mp.godfather-第83章

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　Hagen　nodded。　Michael　finished　the　brandy　in　his　glass。　〃Send　Clemenza　in　to　me。　I'll　instruct　him　personally。　I　don't　want　to　see　Tessio　at　all。　Just　tell　him　I'll　be　ready　to　go　to　the　Barzini　meeting　with　him　in　about　a　half　hour。　Clemenza's　people　will　take　care　of　him　after　that。〃
　
　Hagen　said　in　a　nonmittal　voice；　〃There's　no　way　to　let　Tessio　off　the　hook？〃
　
　〃No　way；〃　Michael　said。
　
　**********
　
　Upstate　in　the　city　of　Buffalo；　a　small　pizza　parlor　on　a　side　street　was　doing　a　rush　trade。　As　the　lunch　hours　passed；　business　finally　slackened　off　and　the　counterman　took　his　round　tin　tray　with　its　few　leftover　slices　out　of　the　window　and　put　it　on　the　shelf　on　the　huge　brick　oven。　He　peeked　into　the　oven　at　a　pie　baking　there。　The　cheese　had　not　yet　started　to　bubble。　When　he　turned　back　to　the　counter　that　enabled　him　to　serve　people　in　the　street；　there　was　a　young；　tough…looking　man　standing　there。　The　man　said；　〃Gimme　a　slice。〃
　
　The　pizza　counterman　took　his　wooden　shovel　and　scooped　one　of　the　cold　slices　into　the　oven　to　warm　it　up。　The　customer；　instead　of　waiting　outside；　decided　to　e　through　the　door　and　be　served。　The　store　was　empty　now。　The　counterman　opened　the　oven　and　took　out　the　hot　slice　and　served　it　on　a　paper　plate。　But　the　customer；　instead　of　giving　the　money　for　it；　was　staring　at　him　intently。
　
　〃I　hear　you　got　a　great　tattoo　on　your　chest；〃　the　customer　said。　〃I　can　see　the　top　of　it　over　your　shirt；　how　about　letting　me　see　the　rest　of　it？〃
　
　The　counterman　froze。　He　seemed　to　be　paralyzed。
　
　〃Open　your　shirt；〃　the　customer　said。
　
　The　counterman　shook　his　head。　〃I　got　no　tattoo；〃　he　said　in　heavily　accented　English。　〃That's　the　man　who　works　at　night。〃
　
　The　customer　laughed。　It　was　an　unpleasant　laugh；　harsh；　strained。　〃e　on；　unbutton　your　shirt；　let　me　see。〃
　
　The　counterman　started　backing　toward　the　rear　of　the　store；　aiming　to　edge　around　the　huge　oven。　But　the　customer　raised　his　hand　above　the　counter。　There　was　a　gun　in　it。　He　fired。　The　bullet　caught　the　counterman　in　the　chest　and　hurled　him　against　the　oven。　The　customer　fired　into　his　body　again　and　the　counterman　slumped　to　the　floor。　The　customer　came　around　the　serving　shelf；　reached　down　and　ripped　the　buttons　off　the　shirt。　The　chest　was　covered　with　blood；　but　the　tattoo　was　visible；　the　intertwined　lovers　and　the　knife　transfixing　them。　The　counterman　raised　one　of　his　arms　feebly　as　if　to　protect　himself。　The　gunman　said；　〃Fabrizzio；　Michael　Corleone　sends　you　his　regards。〃　He　extended　the　gun　so　that　it　was　only　a　few　inches　from　the　counterman's　skull　and　pulled　the　trigger。　Then　he　walked　out　of　the　store。　At　the　curb　a　car　was　waiting　for　him　with　its　door　open。　He　jumped　in　and　the　car　sped　off。
　
　Rocco　Lampone　answered　the　phone　installed　on　one　of　the　iron　pillars　of　the　gate。　He　heard　someone　saying；　〃Your　package　is　ready；〃　and　the　click　as　the　caller　hung　up。　Rocco　got　into　his　car　and　drove　out　of　the　mall。　He　crossed　the　Jones　Beach　Causeway；　the　same　causeway　on　which　Sonny　Corleone　had　been　killed；　and　drove　out　to　the　railroad　station　of　Wantagh。　He　parked　his　car　there。　Another　car　was　waiting　for　him　with　two　men　in　it。　They　drove　to　a　motel　ten　minutes　farther　out　on　Sunrise　Highway　and　turned　into　its　courtyard。　Rocco　Lampone；　leaving　his　two　men　in　the　car；　went　to　one　of　the　little　chalet…type　bungalows。　One　kick　sent　its　door　flying　off　its　hinges　and　Rocco　sprang　into　the　room。
　
