be back at four." He left the club and caught a cab to his
furnished room on Tenth Avenue. He boarded (проживал; board – обеденный,
накрытый стол; board – столоваться, проживать /за плату/) with an Italian family to
which he was distantly related (в отдаленном родстве). His two rooms were separated
from the rest of their railroad flat by a special door. He liked the arrangement (этот
порядок, такое устройство, положение вещей) because it gave him some family life
and also protection against surprise where he was most vulnerable.
16 The sly Turkish fox was going to show his bushy tail (хитрая лиса покажет свой
пышный хвост), Luca thought. If things went far enough, if Sollozzo committed himself
tonight (раскроется, выдаст себя; to commit – совершать /выходящее за какие-либо
рамки действие/; вверять; компрометировать), maybe the whole thing could be
wound up as a Christmas present for the Don. In his room, Luca unlocked the trunk
(сундук) beneath the bed and took out a bulletproof vest (пуленепробиваемый жилет).
It was heavy. He undressed and put it on over his woolen underwear, then put his shirt
and jacket over it. He thought for a moment of calling the Don's house at Long Beach to
tell him of this new development but he knew the Don never talked over the phone, to
anyone, and the Don had given him this assignment (задание: «назначение»
[*'saэnm*nt]) in secret and so did not want anyone, not even Hagen or his eldest son, to
know about it.
17 Luca always carried a gun. He had a license to carry a gun, probably the most
expensive gun license ever issued anyplace, anytime (to issue [‘э*u:], [‘эsju:] – исходить,
вытекать; выдавать). It had cost a total of ten thousand dollars but it would keep him
out of jail if he was frisked by the cops (to frisk – скакать, прыгать; обыскивать /в
поисках оружия – сленг/). As a top executive operating official of the Family he rated
the license (заслуживал, удостоился). But tonight, just in case he could finish off the
job, he wanted a "safe" gun. One that could not possibly be traced. But then thinking the
matter over, he decided that he would just listen to the proposition tonight and report
back to the Godfather, Don Corleone.
18 He made his way back to the club but he did not drink any more. Instead he
wandered out to 48th Street, where he had a leisurely (неспешный; leisure [‘leG*] –
досуг, свободное время) late supper at Patsy's, his favorite Italian restaurant. When it
was time for his appointment (для назначенной встречи) he drifted uptown (неспешно
отправился в жилые кварталы /из центра/; to drift – сносить течением) to the club
entrance. The doorman was no longer there when he went in. The hatcheck girl
(гардеробщица) was gone. Only Bruno Tattaglia waited to greet him and lead him to
the deserted bar at the side of the room. Before him he could see the desert of small
tables with the polished yellow wood dance floor gleaming like a small diamond in the
middle of them. In the shadows was the empty bandstand, out of it grew the skeleton
metal stalk (стебель) of a microphone.
19 Luca sat at the bar and Bruno Tattaglia went behind it. Luca refused the drink
offered to him and lit a cigarette. It was possible that this would turn out to be something
else, not the Turk. But then he saw Sollozzo emerge out of the shadows (как появился,
возник) at the far end of the room.
20 Sollozzo shook his hand and sat at the bar next to him. Tattaglia put a glass in front
of the Turk, who nodded his thanks. "Do you know who I am*" asked Sollozzo.
21 Luca nodded. He smiled grimly. The rats were being flushed out of their holes. It
would be his pleasure to take care of this renegade Sicilian.
22 "Do you know what I am going to ask of you*" Sollozzo asked.
23 Luca shook his head.
24 "There's big business to be made," Sollozzo said. "I mean millions for everybody at
the top level. On the first shipment I can guarantee you fifty thousand dollars. I'm talking
about drugs. It's the coming thing."
25 Luca said, "Why come to me* You want me to talk to my Don*"
26 Sollozzo grimaced. "I've already talked to the Don. He wants no part of it. All right, I
can do without him. But I need somebody strong to protect the operation physically. I
understand you're not happy with your Family, you might make a switch (перейти к нам:
«сделать переключение»)."
27 Luca shrugged. "If the offer is good enough."
28 Sollozzo had been watching him intently and seemed to have come to a decision
(принял решение). "Think about my offer for a few days and then we'll talk again," he
said. He put out his hand but Luca pretended not to see it and busied himself putting a
cigarette in his mouth. Behind the bar, Bruno Tattaglia made a lighter (зажигалку)
appear magically and held it to Luca's cigarette. And then he did a strange thing. He
dropped the lighter on the bar and grabbed Luca's right hand, holding it tight.
29 Luca reacted instantly, his body slipping off the bar stool and trying to twist away
(вывернуться). But Sollozzo had grabbed his other hand at the wrist (схватил у
запястья). Still, Luca was too strong for both of them and would have broken free
except that a man stepped out of the shadows behind him and threw a thin silken cord
around his neck. The cord pulled tight, choking off Luca's breath (to choke – душить).
His face became purple, the strength in his arms drained away (to drain – осушать,
делать дренаж; истощать, выкачивать). Tattaglia and Sollozzo held his hands easily
now, and they stood there curiously childlike as the man behind Luca pulled the cord
around Luca's neck tighter and tighter. Suddenly the floor was wet and slippery. Luca's
sphincter, no longer under control, opened, the waste («отходы, отбросы») of his body
spilled out (пролились). There was no strength in him anymore and his legs folded
(подогнулись; to fold – складывать/ся/), his body sagged. Sollozzo and Tattaglia let
his hands go and only the strangler stayed with the victim (удушитель остался с
жертвой; to strangle – задушить), sinking to his knees to follow Luca's falling body,
drawing the cord so tight that it cut into the flesh of the neck and disappeared. Luca's
eyes were bulging out of his head (вылезли: «выпятились») as if in the utmost surprise
(словно от крайнего удивления) and this surprise was the only humanity remaining to
him. He was dead.
30 "I don't want him found," Sollozzo said. "It's important that he not be found right
now" He turned on his heel and left, disappearing back into the shadows.
1 On the night before the shooting of Don Corleone, his strongest and most
loyal and most feared retainer prepared to meet with the enemy. Luca Brasi had
made contact with the forces of Sollozzo several months before. He had done so
on the orders of Don Corleone himself. He had done so by frequenting the
nightclubs controlled by the Tattaglia Family and by taking up with one of their
top call girls. In bed with this call girl he grumbled about how he was held down
in the Corleone Family, how his worth was not recognized. After a week of this
222
affair with the call girl, Luca was approached by Bruno Tattaglia, manager of the
nightclub. Bruno was the youngest son, and ostensibly not connected with the
Family business of prostitution. But his famous nightclub with its dancing line of
long-stemmed beauties was the finishing school for many of the city hookers.
2 The first meeting was all above-board, Tattaglia offering him a job to work in
the Family business as enforcer. The flirtation went on for nearly a month. Luca
played his role of man infatuated with a young beautiful girl, Bruno Tattaglia the
role of a businessman trying to recruit an able executive from a rival. At one such
meeting, Luca pretended to be swayed, then said, "But one thing must be
understood. I will never go against the Godfather. Don Corleone is a man I
respect. I understand that he must put his sons before me in the Family
business."
3 Bruno Tattaglia was one of the new generation with a barely hidden contempt
for the old Moustache Petes like Luca Brasi, Don Corleone and even his own
father. He was just a little too respectful. Now he said, "My father wouldn't expect
you to do anything against the Corleones. Why should he* Everybody gets along
with everybody else now, it's not like the old days. It's just that if you're looking
for a new job, I can pass along the word to my father. There's always need for a
man like you in our business. It's a hard business and it needs hard men to keep
it running smooth. Let me know if you ever make up your mind."
4 Luca shrugged. "It's not so bad where I'm at." And so they left it.
5 The general idea had been to lead the Tattaglias to believe that he knew about
the lucrative narcotics operation and that he wanted a piece of it free-lance. In
that fashion he might hear something about Sollozzo's plans if the Turk had any,
or whether he was getting ready to step on the toes of Don Corleone. After
waiting for two months with nothing else happening, Luca reported to the Don
that obviously Sollozzo was taking his defeat graciously. The Don had told him to
keep trying but merely as a sideline, not to press it.
6 Luca had dropped into the nightclub the evening before Don Corleone's being
shot. Almost immediately Bruno Tattaglia had come to his table and sat down.
7 "I have a friend who wants to talk to you," he said.
8 "Bring him over," Luca said. "I'll talk to any friend of yours."
9 "No," Bruno said. "He wants to see you in private."
10 "Who is he*" Luca asked.
223
11 "Just a friend of mine," Bruno Tattaglia said. "He wants to put a proposition
to you. Can you meet him later on tonight*"
12 "Sure," Luca said. "What time and where*"
13 Tattaglia said softly, "The club closes at four in the morning. Why don't you
meet in here while the waiters are cleaning up*"
14 They knew his habits, Luca thought, they must have been checking him out.
He usually got up about three or four in the afternoon and had breakfast, then
amused himself by gambling with cronies in the Family or had a girl. Sometimes
he saw one of the midnight movies and then would drop in for a drink at one of
the clubs. He never went to bed before dawn. So the suggestion of a four A.M.
meeting was not as outlandish as it seemed.
15 "Sure, sure," he said. "I'll be back at four." He left the club and caught a cab
to his furnished room on Tenth Avenue. He boarded with an Italian family to
which he was distantly related. His two rooms were separated from the rest of
their railroad flat by a special door. He liked the arrangement because it gave him
some family life and also protection against surprise where he was most
vulnerable.
16 The sly Turkish fox was going to show his bushy tail, Luca thought. If things
went far enough, if Sollozzo committed himself tonight, maybe the whole thing
could be wound up as a Christmas present for the Don. In his room, Luca
unlocked the trunk beneath the bed and took out a bulletproof vest. It was heavy.
He undressed and put it on over his woolen underwear, then put his shirt and
jacket over it. He thought for a moment of calling the Don's house at Long Beach
to tell him of this new development but he knew the Don never talked over the
phone, to anyone, and the Don had given him this assignment in secret and so
did not want anyone, not even Hagen or his eldest son, to know about it.
17 Luca always carried a gun. He had a license to carry a gun, probably the most
expensive gun license ever issued anyplace, anytime. It had cost a total of ten
thousand dollars but it would keep him out of jail if he was frisked by the cops.
As a top executive operating official of the Family he rated the license. But
tonight, just in case he could finish off the job, he wanted a "safe" gun. One that
could not possibly be traced. But then thinking the matter over, he decided that
he would just listen to the proposition tonight and report back to the Godfather,
Don Corleone.
