mp.godfather-第61章

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ofibrous　pelvic　sling　had　to　be　shortened　so　that　the　slack　was　taken　up。　And　of　course　the　vaginal　opening；　the　weak　spot　itself　in　the　pelvic　floor；　had　to　be　brought　forward；　brought　under　the　pubic　arch　and　so　relieved　from　the　line　of　direct　pressure　above。　Repairing　the　pelvic　sling　was　called　perincorrhaphy。　Suturing　the　vaginal　wall　was　called　colporrhaphy。
　
　Jules　saw　that　Dr。　Kellner　was　working　carefully　now；　the　big　danger　in　the　cutting　was　going　too　deep　and　hitting　the　rectum。　It　was　a　fairly　unplicated　case；　Jules　had　studied　all　the　X　rays　and　tests。　Nothing　should　go　wrong　except　that　in　surgery　something　could　always　go　wrong。
　
　Kellner　was　working　on　the　diaphragm　sling；　the　T　forceps　held　the　vaginal　flap；　and　exposing　the　ani　muscle　and　the　fasci　which　formed　its　sheath。　Kellner's　gauze…covered　fingers　were　pushing　aside　loose　connective　tissue。　Jules　kept　his　eyes　on　the　vaginal　wall　for　the　appearance　of　the　veins；　the　telltale　danger　signal　of　injuring　the　rectum。　But　old　Kellner　knew　his　stuff。　He　was　building　a　new　snatch　as　easily　as　a　carpenter　nails　together　two…by…four　studs。
　
　Kenner　was　trimming　away　the　excess　vaginal　wall　using　the　fastening…down　stitch　to　close　the　〃bite〃　taken　out　of　the　tissue　of　the　redundant　angle；　insuring　that　no　troublesome　projections　would　form。　Kellner　was　trying　to　insert　three　fingers　into　the　narrowed　opening　of　the　lumen；　then　two。　He　just　managed　to　get　two　fingers　in；　probing　deeply　and　for　a　moment　he　looked　up　at　Jules　and　his　china…blue　eyes　over　the　gauze　mask　twinkled　as　though　asking　if　that　was　narrow　enough。　Then　he　was　busy　again　with　his　sutures。
　
　It　was　all　over。　They　wheeled　Lucy　out　to　the　recovery　room　and　Jules　talked　to　Kellner。　Kellner　was　cheerful；　the　best　sign　that　everything　had　gone　well。　〃No　plications　at　all；　my　boy；〃　he　told　Jules。　〃Nothing　growing　in　there；　very　simple　case。　She　has　wonderful　body　tone；　unusual　in　these　cases　and　now　she's　in　first…class　shape　for　fun　and　games。　I　envy　you；　my　boy。　Of　course　you'll　have　to　wait　a　little　while　but　then　I　guarantee　you'll　like　my　work。〃
　
　Jules　laughed。　〃You're　a　true　Pygmalion；　Doctor。　Really；　you　were　marvelous。〃
　
　Dr。　Kellner　grunted。　〃That's　all　child's　play；　like　your　abortions。　If　society　would　only　be　realistic；　people　like　you　and　I；　really　talented　people；　could　do　important　work　and　leave　this　stuff　for　the　hacks。　By　the　way；　I'll　be　sending　you　a　girl　next　week；　a　very　nice　girl；　they　seem　to　be　the　ones　who　always　get　in　trouble。　That　will　make　us　all　square　for　this　job　today。〃
　
　Jules　shook　his　hand。　〃Thanks；　Doctor。　e　out　yourself　sometime　and　I'll　see　that　you　get　all　the　courtesies　of　the　house。〃
　
　Kellner　gave　him　a　wry　smile。　〃I　gamble　every　day；　I　don't　need　your　roulette　wheels　and　crap　tables。　I　knock　heads　with　fate　too　often　as　it　is。　You're　going　to　waste　out　there；　Jules。　Another　couple　of　years　and　you　can　forget　about　serious　surgery。　You　won't　be　up　to　it。〃　He　turned　away。
　
　Jules　knew　it　was　not　meant　as　a　reproach　but　as　a　warning。　Yet　it　took　the　heart　out　of　him　anyway。　Since　Lucy　wouldn't　be　out　of　the　recovery　room　for　at　least　twelve　hours；　he　went　out　on　the　town　and　got　drunk。　Part　of　getting　drunk　was　his　feeling　of　relief　that　everything　had　worker　out　so　well　with　Lucy。
　
　**********
　
　The　next　morning　when　he　went　to　the　hospital　to　visit　her　he　was　surprised　to　find　two　men　at　her　bedside　and　flowers　all　over　the　room。　Lucy　was　propped　up　on　pillows；　her　face　radiant。　Jules　was　surprised　because　Lucy　had　broken　with　her　family　and　had　told　him　not　to　notify　them　unless　something　went　wrong。　Of　course　Freddie　Corleone　knew　she　was　in　the　hospital　for　a　minor　operation；　that　had　been　necessary　so　that　they　both　could　get　time　off；　and　Freddie　had　told　Jules　that　the　hotel　would　pick　up　all　the　bills　for　Lucy。