　Phillip　Tattaglia；　seventy　years　old　and　naked　as　a　baby；　stood　over　a　bed　on　which　lay　a　young　girl。　Phillip　Tattaglia's　thick　head　of　hair　was　jet　black；　but　the　plumage　of　his　crotch　was　steel　gray。　His　body　had　the　soft　plumpness　of　a　bird。　Rocco　pumped　four　bullets　into　him；　all　in　the　belly。　Then　he　turned　and　ran　back　to　the　car。　The　two　men　dropped　him　off　in　the　Wantagh　station。　He　picked　up　his　car　and　drove　back　to　the　mall。　He　went　in　to　see　Michael　Corleone　for　a　moment　and　then　came　out　and　took　up　his　position　at　the　gate。
　
　**********
　
　Albert　Neri；　alone　in　his　apartment；　finished　getting　his　uniform　ready。　Slowly　he　put　it　on；　trousers；　shirt；　tie　and　jacket；　holster　and　gunbelt。　He　had　turned　in　his　gun　when　he　was　suspended　from　the　force；　but；　through　some　administrative　oversight　they　had　not　made　him　give　up　his　shield。　Clemenza　had　supplied　him　with　a　new　。38　Police　Special　that　could　not　be　traced。　Neri　broke　it　down；　oiled　it；　checked　the　hammer；　put　it　together　again；　clicked　the　trigger。　He　loaded　the　cylinders　and　was　set　to　go。
　
　He　put　the　policeman's　cap　in　a　heavy　paper　bag　and　then　put　a　civilian　overcoat　on　to　cover　his　uniform。　He　checked　his　watch。　Fifteen　minutes　before　the　car　would　be　waiting　for　him　downstairs。　He　spent　the　fifteen　minutes　checking　himself　in　the　mirror。　There　was　no　question。　He　looked　like　a　real　cop。
　
　The　car　was　waiting　with　two　of　Rocco　Lampone's　men　in　front。　Neri　got　into　the　back　seat。　As　the　car　started　downtown；　after　they　had　left　the　neighborhood　of　his　apartment；　he　shrugged　off　the　civilian　overcoat　and　left　it　on　the　floor　of　the　car。　He　ripped　open　the　paper　bag　and　put　the　police　officer's　cap　on　his　head。
　
　At　55th　Street　and　Fifth　Avenue　the　car　pulled　over　to　the　curb　and　Neri　got　out。　He　started　walking　down　the　avenue。　He　had　a　queer　feeling　being　back　in　uniform；　patrolling　the　streets　as　he　had　done　so　many　times。　There　were　crowds　of　people。　He　walked　downtown　until　he　was　in　front　of　Rockefeller　Center；　across　the　way　from　St。　Patrick's　Cathedral。　On　his　side　of　Fifth　Avenue　he　spotted　the　limousine　he　was　looking　for。　It　was　parked；　nakedly　alone　between　a　whole　string　of　red　NO　PARKING　and　No　STANDING　signs。　Neri　slowed　his　pace。　He　was　too　early。　He　stopped　to　write　something　in　his　summons　book　and　then　kept　walking。　He　was　abreast　of　the　limousine。　He　tapped　its　fender　with　his　nightstick。　The　driver　looked　up　in　surprise。　Neri　pointed　to　the　NO　STANDING　sign　with　his　stick　and　motioned　the　driver　to　move　his　car。　The　driver　turned　his　head　away。
　
　Neri　walked　out　into　the　street　so　that　he　was　standing　by　the　driver's　open　window。　The　driver　was　a　tough…looking　hood；　just　the　kind　he　loved　to　break　up。　Neri　said　with　deliberate　insultingness；　〃OK；　wise　guy；　you　want　me　to　stick　a　summons　up　your　ass　or　do　you　wanta　get　moving？〃
　
　The　driver　said　impassively；　〃You　better　check　with　your　precinct。　Just　give　me　the　ticket　if　it'll　make　you　feel　happy。〃
　
　〃Get　the　hell　out　of　here；〃　Neri　said；　〃or　I'll　drag　you　out　of　that　car　and　break　your　ass。〃
　
　The　driver　made　a　ten…dollar　bill　appear　by　some　sort　of　magic；　folded　it　into　a　little　square　using　just　one　hand；　attd　tried　to　shove　it　inside　Neri's　blouse。　Neri　moved　back　onto　the　sidewalk　and　crooked　his　finger　at　the　driver。　The　driver　came　out　of　the　car。
　
　〃Let　me　see　your　license　and　registration；〃　Neri　said。　He　had　been　hoping　to　get　the　driver　to　go　around　the　block　but　there　was　no　hope　for　that　now。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Neri　saw　three　short；　heavyset　men　ing　down　the　steps　of　the　Plaza　building；　ing　down　toward　the　street。　It　was　Barzini　himself　and　his　two　bodyguards；　on　their　way　to　meet　Michael　Corleone。　Even　as　he　saw　this；　one　of　the　bodyguards　peeled　off　to　e　ahead　and　see　what　was　wrong　with　Barzini's　car。
　
　This　man　asked　the　driver；　〃What's　up？〃
　
　The　driver　said　curtly；　〃I'm　getting　a　ticket；　no　sweat。　This　guy　must　be　new　in　the　precinct。〃