224
18 He made his way back to the club but he did not drink any more. Instead he
wandered out to 48th Street, where he had a leisurely late supper at Patsy's, his
favorite Italian restaurant. When it was time for his appointment he drifted uptown
to the club entrance. The doorman was no longer there when he went in. The
hatcheck girl was gone. Only Bruno Tattaglia waited to greet him and lead him to
the deserted bar at the side of the room. Before him he could see the desert of
small tables with the polished yellow wood dance floor gleaming like a small
diamond in the middle of them. In the shadows was the empty bandstand, out of
it grew the skeleton metal stalk of a microphone.
19 Luca sat at the bar and Bruno Tattaglia went behind it. Luca refused the drink
offered to him and lit a cigarette. It was possible that this would turn out to be
something else, not the Turk. But then he saw Sollozzo emerge out of the
shadows at the far end of the room.
20 Sollozzo shook his hand and sat at the bar next to him. Tattaglia put a glass
in front of the Turk, who nodded his thanks. "Do you know who I am*" asked
Sollozzo.
21 Luca nodded. He smiled grimly. The rats were being flushed out of their holes.
It would be his pleasure to take care of this renegade Sicilian.
22 "Do you know what I am going to ask of you*" Sollozzo asked.
23 Luca shook his head.
24 "There's big business to be made," Sollozzo said. "I mean millions for
everybody at the top level. On the first shipment I can guarantee you fifty
thousand dollars. I'm talking about drugs. It's the coming thing."
25 Luca said, "Why come to me* You want me to talk to my Don*"
26 Sollozzo grimaced. "I've already talked to the Don. He wants no part of it. All
right, I can do without him. But I need somebody strong to protect the operation
physically. I understand you're not happy with your Family, you might make a
switch."
27 Luca shrugged. "If the offer is good enough."
28 Sollozzo had been watching him intently and seemed to have come to a
decision. "Think about my offer for a few days and then we'll talk again," he said.
He put out his hand but Luca pretended not to see it and busied himself putting a
cigarette in his mouth. Behind the bar, Bruno Tattaglia made a lighter appear
magically and held it to Luca's cigarette. And then he did a strange thing. He
dropped the lighter on the bar and grabbed Luca's right hand, holding it tight.
225
29 Luca reacted instantly, his body slipping off the bar stool and trying to twist
away. But Sollozzo had grabbed his other hand at the wrist. Still, Luca was too
strong for both of them and would have broken free except that a man stepped
out of the shadows behind him and threw a thin silken cord around his neck. The
cord pulled tight, choking off Luca's breath. His face became purple, the strength
in his arms drained away. Tattaglia and Sollozzo held his hands easily now, and
they stood there curiously childlike as the man behind Luca pulled the cord
around Luca's neck tighter and tighter. Suddenly the floor was wet and slippery.
Luca's sphincter, no longer under control, opened, the waste of his body spilled
out. There was no strength in him anymore and his legs folded, his body sagged.
Sollozzo and Tattaglia let his hands go and only the strangler stayed with the
victim, sinking to his knees to follow Luca's falling body, drawing the cord so
tight that it cut into the flesh of the neck and disappeared. Luca's eyes were
bulging out of his head as if in the utmost surprise and this surprise was the only
humanity remaining to him. He was dead.
30 "I don't want him found," Sollozzo said. "It's important that he not be found
right now" He turned on his heel and left, disappearing back into the shadows.
Chapter 8
1 The day after the shooting of Don Corleone was a busy time for the Family. Michael
stayed by the phone relaying messages to Sonny. Tom Hagen was busy trying to find a
mediator (посредника) satisfactory to both parties (удовлетворительного,
удовлетворяющего) so that a conference could be arranged with Sollozzo. The Turk
had suddenly become cagey (уклончивый в ответах, скрытный ['keэdGэ]), perhaps he
knew that the Family button men of Clemenza and Tessio were ranging far and wide
over the city (рыскали; to range) in an attempt to pick up his trail (пытаясь: «в
попытке» найти его след; to attempt [*‘tempt] – пытаться). But Sollozzo was sticking
close to his hideout (держался своего укрытия, далеко не отходил), as were all top
members of the Tattaglia Family. This was expected by Sonny, an elementary
precaution (предосторожность) he knew the enemy was bound to take (непременно
предпримет, вынужден предпринять).
2 Clemenza was tied up with Paulie Gatto. Tessio had been given the assignment of
trying to track down the whereabouts of Luca Brasi (местонахождение). Luca had not
226
been home since the night before the shooting, a bad sign. But Sonny could not believe
that Brasi had either turned traitor or had been taken by surprise (врасплох).
3 Mama Corleone was staying in the city with friends of the Family so that she could
be near the hospital. Carlo Rizzi, the son-in-law (зять), had offered his services but had
been told to take care of his own business that Don Corleone had set him up in, a
lucrative bookmaking territory in the Italian section of Manhattan. Connie was staying
with her mother in town so that she too could visit her father in the hospital.
4 Freddie was still under sedation (успокоительные) in his own room of his parents'
house. Sonny and Michael had paid him a visit and had been astonished at his
paleness (удивлен, поражен его бледностью; pale – бледный) , his obvious illness.
"Christ," Sonny said to Michael when they left Freddie's room, "he looks like he got
plugged worse than the old man (словно ему больше досталось, чем старику; plugg
– пробка, затычка; to plugg – затыкать, закупоривать; нанести сильный удар
кулаком /сленг/)."
5 Michael shrugged. He had seen soldiers in the same condition (в том же состоянии)
on the battlefield. But he had never expected it to happen to Freddie. He remembered
the middle brother as being physically the toughest one in the family when all of them
were kids. But he had also been the most obedient son to his father (послушный
[*'bi:dj*nt]). And yet everyone knew that the Don had given up on this middle son ever
being important to the business (отказался от этой мысли, оставил эту идею). He
wasn't quite smart enough, and failing that (кроме того: «за неимением этого»), not
quite ruthless enough (ruthless ['ru:иlэs] – безжалостный, беспощадный). He was too
retiring a person (застенчивый, скромный, здесь – робкий: «отступающий,
уступающий»), did not have enough force.
6 Late in the afternoon, Michael got a call from Johnny Fontane in Hollywood. Sonny
took the phone. "Nah, Johnny, no use coming back here to see the Old Man. He's too
sick and it would give you a lot of bad publicity (гласность), and I know the old man
wouldn't like that. Wait until he's better and we can move him home, then come see him.
OK, I'll give him your regards (передам твое почтение)." Sonny hung up the phone. He
turned to Michael and said. "That'll make Pop happy, that Johnny wanted to fly from
California to see how he was."
7 Late that afternoon, Michael was called to the listed phone in the kitchen by one of
Clemenza's men. It was Kay.
8 "Is your father all right*" she asked. Her voice was a little strained (напряжен; to
strain – натягивать, напрягать), a little unnatural. Michael knew that she couldn't quite
believe what had happened, that his father really was what the newspapers called a
gangster.
9 "He'll be OK," Michael said.
10 "Can I come with you when you visit him in the hospital*" Kay asked.
11 Michael laughed. She had remembered him telling her how important it was to do
such things if you wanted to get along with the old Italians. "This is a special case," he
said. "If the newspaper guys get a hold of your name and background you'll be on page
three of the Daily News. Girl from old Yankee family mixed up with son of big Mafia
chief. How would your parents like that*"
12 Kay said dryly, "My parents never read the Daily News." Again there was an
awkward pause and then she said, "You're OK, aren't you, Mike, you're not in any
danger*"
13 Mike laughed again. "I'm known as the sissy of the Corleone family (неженка,
маменькин сынок, баба /о мужчине/). No threat. So they don't have to bother coming
after me (им совершенно незачем за мной охотится, я им неинтересен). No, it's all
over, Kay, there won't be any more trouble. It was all sort of an accident anyway
(несчастный случай ['жksэd*nt]). I'll explain when I see you."
14 "When will that be*" she asked.
15 Michael pondered. "How about late tonight* We'll have a drink and supper in your
hotel and then I'll go to the hospital and see my old man. I'm getting tired of hanging
around here answering phones. OK* But don't tell anybody. I don't want newspaper
photographers snapping pictures of us together. No kidding, Kay, it's damned
embarrassing (ужасно неловко, неприятно; to embarrass [эm’bжr*s] – затруднять,
стеснять, ставить в неловкое положение), especially for your parents."
16 "All right," Kay said. "I'll be waiting. Can I do any Christmas shopping for you* Or
anything else*"
17 "No," Michael said. "Just be ready."
18 She gave a little excited laugh (to excite [эk’saэt] – возбуждать). "I'll be ready," she
said. "Aren't I always*"
19 "Yes, you are," he said. "That's why you're my best girl."
20 "I love you," she said. "Can you say it*"
21 Michael looked at the four hoods sitting in the kitchen (hood = hoodlum [‘hudl*m] –
хулиган /сленг/, здесь – гангстер). "No," he said. "Tonight, OK*"
22 "OK," she said. He hung up.
228
23 Clemenza had finally come back from his day's work and was bustling around the
kitchen (суетился; to bustle) cooking up a huge pot of tomato sauce. Michael nodded to
him and went to the corner office where he found Hagen and Sonny waiting for him
impatiently. "Is Clemenza out there*" Sonny asked.
24 Michael grinned. "He's cooking up spaghetti for the troops (для войск), just like the
army."
25 Sonny said impatiently, "Tell him to cut out that crap (прекратить эту чепуху) and
come on in here. I have more important things for him to do. Get Tessio in here with
him."
26 In a few minutes they were all gathered in the office. Sonny said curtly to Clemenza,
"You take care of him*"
27 Clemenza nodded. "You won't see him anymore."
28 With a slight electric shock, Michael realized they were talking about Paulie Gatto
and that little Paulie was dead, murdered by that jolly (веселым, жизнерадостным)
wedding dancer, Clemenza.
29 Sonny asked Hagen, "You have any luck with Sollozzo*"
30 Hagen shook his head. "He seems to have cooled off on the negotiation idea
(охладел). Anyway he doesn't seem to be too anxious. Or maybe he's just being very
careful so that our button men won't nail him. Anyway I haven't been able to set up a
top-notch go-between (действительно подходящего посредника; top-notch –
отличный, первоклассный) he'll trust. But he must know he has to negotiate now. He
missed his chance when he let the old man get away from him."
31 Sonny said, "He's a smart guy, the smartest our Family ever came up against.
Maybe he figured we're just stalling (выжидаем; stall – стойло, конюшня; to stall –
поставить в стойло; застрять; увиливать) until the old man gets better or we can get
a line on him (to get a line – получить сведения /о ком-л./)."
