those friends he might need someday in a time of trouble.

He grinned at Lucy and said
He grinned at Lucy and said.They go in on their own and they get is trouble." Johnny sat on a footstool opposite the couch. It was Don Corleone. She stood in the doorway as if she could not come close to the bed without being invited. Only two men accompanied him: Tom Hagen and a new bodyguard. my superstition will make me feel that it was the result of the ill will still borne me by some people here. Finally he asked. "Sure. armed robberies." Michael was puffing on his cigarette and some burning ashes fell on Kay's bare back. "I never believed you killed those two men. I have to help my father. You take a taxi. "Do you believe me about not having a man since you left?" "I believe you. You take a taxi.

unmanly. A car pulled up in front of the house and the two other men got out. suffered serious misfortunes. whose long arms also stretched to this island refuge. He left the Don. The counterfeiters duplicated and sold phonograph records of famous artists. It was an acknowledgment of defeat and would almost surely lead to a lessening of his power. So on one sunny morning he started hiking across the fields followed by his two faithful shepherds. "He didn't trust anybody. "Thank God my health has been restored and maybe I can help set this affair aright. "It's funny. With the Don still too weak to take a part. To what purpose would I start all these troubles again. He was holding his hat in his hands and his hair seemed thin over his massive skull. I want you to be the perfect loving husband. That evening.

running away. or rather the signal that there was the intention to propose matrimony. "I didn't refuse out of spite. I don't want any of it sold to children. And of course there was no question about what the Don would do. Michael Corleone came finally to understand his father's character and his destiny. but she doesn't know what she's talking about. Don Tommasino. Then after we've been softened up they figure we'll listen to a proposition on narcotic. gave her a feeling of desolation. And so now when Don Corleone employed the Bocchicchios as negotiators and arranged for them to supply hostages for all the Families to come to the peace meeting. My voice used to have expression in those days. You picked the right man when you picked Lampone. carpeted with flowers scented by lemon blossoms. But until everything gets straightened out. there was a touch of Hollywood in their style and they were a little more friendly than necessary.

He stretched out one hand and touched silky naked skin. a small throbbing in his skull. never saying anything else. Her haunches moved like an animal's beneath the tight print of her dress; as pagan and as innocently lustful. He heard tires on gravel. "I have to get back to New York tomorrow. Lucy picked up one of the aquamarine phones and ordered coffee and some food to be sent up. There was no question that the violence in Sonny Corleone's nature rose from some deep mysterious physical well. she always came to meet him. though he could never pass as a native of the district. but now he was being rudely brusque. "I'm not sore. But I must tell you that if your intentions are serious about my daughter. The pit boss was counting Nino's chips and making a note on his pad of chits. like most other people. I'm going to go to this girl's family for dinner and I don't want them hanging around.

I never thought you were a bad Consigliere. though he had been a card player and wencher who never thought to put aside for hard times. Taza. but how did they become friends and why was Brasi so devoted to my father? Don't be afraid. Michael took a white handkerchief from the drawer of the night table and held it to his nose. Then when the crippled or aged mourner had finished paying his respects. Moe Greene was a handsome hood who had made his rep as a Murder Incorporated executioner in Brooklyn. it saddened her that he was so distrustful even of her. where by starting at the very bottom they worked their way up to owning a garbage hauling firm and their own trucks. that's life. The time is past for guns and killings and massacres." Kay said. But maybe I'm just one of those real old-fashioned conservatives they grow up in your hometown. For the father it was a gold cigar-cutter. "Maybe I can help. This had posed a problem.

" Mrs. I just wanted to tell him I can't see him tonight. That is my wish." "Will we have to live in the mall?" Kay asked. Come on in here. At least until the Don would need only nursing care. For instance." He was talking about the new-style Mafia chiefs rising in the big cities of Palermo and challenging the power of old-regime stalwarts like himself. He didn't. armed robberies. locking her in a house and keeping her prisoner only for himself. he found it completely dark. this was after all a man of respect. Michael hiding for his life in Sicily. "How come you no call up no more? You get a married?" "Oh. That he had not done so humiliated her.

The tension in Hagen's voice seemed to have finally alerted him that the news coming up was going to be really important. said the doo tor. sat at his desk and lit up a Camel. So much so that he had served on civic committees and had been voted as "Businessman of the Year for the State of New York" by the Chamber of Commerce. He was surprised when the man in the armchair. he didn't have to ask anybody. they needed Amerigo Bonasera with them. The cold look. Who the hell did he think he was? He started to say so but Nino's voice came from the bed. dark violet or brown but dark with long heavy lashes shadowed her lovely face. Then he picked up the phone and said with quiet courtesy. Michael. The wedding procession pelted the neighbors with sugar-coated almonds. stout matrons scolding them on. and spoke more. There are troubles in Sicily.

" Hagen said gently. I just owe you and I want to even out. old buddy. And because the Molinari Family on the Coast guaranteed his safety and gave you some service for taking him in. like a Roman. Now he was doing it for real. the embalming room. they needed Amerigo Bonasera with them. "No." Kay said. Send them home." Sonny was worried about other things. Johnny motioned to her to bring him a drink. Amerigo Bonasera had found this solution to the problem upseernly and penny-pinching. who declare wars they wish us to fight in to protect what they own. Connie looked at him hungrily.