　
　At　that　moment　Barzini　came　up　with　his　other　bodyguard。　He　growled；　〃What　the　hell　is　wrong　now？〃
　
　Neri　finished　writing　in　his　summons　book　and　gave　the　driver　back　his　registration　and　license。　Then　he　put　his　summons　book　back　in　his　hip　pocket　and　with　the　forward　motion　of　his　hand　drew　the　。38　Special。　
　
　He　put　three　bullets　in　Barzini's　barrel　chest　before　the　other　three　men　unfroze　enough　to　dive　for　cover。　By　that　time　Neri　had　darted　into　the　crowd　and　around　the　corner　where　the　car　was　waiting　for　him。　The　car　sped　up　to　Ninth　Avenue　and　turned　downtown。　Near　Chelsea　Park；　Neri；　who　had　discarded　the　cap　and　put　on　the　overcoat　and　changed　clothing；　transferred　to　another　car　that　was　waiting　for　him。　He　had　left　the　gun　and　the　police　uniform　in　the　other　car。　It　would　be　gotten　rid　of。　An　hour　later　he　was　safely　in　the　mall　on　Long　Beach　and　talking　to　Michael　Corleone。
　
　**********
　
　Tessio　was　waiting　in　the　kitchen　of　the　old　Don's　house　and　was　sipping　at　a　cup　of　coffee　when　Tom　Hagen　came　for　him。　〃Mike　is　ready　for　you　now；〃　Hagen　said。　〃You　better　make　your　call　to　Barzini　and　tell　him　to　start　on　his　way。〃
　
　Tessio　rose　and　went　to　the　wall　phone。　He　dialed　Barzini's　office　in　New　York　and　said　curtly；　〃We're　on　our　way　to　Brooklyn。〃　He　hung　up　and　smiled　at　Hagen。　〃I　hope　Mike　can　get　us　a　good　deal　tonight。〃
　
　Hagen　said　gravely；　〃I'm　sure　he　will。〃　He　escorted　Tessio　out　of　the　kitchen　and　onto　the　mall。　They　walked　toward　Michael's　house。　At　the　door　they　were　stopped　by　one　of　the　bodyguards。　〃The　boss　says　he'll　e　in　a　separate　car。　He　says　for　you　two　to　go　on　ahead。〃
　
　Tessio　frowned　and　turned　to　Hagen。　〃Hell；　he　can't　do　that；　that　screws　up　all　my　arrangements。〃
　
　At　that　moment　three　more　bodyguards　materialized　around　them。　Hagen　said　gently；　〃I　can't　go　with　you　either；　Tessio。〃
　
　The　ferret…faced　caporegime　understood　everything　in　a　flash　of　a　second。　And　accepted　it。　There　was　a　moment　of　physical　weakness；　and　then　he　recovered。　He　said　to　Hagen；　〃Tell　Mike　it　was　business；　I　always　liked　him。〃
　
　Hagen　nodded。　〃He　understands　that。〃
　
　Tessio　paused　for　a　moment　and　then　said　softly；　〃Tom；　can　you　get　me　off　the　hook？　For　old　times'　sake？〃
　
　Hagen　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't；〃　he　said。
　
　He　watched　Tessio　being　surrounded　by　bodyguards　and　led　into　a　waiting　car。　He　felt　a　little　sick。　Tessio　had　been　the　best　soldier　in　the　Corleone　Family；　the　old　Don　had　relied　on　him　more　than　any　other　man　with　the　exception　of　Luca　Brasi。　It　was　too　bad　that　so　intelligent　a　man　had　made　such　a　fatal　error　in　judgment　so　late　in　life。
　
　**********
　
　Carlo　Rizzi；　still　waiting　for　his　interview　with　Michael；　became　jittery　with　all　the　arrivals　and　departures。　Obviously　something　big　was　going　on　and　it　looked　as　if　he　were　going　to　be　left　out。　Impatiently　he　called　Michael　on　the　phone。　One　of　the　house　bodyguards　answered；　went　to　get　Michael；　and　came　back　with　the　message　that　Michael　wanted　him　to　sit　tight；　that　he　would　get　to　him　soon。
　
　Carlo　called　up　his　mistress　again　and　told　her　he　was　sure　he　would　be　able　to　take　her　to　a　late　supper　and　spend　the　night。　Michael　had　said　he　would　call　him　sin；　whatever　he　had　planned　couldn't　take　more　than　an　hour；　or　two。　Then　it　would　take　him　about　forty　minutes　to　drive　to　Westbury。　It　could　be　done。　He　promised　her　he　would　do　it　and　sweet…talked　her　into　not　being　sore。　When　he　hung　up　he　decided　to　get　properly　dressed　so　as　to　save　time　afterward。　He　had　just　slipped　into　a　fresh　shirt　when　there　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　He　reasoned　quickly　that　Mike　had　tried　to　get　him　on　the　phone　and　had　kept　getting　a　busy　signal　so　had　simply　sent　a　m