　
　Lucy　was　introducing　them　and　one　of　the　men　Jules　recognized　instantly。　The　famous　Johnny　Fontane。　The　other　was　a　big；　muscular；　snotty…looking　Italian　guy　whose　name　was　Nino　Valenti。　They　both　shook　hands　with　Jules　and　then　paid　no　further　attention　to　him。　They　were　kidding　Lucy；　talking　about　the　old　neighborhood　in　New　York；　about　people　and　events　Jules　had　no　way　of　sharing。　So　he　said　to　Lucy；　〃I'll　drop　by　later；　I　have　to　see　Dr。　Kellner　anyway。〃
　
　But　Johnny　Fontane　was　turning　the　charm　on　him。　〃Hey；　buddy；　we　have　to　leave　ourselves；　you　keep　Lucy　pany。　Take　good　care　of　her；　Doc。〃　Jules　noticed　a　peculiar　hoarseness　in　Johnny　Fontane's　voice　and　remembered　suddenly　that　the　man　hadn't　sung　in　public　for　over　a　year　now；　that　he　had　won　the　Academy　Award　for　his　acting。　Could　the　man's　voice　have　changed　so　late　in　life　and　the　papers　keeping　it　a　secret；　everybody　keeping　it　a　secret？　Jules　loved　inside　gossip　and　kept　listening　to　Fontane's　voice　in　an　attempt　to　diagnose　the　trouble。　It　could　be　simple　strain；　or　too　much　booze　and　cigarettes　or　even　too　much　women。　The　voice　had　an　ugly　timbre　to　it；　he　could　never　be　called　the　sweet　crooner　anymore。
　
　〃You　sound　like　you　have　a　cold；〃　Jules　said　to　Johnny　Fontane。
　
　Fontane　said　politely；　〃Just　strain；　I　tried　to　sing　last　night。　I　guess　I　just　can't　accept　the　fact　that　my　voice　changed；　getting　old　you　know。〃　He　gave　Jules　a　what…the…hell　grin。
　
　Jules　said　casually；　〃Didn't　you　get　a　doctor　to　look　at　it？　Maybe　it's　something　that　can　be　fixed。〃
　
　Fontane　was　not　so　charming　now。　He　gave　Jules　a　long　cool　look。　〃That's　the　first　thing　I　did　nearly　two　years　ago。　Best　specialists。　My　own　doctor　who's　supposed　to　be　the　top　guy　out　here　in　California。　They　told　me　to　get　a　lot　of　rest。　Nothing　wrong；　just　getting　older。　A　man's　voice　changes　when　he　gets　older。〃
　
　Fontane　ignored　him　after　that；　paying　attention　to　Lucy；　charming　her　as　he　charmed　all　women。　Jules　kept　listening　to　the　voice。　There　had　to　be　a　growth　on　those　vocal　cords。　But　then　why　the　hell　hadn't　the　specialists　spotted　it？　Was　it　malignant　and　inoperable？　Then　there　was　other　stuff。
　
　He　interrupted　Fontane　to　ask；　〃When　was　the　last　time　you　got　examined　by　a　specialist？〃
　
　Fontane　was　obviously　irritated　but　trying。　to　be　polite　for　Lucy's　sake。　〃About　eighteen　months　ago。〃　he　said。
　
　〃Does　your　own　doctor　take　a　look　once　in　a　while？〃　Jules　asked。
　
　〃Sure　he　does；〃　Johnny　Fontane　said　irritably。　〃He　gives　me　a　codeine　spray　and　checks　me　out。　He　told　me　it's　just　my　voice　aging；　that　all　the　drinking　and　smoking　and　other　stuff。　Maybe　you　know　more　than　he　does？〃
　
　Jules　asked；　〃What's　his　name？〃
　
　Fontane　said　with　just　a　faint　flicker　of　pride；　〃Tucker；　Dr。　James　Tucker。　What　do　you　think　of　him？〃
　
　The　name　was　familiar；　linked　to　famous　movie　stars；　female；　and　to　an　expensive　health　farm。
　
　〃He's　a　sharp　dresser；〃　Jules　said　with　a　grin。
　
　Fontane　was　angry　now。　〃You　think　you're　a　better　doctor　than　he　is？〃
　
　Jules　laughed。　〃Are　you　a　better　singer　than　Carmen　Lombardo？〃　He　was　surprised　to　see　Nino　Valenti　break　up　in　laughter；　banging　his　head　on　his　chair。　The　joke　hadn't　been　that　good。　Then　on　the　wings　of　those　guffaws　he　caught　the　smell　of　bourbon　and　knew　that　even　this　early　in　the　morning　Mr。　Valenti；　whoever　the　hell　he　was；　was　at　least　half　drunk。
　
　Fontane　was　grinning　at　his　friend。　〃Hey；　you're　supposed　to　be　laughing　at　my　jokes；　not　his。〃　Meanwhile　Lucy　stretched　out　her　hand　to　Jules　and　drew　him　to　her　bedside。
　