32 Hagen shrugged. "Sure, he figures that (предполагает, воображает). But he still
has to negotiate. He has no choice. I'll get it set up tomorrow. That's certain."
33 One of Clemenza's men knocked on the office door and then came in. He said to
Clemenza, "It just came over the radio, the cops found Paulie Gatto. Dead in his car."
34 Clemenza nodded and said to the man, "Don't worry about it." The button man
gave his caporegime an astonished look, which was followed by a look of
comprehension, before he went back to the kitchen.
35 The conference went on as if there had been no interruption (прерывания). Sonny
asked Hagen, "Any change in the Don's condition*"
229
36 Hagen shook his head. "He's OK but he won't be able to talk for another couple of
days. He's all knocked out. Still recovering from the operation (приходит в себя: to
recover – вновь обретать, возвращать; приходить в себя, оправляться). Your
mother spends most of the day with him, Connie too. There's cops all over the hospital
and Tessio's men hang around too, just in case. In a couple of days he'll be all right and
then we can see what he wants us to do. Meanwhile we have to keep Sollozzo from
doing anything rash. That's why I want to start you talking deals with him."
37 Sonny grunted. "Until he does, I've got Clemenza and Tessio looking for him.
Maybe we'll get lucky and solve the whole business."
38 "You won't get lucky," Hagen said. "Sollozzo is too smart." Hagen paused. "He
knows once he comes to the table he'll have to go our way mostly. That's why he's
stalling. I'm guessing he's trying to line up support from the other New York Families so
that we won't go after him when the old man gives us the word."
39 Sonny frowned. "Why the hell should they do that*" Hagen said patiently, "To avert
a big war (предотвратить [*'v*:t]) which hurts everybody and brings the papers and
government into the act. Also, Sollozzo will give them a piece of the action. And you
know how much dough there is in drugs (dough [d*u] – тесто; деньги /сленг/). The
Corleone Family doesn't need it, we have the gambling, which is the best business to
have. But the other Families are hungry. Sollozzo is a proven man (испытанный,
проверенный), they know he can make the operation go on a big scale
(широкомасштабную). Alive he's money in their pockets, dead he's trouble."
40 Sonny's face was as Michael had never seen it. The heavy Cupid mouth and
bronzed skin seemed gray. "I don't give a fuck what they want. They better not mess in
this fight (лучше бы им не вмешиваться в драку)."
41 Clemenza and Tessio shifted uneasily in their chairs, infantry leaders (командиры
пехоты) who hear their general rave about storming an impregnable hill (кричит, что
надо взять неприступную высоту; to rave – бредить, говорить возбужденно) no
matter what the cost. Hagen said a little impatiently, "Come on, Sonny, your father
wouldn't like you thinking that way. You know what he always says, 'That's a waste
(растрата, расточительство /денег, сил/).' Sure, we're not going to let anybody stop
us if the old man says we go after Sollozzo. But this is not a personal thing, this is
business. If we go after the Turk and the Families interfere (вмешаются [эnt*'fэ*]), we'll
negotiate the issue (исход, выход [‘э*u:]). If the Families see that we're determined to
have Sollozzo (твердо решили; determined [dэ’t*:mэnd] – решительный, твердый,
непреклонный), they'll let us. The Don will make concessions (уступки) in other areas
230
to square things (уровнять). But don't go blood crazy on a thing like this. It's business.
Even the shooting of your father was business, not personal. You should know that by
now."
42 Sonny's eyes were still hard. "OK. I understand all that. Just so long as you
understand that nobody stands in our way when we want Sollozzo."
43 Sonny turned to Tessio. "Any leads on Luca (сведения; lead – ключ, указатель,
намек)*"
44 Tessio shook his head. "None at all. Sollozzo must have snatched him."
45 Hagen said quietly, "Sollozzo wasn't worried about Luca, which struck me as funny
(поразило меня, показалось странным). He's too smart not to worry about a guy like
Luca. I think he maybe got him out of the picture, one way or the other."
46 Sonny muttered, "Christ, I hope Luca isn't fighting against us. That's the one thing
I'd be afraid of. Clemenza, Tessio, how do you two guys figure it*"
47 Clemenza said slowly, "Anybody could go wrong, look at Paulie. But with Luca, he
was a man who could only go one way. The Godfather was the only thing he believed in,
the only man he feared. But not only that, Sonny, he respected your father as no one
else respected him and the Godfather has earned respect from everyone. No, Luca
would never betray us (никогда бы не предал). And I find it hard to believe that a man
like Sollozzo, no matter how cunning (каким бы он не был хитрым, коварным), could
surprise Luca. He was a man who suspected everyone and everything. He was always
ready for the worst. I think maybe he just went off someplace for a few days. We'll be
hearing from him anytime now."
48 Sonny turned to Tessio. The Brooklyn caporegime shrugged. "Any man can turn
traitor. Luca was very touchy (обидчивый, повышенно чувствительный,
раздражительный). Maybe the Don offended him some way. That could be. I think
though that Sollozzo gave him a little surprise. That fits in with what the Consigliori says.
We should expect the worst."
49 Sonny said to all of them, "Sollozzo should get the word soon about Paulie Gatto.
How will that affect him*"
50 Clemenza said grimly, "It will make him think. He will know the Corleone Family are
not fools. He will realize that he was very lucky yesterday."
51 Sonny said sharply, "That wasn't luck. Sollozzo was planning that for weeks. They
must have tailed the old man to his office every day (tail – хвост; to tail – идти следом,
выслеживать) and watched his routine. Then they bought Paulie off and maybe Luca.
They snatched Tom right on the button (точно в нужный, подходящий момент). They
231
did everything they wanted to do. They were unlucky, not lucky. Those button men they
hired weren't good enough and the old man moved too quick. If they had killed him, I
would have had to make a deal and Sollozzo would have won. For now. I would have
waited maybe and got him five, ten years from now. But don't call him lucky, Pete, that's
underrating him (to underrate – недооценивать, преуменьшать). And we've done that
too much lately."
52 One of the button men brought a bowl of spaghetti in from the kitchen and then
some plates, forks and wine. They ate as they talked. Michael watched in amazement (с
удивлением). He didn't eat and neither did Tom, but Sonny, Clemenza and Tessio dug
in (набросились /на еду/; to dig – копать; to dig in – вонзать), mopping up sauce
(подбирая, вытирая соус; mop – швабра; to mop – протирать шваброй; вытирать
/слезы, пот/) with crusts of bread. It was almost comical. They continued their
discussion.
53 Tessio didn't think that the loss of Paulie Gatto would upset Sollozzo (огорчит,
расстроит, обеспокоит; to upset – опрокидывать, переворачивать), in fact he
thought that the Turk might have anticipated it (to anticipate [жn’tэsэpeэt]– ожидать,
предвидеть), indeed might have welcomed it. A useless mouth off the payroll. And he
would not be frightened by it; after all, would they be in such a situation*
54 Michael spoke up diffidently (diffident – неуверенный в себе, застенчивый,
робкий). "I know I'm an amateur in this (любитель, непрофессионал [‘жm*t*]), but
from everything you guys have said about Sollozzo, plus the fact that all of a sudden
he's out of touch with Tom, I'd guess he has an ace up his sleeve (туз в рукаве). He
might be ready to pull off something real tricky that would put him back on top. If we
could figure out what that would be, we'd be in the driver's seat."
55 Sonny said reluctantly (reluctant [rэ’lЛkt*nt] – делающий что-то с большой
неохотой, вынужденно), "Yeah, I thought of that and the only thing I can figure is Luca.
The word is already out that he's to be brought here before he's allowed any of his old
rights in the Family. The only other thing I can think of is that Sollozzo has made his
deal with the Families in New York and we'll get the word tomorrow that they will be
against us in a war. That we'll have to give the Turk his deal. Right, Tom*"
56 Hagen nodded. "That's what it looks like to me. And we can't move against that
kind of opposition without your father. He's the only one who can stand against the
Families. He has the political connections they always need and he can use them for
trading. If he wants to badly enough."
232
57 Clemenza said, a little arrogantly (несколько заносчиво, высокомерно) for a man
whose top button man had recently betrayed him, "Sollozzo will never get near this
house, Boss, you don't have to worry about that."
58 Sonny looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. Then he said to Tessio, "How about
the hospital, your men got it covered*"
59 For the first time during the conference Tessio seemed to be absolutely sure of his
ground. "Outside and inside," he said. "Right around the clock (круглосуточно). The
cops have it covered pretty good too. Detectives at the bedroom door waiting to
question the old man. That's a laugh. The Don is still getting that stuff in the tubes
(получает эту штуку: «материал» = лекарство по трубочкам), no food, so we don't
have to worry about the kitchen, which would be something to worry about with those
Turks, they believe in poison (яд). They can't get at the Don, not in any way."
60 Sonny tilted back in his chair (откинулся). "It wouldn't be me, they have to do
business with me, they need the Family machine." He grinned at Michael. "I wonder if
it's you* Maybe Sollozzo figures to snatch you and hold you for a hostage to make a
deal."
61 Michael thought ruefully (rueful [‘ru:ful] – грустный, удрученный, подавленный;
rue – жалость, сострадание; раскаяние), there goes my date with Kay (вот тебе и
свидание). Sonny wouldn't let him out of the house. But Hagen said impatiently, "No,
he could have snatched Mike anytime if he wanted insurance (если бы захотел
подстраховаться; insurance [эn’*u*r*ns] – страхование). But everybody knows that
Mike is not in the Family business. He's a civilian (гражданское лицо) and if Sollozzo
snatches him, then he loses all the other New York Families. Even the Tattaglias would
have to help hunt him down. No, it's simple enough. Tomorrow we'll get a representative
(представителя) from all the Families who'll tell us we have to do business with the
Turk. That's what he's waiting for. That's his ace in the hole."
62 Michael heaved a sigh of relief. "Good," he said "I have to go into town tonight."
63 "Why*" Sonny asked sharply.
64 Michael grinned. "I figure I’ll drop in to the hospital and visit the old man, see Mom
and Connie. And I got some other things to do." Like the Don, Michael never told his
real business and now he didn't want to tell Sonny he was seeing Kay Adams. There
was no reason not to tell him, it was just habit.
65 There was a loud murmur of voices in the kitchen. Clemenza went out to see what
was happening. When he come back he was holding Luca Brasi's bulletproof vest in his
hands. Wrapped In the vest was a huge dead fish.
