mp.godfather-第24章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ge　men　have　e　to　kill　me　ever　since　I　was　twelve　years　old。〃
　
　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　e　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　bat　jacket　and　had　a　heavy　shock　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　e　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　is　the　cold　December　night。　The　yellow　panes　of　the　hospital；　bisected　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　Avenue　and　cruised　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　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　and　despite　the　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？〃
　
　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　gangsters　kill　each　other。　If　it　was　up　to　me；　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　e　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；　〃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　toward　his　face。　He　tried　to　weave　away　but　the　fist　caught　him　high　on　the　cheekbone。　A　grenade　exploded　in　his　skull。　His　mouth　filled　with　blood　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　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　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　charges　against　whoever　did　this　to　you？〃　he　asked。
　
　Michael　had　trouble　talking。　His　jaws　wouldn't　e　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　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。　〃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。　The　police　captain；　McCluskey；　is　a　guy　who's　been　on　the　take　very　heavy　ever　since　he's　been　a　patrolman。　Our　Family　has　paid　him　quite　a　bit。　And　he's　greedy　and　untrustworthy　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。　Baloney。　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　e。〃
　
　〃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。〃
　
　〃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。　Bruno　Tattaglia；　four　o'clock　this　morning。〃
　
　Michael　sat　up。　〃How　e？　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　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　the　Don。　By　the　way；　we　got　the　confirmation　on　Luca。　They　killed　him　the　night