　〃He　looks　like　a　bum　but　he's　a　brilliant　surgeon；〃　LUCY　told　them。　〃If　he　says　he's　better　than　Dr。　Tucker　then　he's　better　than　Dr。　Tucker。　You　listen　to　him；　Johnny。〃
　
　The　nurse　came　in　and　told　them　they　would　have　to　leave。　The　resident　was　going　to　do　some　work　on　Lucy　and　needed　privacy。　Jules　was　amused　to　see　Lucy　turn　her　head　away　so　when　Johnny　Fontane　and　Nino　Valenti　kissed　her　they　would　hit　her　cheek　instead　of　her　mouth；　but　they　seemed　to　expect　it。　She　let　Jules　kiss　her　on　the　mouth　and　whispered；　〃e　back　this　afternoon；　please？〃　he　nodded。
　
　Out　in　the　corridor；　Valenti　asked　him；　〃What　was　the　operation　for？　Anything　serious？〃
　
　Jules　shook　his　head。　〃Just　a　little　female　plumbing。　Absolutely　routine；　please　believe　me。　I'm　more　concerned　than　you　are；　I　hope　to　marry　the　girl。〃
　
　They　were　looking　at　him　appraisingly　so　he　asked；　〃How　did　you　find　out　she　was　in　the　hospital？〃
　
　〃Freddie　called　us　and　asked　us　to　look　in；〃　Fontane　said。　〃We　all　grew　up　in　the　same　neighborhood。　Lucy　was　maid　of　honor　when　Freddie's　sister　got　married。〃
　
　〃Oh；〃　Jules　said。　He　didn't　let　on　that　he　knew　the　whole　story；　perhaps　because　they　were　so　cagey　about　protecting　Lucy　and　her　affair　with　Sonny。
　
　As　they　walked　down　the　corridor；　Jules　said　to　Fontane；　〃I　have　visiting　doctor's　privileges　here；　why　don't　you　let　me　have　a　look　at　your　throat？〃
　
　Fontane　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　in　a　hurry。〃
　
　Nino　Valenti　said；　〃That's　a　million…dollar　throat；　he　can't　have　cheap　doctors　looking　down　it。〃　Jules　saw　Valenti　was　grinning　at　him；　obviously　on　his　side。
　
　Jules　said　cheerfully；　〃I'm　no　cheap　doctor。　I　was　the　brightest　young　surgeon　and　diagnostician　on　the　East　Coast　until　they　got　me　on　an　abortion　rap。〃
　
　As　he　had　known　it　would；　that　made　them　take　him　seriously。　By　admitting　his　crime　he　inspired　belief　in　his　claim　of　high　petence。　Valenti　recovered　first。　〃If　Johnny　can't　use　you；　I　got　a　girl　friend　I　want　you　to　look　at；　not　at　her　throat　though。〃
　
　Fontane　said　to　him　nervously；　〃How　long　will　you　take？〃
　
　〃Ten　minutes；〃　Jules　said。　It　was　a　lie　but　he　believed　in　telling　lies　to　people。　Truth　telling　and　medicine　just　didn't　go　together　except　in　dire　emergencies；　if　then。
　
　〃OK；〃　Fontane　said。　His　voice　was　darker；　hoarser；　with　fright。
　
　Jules　recruited　a　nurse　and　a　consulting　room。　It　didn't　have　everything　he　needed　but　there　was　enough。　In　less　than　ten　minutes　he　knew　there　was　a　growth　on　the　vocal　cords；　that　was　easy。　Tucker；　that　inpetent　sartorial　son　of　a　bitch　of　a　Hollywood　phony；　should　have　been　able　to　spot　it。　Christ；　maybe　the　guy　didn't　even　have　a　license　and　if　he　did　it　should　be　taken　away　from　him。　Jules　didn't　pay　any　attention　to　the　two　men　now。　He　picked　up　the　phone　and　asked　for　the　throat　man　at　the　hospital　to　e　down。　Then　he　swung　around　and　said　to　Nino　Valenti；　〃I　think　it　might　be　a　long　wait　for　you；　you'd　better　leave。〃
　
　Fontane　stared　at　him　in　utter　disbelief。　〃You　son　of　a　bitch；　you　think　you're　going　to　keep　me　here？　You　think　you're　going　to　fuck　around　with　my　throat？〃
　
　Jules；　with　more　pleasure　than　he　would　have　thought　possible；　gave　it　to　him　straight　between　the　eyes。　〃You　can　do　whatever　you　like；〃　he　said。　〃You've　got　a　growth　of　some　sort　on　your　vocal　cords；　in　your　larynx。　If　you　stay　here　the　next　few　hours；　we　can　nail　it　down；　whether　it's　malignant　or　nonmalignant。　We　can　make　a　decision　for　surgery　or　treatment。　I　can　give　you　the　whole　story。　I　can　give　you　the　name　of　a　top　specialist　in　America　and　we　can　have　him　out　here　on　the　plane　tonight；　with　your　money　that　is；　and　if　I　think　it　necessary。　But　you　can　walk　out　of　here　and　see　your　quack　buddy　or　sweat　whi