66 Clemenza said drily, "The Turk has heard about his spy Paulie Gatto."
67 Tessio said just as dryly, "And now we know about Luca Brasi."
68 Sonny lit a cigar and took a shot of whiskey. Michael, bewildered, said, "What the
hell does that fish mean*" It was Hagen the Irisher, the Consigliori, who answered him.
"The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean," he said. "It's
an old Sicilian message."
1 The day after the shooting of Don Corleone was a busy time for the Family.
Michael stayed by the phone relaying messages to Sonny. Tom Hagen was busy
trying to find a mediator satisfactory to both parties so that a conference could be
arranged with Sollozzo. The Turk had suddenly become cagey, perhaps he knew
that the Family button men of Clemenza and Tessio were ranging far and wide
over the city in an attempt to pick up his trail. But Sollozzo was sticking close to
his hideout, as were all top members of the Tattaglia Family. This was expected
by Sonny, an elementary precaution he knew the enemy was bound to take.
2 Clemenza was tied up with Paulie Gatto. Tessio had been given the
assignment of trying to track down the whereabouts of Luca Brasi. Luca had not
been home since the night before the shooting, a bad sign. But Sonny could not
believe that Brasi had either turned traitor or had been taken by surprise.
3 Mama Corleone was staying in the city with friends of the Family so that she
could be near the hospital. Carlo Rizzi, the son-in-law, had offered his services
but had been told to take care of his own business that Don Corleone had set him
up in, a lucrative bookmaking territory in the Italian section of Manhattan. Connie
was staying with her mother in town so that she too could visit her father in the
hospital.
4 Freddie was still under sedation in his own room of his parents' house. Sonny
and Michael had paid him a visit and had been astonished at his paleness, his
obvious illness. "Christ," Sonny said to Michael when they left Freddie's room,
"he looks like he got plugged worse than the old man."
5 Michael shrugged. He had seen soldiers in the same condition on the
battlefield. But he had never expected it to happen to Freddie. He remembered the
middle brother as being physically the toughest one in the family when all of
them were kids. But he had also been the most obedient son to his father. And
yet everyone knew that the Don had given up on this middle son ever being
important to the business. He wasn't quite smart enough, and failing that, not
quite ruthless enough. He was too retiring a person, did not have enough force.
6 Late in the afternoon, Michael got a call from Johnny Fontane in Hollywood.
Sonny took the phone. "Nah, Johnny, no use coming back here to see the Old
Man. He's too sick and it would give you a lot of bad publicity, and I know the old
man wouldn't like that. Wait until he's better and we can move him home, then
come see him. OK, I'll give him your regards." Sonny hung up the phone. He
turned to Michael and said. "That'll make Pop happy, that Johnny wanted to fly
from California to see how he was."
7 Late that afternoon, Michael was called to the listed phone in the kitchen by
one of Clemenza's men. It was Kay.
8 "Is your father all right*" she asked. Her voice was a little strained, a little
unnatural. Michael knew that she couldn't quite believe what had happened, that
his father really was what the newspapers called a gangster.
9 "He'll be OK," Michael said.
10 "Can I come with you when you visit him in the hospital*" Kay asked.
11 Michael laughed. She had remembered him telling her how important it was
to do such things if you wanted to get along with the old Italians. "This is a
special case," he said. "If the newspaper guys get a hold of your name and
background you'll be on page three of the Daily News. Girl from old Yankee family
mixed up with son of big Mafia chief. How would your parents like that*"
12 Kay said dryly, "My parents never read the Daily News." Again there was an
awkward pause and then she said, "You're OK, aren't you, Mike, you're not in any
danger*"
13 Mike laughed again. "I'm known as the sissy of the Corleone family. No threat.
So they don't have to bother coming after me. No, it's all over, Kay, there won't be
any more trouble. It was all sort of an accident anyway. I'll explain when I see
you."
14 "When will that be*" she asked.
15 Michael pondered. "How about late tonight* We'll have a drink and supper in
your hotel and then I'll go to the hospital and see my old man. I'm getting tired of
hanging around here answering phones. OK* But don't tell anybody. I don't want
newspaper photographers snapping pictures of us together. No kidding, Kay, it's
damned embarrassing, especially for your parents."
235
16 "All right," Kay said. "I'll be waiting. Can I do any Christmas shopping for you*
Or anything else*"
17 "No," Michael said. "Just be ready."
18 She gave a little excited laugh. "I'll be ready," she said. "Aren't I always*"
19 "Yes, you are," he said. "That's why you're my best girl."
20 "I love you," she said. "Can you say it*"
21 Michael looked at the four hoods sitting in the kitchen. "No," he said.
"Tonight, OK*"
22 "OK," she said. He hung up.
23 Clemenza had finally come back from his day's work and was bustling around
the kitchen cooking up a huge pot of tomato sauce. Michael nodded to him and
went to the corner office where he found Hagen and Sonny waiting for him
impatiently. "Is Clemenza out there*" Sonny asked.
24 Michael grinned. "He's cooking up spaghetti for the troops, just like the
army."
25 Sonny said impatiently, "Tell him to cut out that crap and come on in here. I
have more important things for him to do. Get Tessio in here with him."
26 In a few minutes they were all gathered in the office. Sonny said curtly to
Clemenza, "You take care of him*"
27 Clemenza nodded. "You won't see him anymore."
28 With a slight electric shock, Michael realized they were talking about Paulie
Gatto and that little Paulie was dead, murdered by that jolly wedding dancer,
Clemenza.
29 Sonny asked Hagen, "You have any luck with Sollozzo*"
30 Hagen shook his head. "He seems to have cooled off on the negotiation idea.
Anyway he doesn't seem to be too anxious. Or maybe he's just being very careful
so that our button men won't nail him. Anyway I haven't been able to set up a top-
notch go-between he'll trust. But he must know he has to negotiate now. He
missed his chance when he let the old man get away from him."
31 Sonny said, "He's a smart guy, the smartest our Family ever came up against.
Maybe he figured we're just stalling until the old man gets better or we can get a
line on him."
32 Hagen shrugged. "Sure, he figures that. But he still has to negotiate. He has
no choice. I'll get it set up tomorrow. That's certain."
236
33 One of Clemenza's men knocked on the office door and then came in. He said
to Clemenza, "It just came over the radio, the cops found Paulie Gatto. Dead in
his car."
34 Clemenza nodded and said to the man, "Don't worry about it." The button
man gave his caporegime an astonished look, which was followed by a look of
comprehension, before he went back to the kitchen.
35 The conference went on as if there had been no interruption. Sonny asked
Hagen, "Any change in the Don's condition*"
36 Hagen shook his head. "He's OK but he won't be able to talk for another
couple of days. He's all knocked out. Still recovering from the operation. Your
mother spends most of the day with him, Connie too. There's cops all over the
hospital and Tessio's men hang around too, just in case. In a couple of days he'll
be all right and then we can see what he wants us to do. Meanwhile we have to
keep Sollozzo from doing anything rash. That's why I want to start you talking
deals with him."
37 Sonny grunted. "Until he does, I've got Clemenza and Tessio looking for him.
Maybe we'll get lucky and solve the whole business."
38 "You won't get lucky," Hagen said. "Sollozzo is too smart." Hagen paused.
"He knows once he comes to the table he'll have to go our way mostly. That's
why he's stalling. I'm guessing he's trying to line up support from the other New
York Families so that we won't go after him when the old man gives us the word."
39 Sonny frowned. "Why the hell should they do that*" Hagen said patiently, "To
avert a big war which hurts everybody and brings the papers and government
into the act. Also, Sollozzo will give them a piece of the action. And you know
how much dough there is in drugs. The Corleone Family doesn't need it, we have
the gambling, which is the best business to have. But the other Families are
hungry. Sollozzo is a proven man, they know he can make the operation go on a
big scale. Alive he's money in their pockets, dead he's trouble."
40 Sonny's face was as Michael had never seen it. The heavy Cupid mouth and
bronzed skin seemed gray. "I don't give a fuck what they want. They better not
mess in this fight."
41 Clemenza and Tessio shifted uneasily in their chairs, infantry leaders who
hear their general rave about storming an impregnable hill no matter what the
cost. Hagen said a little impatiently, "Come on, Sonny, your father wouldn't like
you thinking that way. You know what he always says, 'That's a waste.' Sure,
237
we're not going to let anybody stop us if the old man says we go after Sollozzo.
But this is not a personal thing, this is business. If we go after the Turk and the
Families interfere, we'll negotiate the issue. If the Families see that we're
determined to have Sollozzo, they'll let us. The Don will make concessions in
other areas to square things. But don't go blood crazy on a thing like this. It's
business. Even the shooting of your father was business, not personal. You
should know that by now."
42 Sonny's eyes were still hard. "OK. I understand all that. Just so long as you
understand that nobody stands in our way when we want Sollozzo."
43 Sonny turned to Tessio. "Any leads on Luca*"
44 Tessio shook his head. "None at all. Sollozzo must have snatched him."
45 Hagen said quietly, "Sollozzo wasn't worried about Luca, which struck me as
funny. He's too smart not to worry about a guy like Luca. I think he maybe got him
out of the picture, one way or the other."
46 Sonny muttered, "Christ, I hope Luca isn't fighting against us. That's the one
thing I'd be afraid of. Clemenza, Tessio, how do you two guys figure it*"
47 Clemenza said slowly, "Anybody could go wrong, look at Paulie. But with
Luca, he was a man who could only go one way. The Godfather was the only
thing he believed in, the only man he feared. But not only that, Sonny, he
respected your father as no one else respected him and the Godfather has earned
respect from everyone. No, Luca would never betray us. And I find it hard to
believe that a man like Sollozzo, no matter how cunning, could surprise Luca. He
was a man who suspected everyone and everything. He was always ready for the
worst. I think maybe he just went off someplace for a few days. We'll be hearing
from him anytime now."
48 Sonny turned to Tessio. The Brooklyn caporegime shrugged. "Any man can
turn traitor. Luca was very touchy. Maybe the Don offended him some way. That
could be. I think though that Sollozzo gave him a little surprise. That fits in with
what the Consigliori says. We should expect the worst."
49 Sonny said to all of them, "Sollozzo should get the word soon about Paulie
Gatto. How will that affect him*"
50 Clemenza said grimly, "It will make him think. He will know the Corleone
Family are not fools. He will realize that he was very lucky yesterday."
51 Sonny said sharply, "That wasn't luck. Sollozzo was planning that for weeks.
They must have tailed the old man to his office every day and watched his routine.
Then they bought Paulie off and maybe Luca. They snatched Tom right on the
button. They did everything they wanted to do. They were unlucky, not lucky.