By the time they are that old I'll be retired anyway. about a drink. He walked a little stiffly. His personality was unpleasant to these men. Omerta became the religion of the people. He was at that moment ready to kill anyone who touched this girl. As he opened his bag he said to Johnny. he would have accepted it humbly. Our money is out in the open.' I'd tell them. that Sonny was a man who could. But it was on a main route so there were some stores. Maybe Apollonia had wanted him to help her to undress. I'll take care of that." Both doctor and Don smiled at this witticism. He came of Italian fishermen stock and owned the best San Francisco sea food restaurant.

Also not good business sense. Now at supper with his wife in their solidly furnished apartment. Meanwhile husbands keep calling up and asking. she could do without." Jules stood up. I do have some influence but many of the people who respect my counsel might lose this respect if drugs become involved in our relationship. He swore he had made more millionaires than Wall Street with the money he had paid those thieving guardians of official seals. The Don walked across the room to his huge leather armchair and sat down. A Bocchicchio hostage was gilt-edged insurance. And as always when her husband was not present. You know what it's all about?" Lucy shook her head. Michael Corleone relaxed and tried to sleep. The next two Dons to arrive were from the West Coast. Hell. My whole world. just don't make the nurse too pretty.

"How about it." "There's not much chance of that. Not that he would dare ever to make an advance toward the wife of a friend of the Don's. I would refuse to let you even veto. "Anybody you want to add to that. respectful attention Michael said to them. They carried their luparas quite openly as if out for a day's hunting. The two of them were alone now; he had sent his daughter to live in Boston with her mother's sister. "You have to understand that before anything else. at his request. Her voice broke a little when she asked." She paused and then said. A man wearing slacks and a white jacket over a red shirt opened the gate. I never knew him to do anything lousy. Selling out all our interests in the olive oil business and settling here. that rose out of the ground beside the building.

" Connie said stubbornly. Didn't Michael know she would be concerned for him as a friend even if he no longer wanted her for a bed companion. you won't be kissing her for a while yet. "You've got the wrong idea of my father and the Corleone Family. Let's see if it's necessary first. than he had ever had as a singer. In essence he doesn't care if he dies. It could no longer be put off. Seconds afterward. Other Dons were arriving. Everybody had done their job. meanwhile asking questions with great curiosity. He had conceded the important point. I told Michael that Lampone's secret regime would not escape your eye. They would murder him. When Fabrizzio came out he grimaced and said to Michael.

Detroit had the lowest incidence of physical violence of any of the cities controlled by the Families; there had been only two execution in the last three years in that city. "I believe you. Tom Hagen. "I didn't tell Mama anything. That's it then. he's the high priest in modern society. Without their "sheet" money. but the words came out a little too hoarsely. flipped it open with one hand and fingered out a bill. And so Filomena was immedi ately frightened. "so he don't go down there. to commit murder. Hagen gave it to him straight. Well. When he came into the conference room followed by his aide. There was command and authority in it though he was making an apology.

The atmosphere of the meeting was by no means so congenial as in former days." Lucy said gently. younger. It was the Don Corleone of old. Calo and Fabrizzio were also members of the wedding party from Corieone as was Dr. You agree everyone has to take my word and I'll keep my word. Consult the best lawyers on criminal law. The men rose. It may take two. The head of the clan would handle the initial negotiations and arrange for the necessary hostages. "When I see that I have any future. Just wake Carlo up and tell him it's very important I speak to him. Johnny thought. So Don Tommasino appointed himself the parent of the bridegroom to insure the presence of his own bodyguards. And let me say I'm flattered by the belief that I am so powerful with the judges and law officials. "This is Tom Hagen.

I never dreamed you had it in you to be such a good businessman. too many petty wars for power. in his seventies. Bonasera was sweating. Even though you're not a Sicilian. "You are really one hell of a doctor. So to ask me to perform a service in these matters is to ask me to do a disservice to myself. He put the belt down on the kitchen table and advanced toward her. We have to come up with something special so Michael won't ever have to worry about that again." Hagen said briskly. "No strings. giving him the appearance of depravity when viewed from that side. He was always her first loyalty for forty years. Taza explained that there was a facial nerve below the eye from which radiated a whole complex of nerves. The only time I'll leave is to go on a little vacation or to see someone on important business and then I want all precautions taken. "I never figured you to be waiting.

" Johnny was hurt that Nino should be so downbeat. He had learned never to make a threat. "They should be smart enough to figure that out themselves. In some curious way he inspired the same respect. He had a fleet of freight hauling trucks that made him a fortune primarily because his trucks could travel with a heavy overload and not be stopped and fined by highway weight inspectors. Then he walked to the rear of the building and entered it through the wide door there. I got it. a bottle of strong wine at night with a heavy plate of pasta and meat." It was a dismissal. no matter. "I was pretty sure he would. However. as always. grapes. He sang them all the way out. My father is a businessman trying to provide for his wife and children and those friends he might need someday in a time of trouble.