mp.godfather-第69部分
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uard against outside meddlers。 Otherwise they will put the ring in our nose as they have put the ring in the nose of all the millions of Neapolitans and other Italians in this country。
〃For this reason I forgo my vengeance for my dead son； for the mon good。 I swear now that as long as I am responsible for the actions of my Family there will not be one finger lifted against any man here without just cause and utmost provocation。 I am willing to sacrifice my mercial interests for the mon good。 This is my word； this is my honor； there are those of you here who know I have never betrayed either。
〃But I have a selfish interest。 My youngest son had to flee； accused of Sollozzo's murder and that of a police captain。 I must now make arrangements so that he can e home with safety； cleared of all those false charges。 That is my affair and I will make those arrangements。 I must find the real culprits perhaps； or perhaps I must convince the authorities of his innocence； perhaps the witnesses and informants will recant their lies。 But again I say that this is my affair and I believe I will be able to bring my son home。
〃But let me say this。 I am a superstitious man； a ridiculous failing but I must confess it here。 And so if some unlucky accident should befall my youngest son； if some police officer should accidentally shoot him； if he should hang himself in his cell； if new witnesses appear to testify to his guilt； my superstition will make me feel that it was the result of the ill will still borne me by some people here。 Let me go further。 If my son is struck by a bolt of lightning I will blame some of the people here。 If his plane show fall into the sea or his ship sink beneath the waves of the ocean； if he should catch a mortal fever； if his automobile should be struck by a train； such is my superstition that I would blame the ill will felt by people here。 Gentlemen； that ill will； that bad luck； I could never forgive。 But aside from that let me swear by the souls of my grandchildren that I will never break the peace we have made。 After all； are we or are we not better men than those pezzonovanti who have killed countless millions of men in our lifetimes？〃
With this Don Corleone stepped from his place and went down the table to where Don Phillip Tattaglia was sitting。 Tattaglia rose to greet him and the two men embraced； kissing each other's cheeks。 The other Dons in the room applauded and rose to shake hands with everybody in sight and to congratulate Don Corleone and Don Tattaglia on their new friendship。 It was not perhaps the warmest friendship in the world； they would not send each other Christmas gift greetings； but they would not murder each other。 That was friendship enough in this world； all that was needed。
Since his son Freddie was under the protection of the Molinari Family in the West； Don Corleone lingered with the San Francisco Don after the meeting to thank him。 Molinari said enough for Don Corleone to gather that Freddie had found his niche out there； was happy and had bee something of a ladies' man。 He had a genius for running a hotel； it seemed。 Don Corleone shook his head in wonder； as many fathers do when told of undreamed…of talents in their children。 Wasn't it true that sometimes the greatest misfortunes brought unforeseen rewards？ They both agreed that this was so。 Meanwhile Corleone made it clear to the San Francisco Don that he was in his debt for the great service done in protecting Freddie。 He let it be known that his influence would be exerted so that the important racing wires would always be available to his people no matter what changes occurred in the power structure in the years to e； an important guarantee since the struggle over this facility was a constant open wound plicated by the fact that the Chicago people had their heavy hand in it。 But Don Corleone was not without influence even in that land of barbarians and so his promise was a gift of gold。
It was evening before Don Corleone； Tom Hagen and the bodyguard…chauffeur； who happened to be Rocco Lampone； arrived at the mall in Long Beach。 When they went into the house the Don said to Hagen； 〃Our driver； that man Lampone； keep an eye on him。 He's a fellow worth something better I think。〃 Hagen wondered at this remark。 Lampone had not said a word all day； had not even glanced at the two men in the back seat。 He had opened the door for the Don； the car had been in front of the bank when they emerged； he had done everything correctly but no more than any well…trained chauffeur might do。 Evidently the Don's eye had seen something he had not seen。
The Don dismissed Hagen and told him to e back to the house after supper。 But to take his time and rest a little since they would put in a long night of discussion。 He also told Hagen to have Clemenza and Tessio present。 They should e at ten P。M。； not before。 Hagen was to brief Clemenza and Tessio on what had happened at the meeting that afternoon。
At ten the Don was waiting for the three men in his office； the corner room of the house with its law library and special phone。 There was a tray with whiskey bottles； ice and soda water。 The Don gave his instructions。
〃We made the peace this afternoon；〃 he said。 〃I gave my word and my honor and that should be enough for all of you。 But our friends are not so trustworthy so let's all be on our guard still。 We don't want any more nasty little surprises。〃 Then Don turned to Hagen。 〃You've let the Bocchicchio hostages go？〃
Hagen nodded。 〃I called Clemenza as soon as I got home。〃
Corleone turned to the massive Clemenza。 The caporegime nodded。 〃I released them。 Tell me； Godfather； is it possible for a Sicilian to be as dumb as the Bocchicchios pretend to be？〃
Don Corleone smiled a little。 〃They are clever enough to make a good living。 Why is it so necessary to be more clever than that？ It's not the Bocchicchios who cause the troubles of this world。 But it's true； they haven't got the Sicilian head。〃
They were all in a relaxed mood； now that the war was over。 Don Corleone himself mixed drinks and brought one to each man。 The Don sipped his carefully and lit up a cigar。
〃I want nothing set forth to discover what happened to Sonny； that's done with and to be forgotten。 I want all cooperation with the other Families even if they bee a little greedy and we don't get our proper share in this。 I want nothing to break this peace no matter what the provocation until we've found a way to bring Michael home。 And I want that to be first thing on your minds。 Remember this； when he es back he must e back in absolute safety。 I don't mean from the Tattaglias or the Barzinis。 What I'm concerned about are the police。 Sure； we can get rid of the real evidence against him； that waiter won't testify； nor that spectator or gunman or whatever he was。 The real evidence is the least of our worries since we know about it。 What we have to worry about is the police framing false evidence because their informers have assured them that Michael Corleone is the man who killed their captain。 Very well。 We have to demand that the Five Families do everything in their power to correct this belief of the police。 All their informers who work with the police must e up with new stories。 I think after my speech this afternoon they will understand it is to their interest to do so。 But that's not enough。 We have to e up with something special so Michael won't ever have to worry about that again。 Otherwise there's no point in him ing back to this country。 So let's all think about that。 That's the most importunt matter。
〃Now； any man should be allowed one foolishness in his life。 I have had mine。 I want all the land around the mall bought； the houses bought。 I don't want any man able to look out his window into my garden even if it's a mile away。 I want a fence around the mall and I want the mall to be on full protection all the time。 I want a gate in that fence。 In short； I wish now to live in a fortress。 Let me say to you now that I will never go into the city to work again。 I will be semiretired。 I feel an urge to work in the garden； to make a little wine when the grapes are in season。 I want to live in my house。 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。 Now don't take this amiss。 I'm not preparing anything。 I'm being prudent； I've always been a prudent man； there is nothing I find so little to my taste as carelessness in life。 Women and children can afford to be careless； men cannot。 Be leisurely in all these things； no frantic preparations to alarm our friends。 It can be done in such a way as to seem natural。
〃Now I'm going to leave things more and more up to each of you three。 I want the Santino regime disbanded and the men placed in your regimes。 That should reassure our friends and show that I mean peace。 Tom； I want you to put together a group of men who will go to Las Vegas and give me a full report on what is going on out there。 Tell me about Fredo； what is really happening out there； I hear I wouldn't recognize my own son。 It seems he's a cook now； that be amuses himself with young girls more than a grown man shoul