Those button men they hired weren't good enough and the old man moved too
quick. If they had killed him, I would have had to make a deal and Sollozzo would
have won. For now. I would have waited maybe and got him five, ten years from
now. But don't call him lucky, Pete, that's underrating him. And we've done that
too much lately."
52 One of the button men brought a bowl of spaghetti in from the kitchen and
then some plates, forks and wine. They ate as they talked. Michael watched in
amazement. He didn't eat and neither did Tom, but Sonny, Clemenza and Tessio
dug in, mopping up sauce with crusts of bread. It was almost comical. They
continued their discussion.
53 Tessio didn't think that the loss of Paulie Gatto would upset Sollozzo, in fact
he thought that the Turk might have anticipated it, indeed might have welcomed it.
A useless mouth off the payroll. And he would not be frightened by it; after all,
would they be in such a situation*
54 Michael spoke up diffidently. "I know I'm an amateur in this, but from
everything you guys have said about Sollozzo, plus the fact that all of a sudden
he's out of touch with Tom, I'd guess he has an ace up his sleeve. He might be
ready to pull off something real tricky that would put him back on top. If we could
figure out what that would be, we'd be in the driver's seat."
55 Sonny said reluctantly, "Yeah, I thought of that and the only thing I can figure
is Luca. The word is already out that he's to be brought here before he's allowed
any of his old rights in the Family. The only other thing I can think of is that
Sollozzo has made his deal with the Families in New York and we'll get the word
tomorrow that they will be against us in a war. That we'll have to give the Turk his
deal. Right, Tom*"
56 Hagen nodded. "That's what it looks like to me. And we can't move against
that kind of opposition without your father. He's the only one who can stand
against the Families. He has the political connections they always need and he
can use them for trading. If he wants to badly enough."
57 Clemenza said, a little arrogantly for a man whose top button man had
recently betrayed him, "Sollozzo will never get near this house, Boss, you don't
have to worry about that."
239
58 Sonny looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. Then he said to Tessio, "How
about the hospital, your men got it covered*"
59 For the first time during the conference Tessio seemed to be absolutely sure
of his ground. "Outside and inside," he said. "Right around the clock. The cops
have it covered pretty good too. Detectives at the bedroom door waiting to
question the old man. That's a laugh. The Don is still getting that stuff in the
tubes, no food, so we don't have to worry about the kitchen, which would be
something to worry about with those Turks, they believe in poison. They can't get
at the Don, not in any way."
60 Sonny tilted back in his chair. "It wouldn't be me, they have to do business
with me, they need the Family machine." He grinned at Michael. "I wonder if it's
you* Maybe Sollozzo figures to snatch you and hold you for a hostage to make a
deal."
61 Michael thought ruefully, there goes my date with Kay. Sonny wouldn't let
him out of the house. But Hagen said impatiently, "No, he could have snatched
Mike anytime if he wanted insurance. But everybody knows that Mike is not in the
Family business. He's a civilian and if Sollozzo snatches him, then he loses all the
other New York Families. Even the Tattaglias would have to help hunt him down.
No, it's simple enough. Tomorrow we'll get a representative from all the Families
who'll tell us we have to do business with the Turk. That's what he's waiting for.
That's his ace in the hole."
62 Michael heaved a sigh of relief. "Good," he said "I have to go into town
tonight."
63 "Why*" Sonny asked sharply.
64 Michael grinned. "I figure I’ll drop in to the hospital and visit the old man, see
Mom and Connie. And I got some other things to do." Like the Don, Michael never
told his real business and now he didn't want to tell Sonny he was seeing Kay
Adams. There was no reason not to tell him, it was just habit.
65 There was a loud murmur of voices in the kitchen. Clemenza went out to see
what was happening. When he come back he was holding Luca Brasi's
bulletproof vest in his hands. Wrapped In the vest was a huge dead fish.
66 Clemenza said drily, "The Turk has heard about his spy Paulie Gatto."
67 Tessio said just as dryly, "And now we know about Luca Brasi."
Sonny lit a cigar and took a shot of whiskey. Michael, bewildered, said, "What
the hell does that fish mean*" It was Hagen the Irisher, the Consigliori, who
240
answered him. "The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the
ocean," he said. "It's an old Sicilian message."
Chapter 9
1 When Michael Corleone went into the city that night it was with a depressed spirit.
He felt that he was being enmeshed in the Family business (запутан; mesh – петля,
ячейка сети) against his will and he resented Sonny using him even to answer the
phone (to resent [rэ’zent] – возмущаться, обижаться). He felt uncomfortable being on
the inside of the Family councils (участвуя в совещаниях; council [kaunsl]) as if he
could be absolutely trusted with such secrets as murder. And now, going to see Kay, he
felt guilty about her also. He had never been completely honest (совершенно
откровенен: «честен» ['onэst]) with her about his family. He had told her about them
but always with little jokes and colorful anecdotes that made them seem more like
adventurers in a Technicolor movie (technicolor – яркий, живой, сочный /о красках/;
Technicolor – система цветного кино /а также фирменное название/) than what they
really were. And now his father had been shot down in the street and his eldest brother
was making plans for murder. That was putting it plainly and simply (это если говорить
без прикрас, как есть; plain – плоский, ровный; простой, беспримесный; очевидный,
ясный) but that was never how he would tell it to Kay. He had already said his father
being shot was more like an "accident" and that all the trouble was over. Hell, it looked
like it was just beginning. Sonny and Tom were off-center on this guy Sollozzo (совсем
на нем помешались; off-center – периферийный; эксцентричный), they were still
underrating him (недооценивали), even though Sonny was smart enough to see the
danger. Michael tried to think what the Turk might have up his sleeve. He was obviously
a bold man (отважный; энергичный, самоуверенный), a clever man, a man of
extraordinary force. You had to figure him to come up with a real surprise. But then
Sonny and Tom and Clemenza and Tessio were all agreed that everything was under
control and they all had more experience than he did. He was the "civilian" in this war,
Michael thought wryly. And they'd have to give him a hell of a lot better medals than
he'd gotten in World War II to make him join this one.
2 Thinking this made him feel guilty about not feeling more sympathy for his father. His
own father shot full of holes and yet in a curious way Michael, better than anyone else,
understood when Tom had said it was just business, not personal. That his father had
paid for the power he had wielded all his life (обладал), the respect he had extorted
from all those around him (которое он требовал, заставлял себе выказывать; to
extort [эks’to:t] – вымогать, выпытывать).
3 What Michael wanted was out, out of all this, to lead his own life. But he couldn't cut
loose from the family until the crisis was over. He had to help in a civilian capacity (в
качестве гражданского /не военного/ лица). With sudden clarity he realized that he
was annoyed with the role assigned to him (что его раздражает предназначенная,
отведенная ему роль), that of the privileged noncombatant, the excused conscientious
objector («извиненного сознательного = по совести отказывающегося»; to object
[*b’Gekt] – возражать). That was why the word "civilian" kept popping into his skull
(выскакивало в его голове: «черепе») in such an irritating way (таким
раздражающим образом; to irritate ['эrэteэt] – возмущать, раздражать, сердить).
4 When he got to the hotel, Kay was waiting for him in the lobby. (A couple of
Clemenza's people had driven him into town and dropped him off on a nearby corner
after making sure (после того, как убедились) they were not followed.)
5 They had dinner together and some drinks. "What time are you going to visit your
father*" Kay asked.
6 Michael looked at his watch. "Visiting hours end at eight-thirty. I think I'll go after
everybody has left. They'll let me up. He has a private room and his own nurses so I
can just sit with him for a while. I don't think he can talk yet or even know if I'm there.
But I have to show respect."
7 Kay said quietly, "I feel so sorry for your father, he seemed like such a nice man at
the wedding. I can't believe the things the papers are printing about him (печатают). I'm
sure most of it's not true."
8 Michael said politely, "I don't think so either." He was surprised to find himself so
secretive with Kay. He loved her, he trusted her, but he would never tell her anything
about his father or the Family. She was an outsider.
9 "What about you*" Kay asked. "Are you going to get mixed up in this gang war the
papers are talking about so gleefully (с таким ликованием; gleeful – радостный,
ликующий; glee – веселье, ликование)*"
10 Michael grinned, unbuttoned his jacket and held it wide open. "Look, no guns," he
said. Kay laughed.
11 It was getting late and they went up to their room. She mixed a drink for both of
them and sat on his lap as they drank. Beneath her dress she was all silk until his hand
touched the glowing skin of her thigh. They fell back on the bed together and made love
with all their clothes on, their mouths glued together (to glue – приклеивать,
242
склеивать). When they were finished they lay very still, feeling the heat of their bodies
burning through their garments. Kay murmured, "Is that what you soldiers call a
quickie*"
12 "Yeah," Michael said.
13 "It's not bad," Kay said in a judicious voice (рассуждающим, оценивающим
голосом [dGu:’dэ**s]).
14 They dozed off (задремали) until Michael suddenly started up anxiously and
looked at his watch. "Damn," he said. "It's nearly ten. I have to get down to the hospital."
He went to the bathroom to wash up and comb his hair. Kay came in after him and put
her arms around his waist from behind. "When are we going to get married*" she asked.
15 "Whenever you say," Michael said. "As soon as this family thing quiets down and
my old man gets better. I think you'd better explain things to your parents though."
16 "What should I explain*" Kay said quietly.
17 Michael ran the comb through his hair. "Just say that you've met a brave,
handsome guy of Italian descent (спуск, скат, склон; происхождение [dэ'sent]. Top
marks at Dartmouth. Distinguished Service Cross during the war plus the Purple Heart
(медаль, дающаяся за полученные в бою раны; to distinguish oneself in battle –
отличиться в бою; to distinguish – отличать, различать). Honest. Hard-working. But
his father is a Mafia chief who has to kill bad people, sometimes bribe high government
officials (to bribe – подкупать, давать взятку) and in his line of work gets shot full of
holes himself. But that has nothing to do with his honest hard-working son. Do you think
you can remember all that*"
18 Kay let go his body and leaned against the door of the bathroom. "Is he really*" she
said. "Does he really*" She paused. "Kill people*"
19 Michael finished combing his hair. "I don't really know," he said. "Nobody really
knows. But I wouldn't be surprised."
20 Before he went out the door she asked, "When will I see you again*"
21 Michael kissed her. "I want you to go home and think things over in that little hick
town of yours," he said. "I don't want you to get mixed up in this business in any way.
After the Christmas holidays I'll be back at school and we'll get together up in Hanover.
OK*"
22 "OK," she said. She watched him go out the door, saw him wave before he stepped
into the elevator (to wave – помахать /рукой/). She had never felt so close to him,
never so much in love and if someone had told her she would not see Michael again
until three years passed, she would not have been able to bear the anguish of it
(вынести эту тоску, это мучение [‘ж*wэ*]).
1 When Michael Corleone went into the city that night it was with a depressed
spirit. He felt that he was being enmeshed in the Family business against his will
and he resented Sonny using him even to answer the phone. He felt
uncomfortable being on the inside of the Family councils as if he could be
absolutely trusted with such secrets as murder. And now, going to see Kay, he
felt guilty about her also. He had never been completely honest with her about his
family. He had told her about them but always with little jokes and colorful
anecdotes that made them seem more like adventurers in a Technicolor movie
than what they really were. And now his father had been shot down in the street
and his eldest brother was making plans for murder. That was putting it plainly
and simply but that was never how he would tell it to Kay. He had already said his
father being shot was more like an "accident" and that all the trouble was over.
Hell, it looked like it was just beginning. Sonny and Tom were off-center on this
guy Sollozzo, they were still underrating him, even though Sonny was smart
enough to see the danger. Michael tried to think what the Turk might have up his
sleeve. He was obviously a bold man, a clever man, a man of extraordinary force.
You had to figure him to come up with a real surprise. But then Sonny and Tom
and Clemenza and Tessio were all agreed that everything was under control and
they all had more experience than he did. He was the "civilian" in this war,
Michael thought wryly. And they'd have to give him a hell of a lot better medals
than he'd gotten in World War II to make him join this one.
2 Thinking this made him feel guilty about not feeling more sympathy for his
father. His own father shot full of holes and yet in a curious way Michael, better
than anyone else, understood when Tom had said it was just business, not
personal. That his father had paid for the power he had wielded all his life, the
respect he had extorted from all those around him.
3 What Michael wanted was out, out of all this, to lead his own life. But he
couldn't cut loose from the family until the crisis was over. He had to help in a
civilian capacity. With sudden clarity he realized that he was annoyed with the
role assigned to him, that of the privileged noncombatant, the excused
conscientious objector. That was why the word "civilian" kept popping into his
skull in such an irritating way.
4 When he got to the hotel, Kay was waiting for him in the lobby. (A couple of
Clemenza's people had driven him into town and dropped him off on a nearby
corner after making sure they were not followed.)
5 They had dinner together and some drinks. "What time are you going to visit
your father*" Kay asked.
6 Michael looked at his watch. "Visiting hours end at eight-thirty. I think I'll go
after everybody has left. They'll let me up. He has a private room and his own
nurses so I can just sit with him for a while. I don't think he can talk yet or even
know if I'm there. But I have to show respect."
7 Kay said quietly, "I feel so sorry for your father, he seemed like such a nice
man at the wedding. I can't believe the things the papers are printing about him.
I'm sure most of it's not true."
8 Michael said politely, "I don't think so either." He was surprised to find himself
so secretive with Kay. He loved her, he trusted her, but he would never tell her
anything about his father or the Family. She was an outsider.
9 "What about you*" Kay asked. "Are you going to get mixed up in this gang
war the papers are talking about so gleefully*"
10 Michael grinned, unbuttoned his jacket and held it wide open. "Look, no
guns," he said. Kay laughed.
11 It was getting late and they went up to their room. She mixed a drink for both
of them and sat on his lap as they drank. Beneath her dress she was all silk until
his hand touched the glowing skin of her thigh. They fell back on the bed together
and made love with all their clothes on, their mouths glued together. When they
were finished they lay very still, feeling the heat of their bodies burning through
their garments. Kay murmured, "Is that what you soldiers call a quickie*"
12 "Yeah," Michael said.
13 "It's not bad," Kay said in a judicious voice.
14 They dozed off until Michael suddenly started up anxiously and looked at his
watch. "Damn," he said. "It's nearly ten. I have to get down to the hospital." He
went to the bathroom to wash up and comb his hair. Kay came in after him and
put her arms around his waist from behind. "When are we going to get married*"
she asked.
15 "Whenever you say," Michael said. "As soon as this family thing quiets down
and my old man gets better. I think you'd better explain things to your parents
though."
16 "What should I explain*" Kay said quietly.
17 Michael ran the comb through his hair. "Just say that you've met a brave,
handsome guy of Italian descent. Top marks at Dartmouth. Distinguished Service
Cross during the war plus the Purple Heart. Honest. Hard-working. But his father
is a Mafia chief who has to kill bad people, sometimes bribe high government
officials and in his line of work gets shot full of holes himself. But that has
nothing to do with his honest hard-working son. Do you think you can remember
all that*"
18 Kay let go his body and leaned against the door of the bathroom. "Is he
really*" she said. "Does he really*" She paused. "Kill people*"
19 Michael finished combing his hair. "I don't really know," he said. "Nobody
really knows. But I wouldn't be surprised."
20 Before he went out the door she asked, "When will I see you again*"
21 Michael kissed her. "I want you to go home and think things over in that little
hick town of yours," he said. "I don't want you to get mixed up in this business in
any way. After the Christmas holidays I'll be back at school and we'll get together
up in Hanover. OK*"
22 "OK," she said. She watched him go out the door, saw him wave before he
stepped into the elevator. She had never felt so close to him, never so much in
love and if someone had told her she would not see Michael again until three
years passed, she would not have been able to bear the anguish of it.
1 When Michael got out of the cab in front of the French Hospital he was surprised to
see that the street was completely deserted (совершенно пуста). When he entered the
hospital he was even more surprised to find the lobby empty. Damn it, what the hell
were Clemenza and Tessio doing* Sure, they never went to West Point (американская
Военная академия) but they knew enough about tactics to have outposts (аванпосты,
сторожевое охранение, заставы). A couple of their men should have been in the lobby
at least.
2 Even the latest visitors had departed, it was almost ten-thirty at night. Michael was
tense and alert now (напряжен и возбужден). He didn't bother to stop at the
information desk (и не подумал: «не побеспокоился»), he already knew his father's
room number up on the fourth floor. He took the self-service elevator. Oddly enough
nobody stopped him until he reached the nurses' station on the fourth floor. But he
strode right past her query (не обращая внимание на ее вопрос; query ['kwэ*rэ] –
246
вопрос) and on to his father's room. There was no one outside the door. Where the hell
were the two detectives who were supposed (которые, как предполагалось) to be
waiting around to guard and question the old man* Where the hell were Tessio and
Clemenza's people* Could there be someone inside the room* But the door was open.
Michael went in. There was a figure in the bed and by the December moonlight straining
through the window (просачивающийся; to strain – напрягать, растягивать;
процеживать) Michael could see his father's face. Even now it was impassive, the
chest heaved shallowly (едва вздымалась; shallow – мелкий, неглубокий) with his
uneven breath (неровным дыханием [breи]). Tubes hung from steel gallows (со
стальных дуг, подставок) beside the bed and ran into his nose. On the floor was a
glass jar (банка, кувшин) receiving the poisons emptied from his stomach (из его
желудка ['stЛm*k]) by other tubes. Michael stayed there for a few moments to make
sure his father was all right, then backed out of the room.
3 He told the nurse, "My name is Michael Corleone, I just want to sit with my father.
What happened to the detectives who were supposed to be guarding him*"
4 The nurse was a pretty young thing with a great deal of confidence in the power of
her office (с большой долей уверенности в могуществе ее должности). "Oh, your
father just had too many visitors, it interfered with the hospital service (это мешалони:
«вмешивалось, перебивало»)," she said. "The police came and made them all leave
about ten minutes ago. And then just five minutes ago I had to call the detectives to the
phone for an emergency alarm from their headquarters (срочная тревога из их
управления; emergency [э’m*:dG*nsэ] – непредвиденный случай, крайняя
необходимость), and then they left too. But don't worry, I look in on your father often
and I can hear any sound from his room. That's why we leave the doors open."
5 "Thank you," Michael said. "I'll sit with him for a little while. OK*"
6 She smiled at him. "Just for a little bit and then I'm afraid you'll have to leave. It's the
rules (правила), you know."
7 Michael went back into his father's room. He took the phone from its cradle and got
the hospital operator to give him the house in Long Beach, the phone in the comer
office room. Sonny answered. Michael whispered, "Sonny, I'm down at the hospital, I
came down late. Sonny, there's nobody here. None of Tessio's people. No detectives at
the door. The old man was completely unprotected." His voice was trembling.
8 There was a long silence and then Sonny's voice came, low and impressed, "This is
Sollozzo's move (ход: «движение») you were talking about."
9 Michael said, "That's what I figured too. But how did he get the cops to clear
everybody out and where did they go* What happened to Tessio's men* Jesus Christ,
has that bastard Sollozzo got the New York Police Department in his pocket too*"
10 "Take it easy, kid." Sonny's voice was soothing. "We got lucky again with you going
to visit the hospital so late. Stay in the old man's room. Lock the door from the inside. I'll
have some men there inside of fifteen minutes, soon as I make some calls. Just sit tight
and don't panic. OK, kid*"
11 "I won't panic," Michael said. For the first time since it had all started he felt a
furious anger rising in him (яростный гнев), a cold hatred for his father's enemies
(ненависть к врагам; hatred [‘heэtrэd]).
12 He hung up the phone and rang the buzzer for the nurse (звонок, кнопку вызова;
to buzz – жужжать). He decided to use his own judgment (решил действовать по
своему разумению) and disregard Sonny's orders (не принимать во внимание
приказов, указаний Сонни). When the nurse came in he said, "I don't want you to get
frightened, but we have to move my father right away. To another room or another floor.
Can you disconnect all these tubes (отключить) so we can wheel the bed out*"
13 The nurse said, "That's ridiculous (смешно [rэ’dэkjul*s]). We have to get permission
from the doctor (разрешение)."
14 Michael spoke very quickly. "You've read about my father in the papers. You've
seen that there's no one here tonight to guard him. Now I've just gotten word some men
will come into the hospital to kill him. Please believe me and help me." He could be
extraordinarily persuasive (убедительным, убеждающим [p*s'weэsэv]; to persuade
[p*s'weэd] – убедить) when he wanted to be.
15 The nurse said, "We don't have to disconnect the tubes. We can wheel the stand
with the bed."
16 "Do you have an empty room*" Michael whispered.
17 "At the end of the hall," the nurse said.
18 It was done in a matter of moments, very quickly and very efficiently. Then Michael
said to the nurse, "Stay here with him until help comes. If you're outside at your station
you might get hurt."
19 At that moment he heard his father's voice from the bed, hoarse (охрипший,
сиплый [ho:s]) but full of strength, "Michael, is it you* What happened, what is it*"
20 Michael leaned over the bed. He took his father's hand in his. "It's Mike," he said.
"Don't be afraid. Now listen, don't make any noise at all, especially if somebody calls out
your name. Some people want to kill you, understand* But I'm here so don't be afraid."
21 Don Corleone, still not fully conscious (сознательный, сознающий [‘kon**s]) of
what had happened to him the day before, in terrible pain, yet smiled benevolently (все
же улыбнулся благодушно, снисходительно: «благожелательно») on his youngest
son, wanting to tell him, but it was too much effort (усилие [‘ef*t]), "Why should I be
afraid now* Strange men have come to kill me ever since I was twelve years old."
1 When Michael got out of the cab in front of the French Hospital he was
surprised to see that the street was completely deserted. When he entered the
hospital he was even more surprised to find the lobby empty. Damn it, what the
hell were Clemenza and Tessio doing* Sure, they never went to West Point but
they knew enough about tactics to have outposts. A couple of their men should
have been in the lobby at least.
2 Even the latest visitors had departed, it was almost ten-thirty at night. Michael
was tense and alert now. He didn't bother to stop at the information desk, he
already knew his father's room number up on the fourth floor. He took the self-
service elevator. Oddly enough nobody stopped him until he reached the nurses'
station on the fourth floor. But he strode right past her query and on to his
father's room. There was no one outside the door. Where the hell were the two
detectives who were supposed to be waiting around to guard and question the
old man* Where the hell were Tessio and Clemenza's people* Could there be
someone inside the room* But the door was open. Michael went in. There was a
figure in the bed and by the December moonlight straining through the window
Michael could see his father's face. Even now it was impassive, the chest heaved
shallowly with his uneven breath. Tubes hung from steel gallows beside the bed
and ran into his nose. On the floor was a glass jar receiving the poisons emptied
from his stomach by other tubes. Michael stayed there for a few moments to
make sure his father was all right, then backed out of the room.
3 He told the nurse, "My name is Michael Corleone, I just want to sit with my
father. What happened to the detectives who were supposed to be guarding
him*"
4 The nurse was a pretty young thing with a great deal of confidence in the
power of her office. "Oh, your father just had too many visitors, it interfered with
the hospital service," she said. "The police came and made them all leave about
ten minutes ago. And then just five minutes ago I had to call the detectives to the
phone for an emergency alarm from their headquarters, and then they left too.
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But don't worry, I look in on your father often and I can hear any sound from his
room. That's why we leave the doors open."
5 "Thank you," Michael said. "I'll sit with him for a little while. OK*"
6 She smiled at him. "Just for a little bit and then I'm afraid you'll have to leave.
It's the rules, you know."
7 Michael went back into his father's room. He took the phone from its cradle
and got the hospital operator to give him the house in Long Beach, the phone in
the comer office room. Sonny answered. Michael whispered, "Sonny, I'm down at
the hospital, I came down late. Sonny, there's nobody here. None of Tessio's
people. No detectives at the door. The old man was completely unprotected." His
voice was trembling.
8 There was a long silence and then Sonny's voice came, low and impressed,
"This is Sollozzo's move you were talking about."
9 Michael said, "That's what I figured too. But how did he get the cops to clear
everybody out and where did they go* What happened to Tessio's men* Jesus
Christ, has that bastard Sollozzo got the New York Police Department in his
pocket too*"
10"Take it easy, kid." Sonny's voice was soothing. "We got lucky again with you
going to visit the hospital so late. Stay in the old man's room. Lock the door from
the inside. I'll have some men there inside of fifteen minutes, soon as I make
some calls. Just sit tight and don't panic. OK, kid*"
11 "I won't panic," Michael said. For the first time since it had all started he felt a
furious anger rising in him, a cold hatred for his father's enemies.
12 He hung up the phone and rang the buzzer for the nurse. He decided to use
his own judgment and disregard Sonny's orders. When the nurse came in he said,
"I don't want you to get frightened, but we have to move my father right away. To
another room or another floor. Can you disconnect all these tubes so we can
wheel the bed out*"
13 The nurse said, "That's ridiculous. We have to get permission from the
doctor."
14 Michael spoke very quickly. "You've read about my father in the papers.
You've seen that there's no one here tonight to guard him. Now I've just gotten
word some men will come into the hospital to kill him. Please believe me and help
me." He could be extraordinarily persuasive when he wanted to be.
15 The nurse said, "We don't have to disconnect the tubes. We can wheel the
stand with the bed."
16 "Do you have an empty room*" Michael whispered.
17 "At the end of the hall," the nurse said.
18 It was done in a matter of moments, very quickly and very efficiently. Then
Michael said to the nurse, "Stay here with him until help comes. If you're outside
at your station you might get hurt."
19 At that moment he heard his father's voice from the bed, hoarse but full of
strength, "Michael, is it you* What happened, what is it*"
20 Michael leaned over the bed. He took his father's hand in his. "It's Mike," he
said. "Don't be afraid. Now listen, don't make any noise at all, especially if
somebody calls out your name. Some people want to kill you, understand* But
I'm here so don't be afraid."
21 Don Corleone, still not fully conscious of what had happened to him the day
before, in terrible pain, yet smiled benevolently on his youngest son, wanting to
tell him, but it was too much effort, "Why should I be afraid now* Strange men
have come to kill me ever since I was twelve years old."
(Примечание для редакции: с этого момента весь комментарий идет в сносках
внизу страницы.)
Chapter 10
The hospital was small and private with just one entrance. Michael looked through the
window down into the street. There was a curved courtyard that had steps leading down
into the street and the street was empty of cars. But whoever came into the hospital
would have to come through that entrance. He knew he didn't have much time so he ran
out of the room and down the four flights and through the wide doors of the ground floor
entrance. Off to the side he saw the ambulance yard and there was no car there, no
ambulances either.
Michael stood on the sidewalk outside the hospital and lit a cigarette. He unbuttoned
his coat and stood in the light of a lamppost so that his features could be seen. A young
man was walking swiftly down from Ninth Avenue, a package under his arm. The young
man wore a combat jacket and had a heavy shock (копна, скирда) of black hair. His
face was familiar when he came under the lamplight but Michael could not place it. But
the young man stopped in front of him and put out his hand, saying in a heavy Italian
accent, "Don Michael, do you remember me* Enzo, the baker's helper to Nazorine the
Paniterra; his son-in-law. Your father saved my life by getting the government to let me
stay in America."
Michael shook his hand. He remembered him now. Enzo went on, "I've come to pay
my respects to your father. Will they let me into the hospital so late*"
Michael smiled and shook his head. "No, but thanks anyway. I'll tell the Don you
came." A car came roaring down the street and Michael was instantly alert. He said to
Enzo, "Leave here quickly. There may be trouble. You don't want to get involved with
the police."
He saw the look of fear on the young Italian's face. Trouble with the police might
mean being deported or refusal of citizenship. But the young man stood fast. He
whispered in Italian. "If there's trouble I'll stay to help. I owe it to the Godfather."
Michael was touched. He was about to tell the young man to go away again, but then
he thought, why not let him stay* Two men in front of the hospital might scare off any of
Sollozzo's crew sent to do a job. One man almost certainly would not. He gave Enzo a
cigarette and lit it for him. They both stood under the lamppost in the cold December
night. The yellow panes (pane – оконное стекло; панель) of the hospital, bisected
(разделенные, разрезанные надвое) by the greens of Christmas decorations,
twinkled down on them. They had almost finished their cigarettes when a long low black
car turned into 30th Street from Ninth A venue and cruised (to cruise [kru:z] –
совершать круиз, курсировать; промчаться) toward them, very close to the curb. It
almost stopped. Michael peered to see their faces inside, his body flinching involuntarily.
The car seemed about to stop, then speeded forward. Somebody had recognized him.
Michael gave Enzo another cigarette and noticed that the baker's hands were shaking.
To his surprise his own hands were steady.
They stayed in the street smoking for what was no more than ten minutes when
suddenly the night air was split by a police siren. A patrol car made a screaming turn
from Ninth Avenue and pulled up in front of the hospital. Two more squad (группа,
команда) cars followed right behind it. Suddenly the hospital entranceway was flooded
with uniformed police and detectives. Michael heaved a sigh of relief. Good old Sonny
must have gotten through right away. He moved forward to meet them.
Two huge, burly policemen grabbed his arms. Another frisked him. A massive police
captain, gold braid on his cap, came up the steps, his men parting respectfully to leave
a path. He was a vigorous man for his girth (подпруга; обхват /талии/) and despite the
252
white hair that peeked out of his cap. His face was beefy red. He came up to Michael
and said harshly, "I thought I got all you guinea hoods locked up. Who the hell are you
and what are you doing here*"
One of the cops standing beside Michael said, "He's clean, Captain."
Michael didn't answer. He was studying this police captain, coldly searching his face,
the metallic blue eyes. A detective in plain clothes said, "That's Michael Corleone, the
Don's son."
Michael said quietly, "What happened to the detectives who were supposed to be
guarding my father* Who pulled them off that detail (наряд, расчет, команда)*"
The police captain was choleric with rage. "You fucking hood, who the hell are you to
tell me my business* I pulled them off. I don't give a shit how many dago (даго –
произвище итальянца, испанца, португальца) gangsters kill each other. If it was up to
me (если бы это зависело от меня), I wouldn't lift a finger to keep your old man from
getting knocked off. Now get the hell out of here. Get out of this street, you punk, and
stay out of this hospital when it's not visiting hours."
Michael was still studying him intently. He was not angry at what this police captain
was saying. His mind was racing furiously. Was it possible that Sollozzo had been in
that first car and had seen him standing in front of the hospital* Was it possible that
Sollozzo had then called this captain and said, "How come the Corleones' men are still
around the hospital when I paid you to lock them up*" Was it possible that all had been
carefully planned as Sonny had said* Everything fitted in. Still cool, he said to the
captain, "I'm not leaving this hospital until you put guards around my father's room."
The captain didn't bother answering. He said to the detective standing beside him, "Phil,
lock this punk up."
The detective said hesitantly, "The kid is clean, Captain. He's a war hero and he's never
been mixed up in the rackets. The papers could make a stink."
The captain started to turn on the detective, his face red with fury. He roared out,
"Goddamn it, I said lock him up."
Michael, still thinking clearly, not angry, said with deliberate malice (злоба ['mжlэs]),
"How much is the Turk paying you to set my father up, Captain*"
The police captain turned to him. He said to the two burly patrolmen, "Hold him."
Michael felt his arms pinned to his sides. He saw the captain's massive fist arching
(arch – дуга; to arch – изгибаться дугой) toward his face. He tried to weave away
(отклониться; to weave – ткать, плести; качаться, отклоняться) but the fist caught
him high on the cheekbone. A grenade exploded in his skull. His mouth filled with blood
253
and small hard bones that he realized were his teeth. He could feel the side of his head
puff up as if it were filling with air. His legs were weightless and he would have fallen if
the two policemen had not held him up. But he was still conscious. The plainclothes
detective had stepped in front of him to keep the captain from hitting him again and was
saying, "Jesus Christ, Captain, you really hurt him."
The captain said loudly, "I didn't touch him. He attacked me and he fell. Do you
understand that* He resisted arrest."
Through a red haze (легкий туман, дымка) Michael could see more cars pulling up to
the curb. Men were getting out. One of them he recognized as Clemenza's lawyer, who
was now speaking to the police captain, suavely (suave [swб:v] – учтивый,
обходительный) and surely. "The Corleone Family has hired a firm of private
detectives to guard Mr. Corleone. These men with me are licensed to carry firearms,
Captain. If you arrest them, you'll have to appear before a judge in the morning and tell
him why."
The lawyer glanced at Michael. "Do you want to prefer (выдвинуть /требование,
обвинение/) charges (обвинения) against whoever did this to you*" he asked.
Michael had trouble talking. His jaws wouldn't come together but he managed to
mumble. "I slipped," he said. "I slipped and fell." He saw the captain give him a
triumphant glance and he tried to answer that glance with a smile. At all costs he
wanted to hide the delicious icy chilliness that controlled his brain, the surge of wintry
cold hatred that pervaded his body. He wanted to give no warning to anyone in this
world as to how he felt at this moment. As the Don would not. Then he felt himself
carried into the hospital and he lost consciousness.
When he woke up in the morning he found that his jaw had been wired together and
that four of his teeth along the left side of his mouth were missing. Hagen was sitting
beside his bed.
"Did they drug me up*" Michael asked.
"Yeah," Hagen said. "They had to dig some bone fragments out of your gums (десны)
and they figured it would be too painful. Besides you were practically out anyway."
"Is there anything else wrong with me*" Michael asked.
"No," Hagen said. "Sonny wants you out at the Long Beach house. Think you can
make it*"
"Sure," Michael said. "Is the Don all right*"
Hagen flushed. "I think we've solved the problem now. We have a firm of private
detectives and we have the whole area loaded. I'll tell you more when we get in the car."
Clemenza was driving, Michael and Hagen sat in the back. Michael's head throbbed
(to throb – сильно биться, пульсировать). "So what the hell really happened last night,
did you guys ever find out*"
Hagen spoke quietly. "Sonny has an inside man, that Detective Phillips who tried to
protect you. He gave us the scoop (лопатка, совок, черпак; сенсационная новость;
здесь – информация). The police captain, McCluskey, is a guy who's been on the take
(to be on the take – брать взятки) very heavy ever since he's been a patrolman. Our
Family has paid him quite a bit. And he's greedy and untrustworthy (ненадежный, не
заслуживающий доверия) to do business with. But Sollozzo must have paid him a big
price. McCluskey had all Tessio's men around and in the hospital arrested right after
visiting hours. It didn't help that some of them were carrying guns. Then McCluskey
pulled the official guard detectives off the Don's door. Claimed he needed them and that
some other cops were supposed to go over and take their place but they got their
assignments bollixed (to bollix – испортить, изгадить /напр. работу/). Baloney (вздор,
чепуха /сленг/ [b*'l*unэ]). He was paid off to set the Don up. And Phillips said he's the
kind of guy who'll try it again. Sollozzo must have given him a fortune for openers and
promised him the moon to come."
"Was my getting hurt in the papers*"
"No," Hagen said. "We kept that quiet. Nobody wants that known. Not the cops. Not
us."
"Good," Michael said. "Did that boy Enzo get away*"
"Yeah," Hagen said. "He was smarter than you. When the cops came he disappeared.
He claims he stuck with you while Sollozzo's car went by. Is that true*"
"Yeah," Michael said. "He's a good kid."
"He'll be taken care of," Hagen said. "You feeling OK*" His face was concerned. "You
look lousy (паршиво, отвратительно: «вшиво»)."
"I'm OK," Michael said. "What was that police captain's' name*"
"McCluskey," Hagen said. "By the way, it might make you feel better to know that the
Corleone Family finally got up on the scoreboard (на табло; score – зарубка; счет
очков). Bruno Tattaglia, four o'clock this morning."
Michael sat up. "How come (как так)* I thought we were supposed to sit tight."
Hagen shrugged. "After what happened at the hospital Sonny got hard. The button
men are out all over New York and New Jersey. We made the list last night. I'm trying to
255
hold Sonny in, Mike. Maybe you can talk to him. This whole business can still be settled
without a major war."
"I'll talk to him," Michael said. "Is there a conference this morning*"
"Yeah," Hagen said. "Sollozzo finally got in touch and wants to sit down with us. A
negotiator is arranging the details. That means we win. Sollozzo knows he's lost and he
wants to get out with his life." Hagen paused. "Maybe he thought we were soft, ready to
be taken, because we didn't strike back. Now with one of the Tattaglia sons dead he
knows we mean business. He really took an awful gamble bucking (to buck –
становиться на дыбы, взбрыкивать /пытаясь сбросить седока/) the Don. By the way,
we got the confirmation on Luca. They killed him the night before they shot your father.
In Bruno's nightclub. Imagine that*"
Michael said, "No wonder they caught him off guard."
At the houses in Long Beach the entrance to the mall was blocked by a long black car
parked across its mouth. Two men leaned against the hood (капюшон; капот
/автомобиля/) of the car. The two houses on each side, Michael noticed, had opened
windows on their upper floors. Christ, Sonny must really mean business.
Clemenza parked the car outside the mall and they walked inside it. The two guards
were Clemenza's men and he gave them a frown of greeting that served as a salute.
The men nodded their heads in acknowledgment. There were no smiles, no greetings.
Clemenza led Hagen and Michael Corleone into the house.
The door was opened by another guard before they rang. He had obviously been
watching from a window.
They went to the corner office and found Sonny and Tessio waiting for them. Sonny
came to Michael, took his younger brother's head in his hands and said kiddingly,
"Beautiful. Beautiful." Michael knocked his hands away, and went to the desk and
poured himself some scotch, hoping it would dull the ache (притупит боль; ache [eэk])
in his wired jaw.
The five of them sat around the room but the atmosphere was different than their
earlier meetings. Sonny was gayer, more cheerful, and Michael realized what that
gaiety meant. There were no longer any doubts in his older brother's mind. He was
committed (принял решение, ввязался) and nothing would sway (поколебать) him.
The attempt by Sollozzo the night before was the final straw (последней соломинкой =
последней каплей). There could no longer be any question of a truce (перемирие).
256
"We got a call from the negotiator while you were gone," Sonny said to Hagen. "The
Turk wants a meeting now." Sonny laughed. "The balls on that son of a bitch," he said
admiringly. "After he craps out (to crap out – проигрывать; crap – дерьмо; to crap –
изгадить, испортить) last night he wants a meeting today or the next day. Meanwhile
we're supposed just to lay back and take everything he dishes out (предложит; to dish
– подавать еду, раскладывать по тарелкам). What fucking nerve."
Tom asked cautiously. "What did you answer*"
Sonny grinned. "I said sure, why not* Anytime he says, I'm in no hurry. I've got a
hundred button men out on the street twenty-four hours a day. If Sollozzo shows one
hair on his asshole he's dead. Let them take all the time they want."
Hagen said, "Was there a definite proposal*"
"Yeah," Sonny said. "He wants us to send Mike to meet him to hear his proposition.
The negotiator guarantees Mike's safety. Sollozzo doesn't ask us to guarantee his
safety, he knows he can't ask that. No point. So the meeting will be arranged on his side.
His people will pick Mike up and take Mike to the meeting place. Mike will listen to
Sollozzo and then they'll turn him loose. But the meeting place is secret. The promise is
the deal will be so good we can't turn it down."
Hagen asked, "What about the Tattaglias! What will they do about Bruno*"
"That's part of the deal. The negotiator says the Tattaglia Family has agreed to go
along with Sollozzo. They'll forget about Bruno Tattaglia. He pays for what they did to
my father. One cancels out (to cancel – вычеркивать, аннулировать) the other." Sonny
laughed again. "The nervy (смелый, волевой) bastards."
Hagen said cautiously, "We should hear what they have to say."
Sonny shook his head from side to side. "No, no, Consigliori, not this time." His voice
held a faint trace of Italian accent. He was consciously mocking his father just to kid
around (высмеивать, подшучивать). "No more meetings. No more discussions. No
more Sollozzo tricks. When the negotiator gets in touch with us again for our answer I
want you to give him one message. I want Sollozzo. If not, it's all-out war. We'll go to the
mattresses and we'll put all the button men out on the street. Business will just have to
suffer."
"The other Families won't stand for an all-out war," Hagen said. "It puts too much heat
on everybody."
Sonny shrugged. "They have a simple solution (решение /проблемы/). Give me
Sollozzo. Or fight the Corleone Family." Sonny paused, then said roughly, "No more
advice on how to patch it up (patch – клочок, лоскут; to patch up – латать, ставить
заплаты), Tom. The decision is made. Your job is to help me win. Understand*"
Hagen bowed his head. He was deep in thought for a moment. Then he said, "I spoke
to your contact in the police station. He says that Captain McCluskey is definitely on
Sollozzo's payroll and for big money. Not only that, but McCluskey is going to get a
piece of the drug operation. McCluskey has agreed to be Sollozzo's bodyguard. The
Turk doesn't poke his nose out of his hole without McCluskey. When he meets Mike for
the conference, McCluskey will be sitting beside him. In civilian clothes but carrying his
gun. Now what you have to understand, Sonny, is that while Sollozzo is guarded like
this, he's invulnerable. Nobody has ever gunned down a New York police captain and
gotten away with it. The heat in this town would be unbearable what with the
newspapers, the whole police department, the churches, everything. That would be
disastrous. The Families would be after you. The Corleone Family would become
outcasts. Even the old man's political protection would run for cover. So take that into
consideration (прими в расчет, в размышление)."
Sonny shrugged. "McCluskey can't stay with the Turk forever. We'll wait."
Tessio and Clemenza were puffing on their cigars uneasily, not daring to speak, but
sweating. It would be their skins that would go on the line if the wrong decision was
made.
Michael spoke for the first time. He asked Hagen, "Can the old man be moved out of