mp.godfather-第82部分
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Filomena's wrinkled face； her raisin…black eyes； turned to Don Tommasino； who in some way signaled his permission。 And so Filomena passed the evening for them by telling her story。
Thirty years before； Filomena had been a midwife in New York City； on Tenth Avenue； servicing the Italian colony。 The women were always pregnant and she prospered。 She taught doctors a few things when they tried to interfere in a difficult birth。 Her husband was then a prosperous grocery store owner； dead now poor soul； she blessed him； though he had been a card player and wencher who never thought to put aside for hard times。 In any event one cursed night thirty years ago when all honest people were long in their beds； there came a knocking on Filomena's door。 She was by no means frightened； it was the quiet hour babes prudently chose to enter safely into this sinful world； and so she dressed and opened the door。 Outside it was Luca Brasi whose reputation even then was fearsome。 It was known also that he was a bachelor。 And so Filomena was immediately frightened。 She thought he had e to do her husband harm； that perhaps her husband had foolishly refusal Brasi some small favor。
But Brasi had e on the usual errand。 He told Filomena that there was a woman about to give birth； that the house was out of the neighborhood some distance away and that she was to e with him。 Filomena immediately sensed something amiss。 Brasi's brutal face looked almost like that of a madman that night； he was obviously in the grip of some demon。 She tried to protest that she attended only women whose history she knew but he shoved a handful of green dollars in her hand and ordered her roughly to e along with him。 She was too frightened to refuse。
In the street was a Ford； its driver of the same feather as Luca Brasi。 The drive was no more than thirty minutes to a small frame house in Long Island City right over the bridge。 A two…family house but obviously now tenanted only by Brasi and his gang。 For there were some other ruffians in the kitchen playing cards and drinking。 Brasi took Filomena up the stairs to a bedroom。 In the bed was a young pretty girl who looked Irish； her face painted； her hair red； and with a belly swollen like a sow。 The poor girl was so frightened。 When she saw Brasi she turned her head away in terror； yes terror； and indeed the look of hatred on Brasi's evil face was the most frightening thing she had ever seen in her life。 （Here Filomena crossed herself again。）
To make a long story short； Brasi left the room。 Two of his men assisted the midwife and the baby was born； the mother was exhausted and went into a deep sleep。 Brasi was summoned and Filomena； who had wrapped the newborn child in an extra blanket； extended the bundle to him and said； 〃If you're the father； take her。 My work is finished。〃
Brasi glared at her； malevolent； insanity stamped on his face。 〃Yes； I'm the father；〃 he said。 〃But I don't want any of that race to live。 Take it down to the basement and throw it into the furnace。〃
For a moment Filomena thought she had not understood him properly。 She was puzzled by his use of the word 〃race。〃 Did he mean because the girl was not Italian？ Or did he mean because the girl was obviously of the lowest type； a whore in short？ Or did he mean that anything springing from his loins he forbade to live。 And then she was sure he was making a brutal joke。 She said shortly； 〃It's your child； do what you want。〃 And she tried to hand him the bundle。
At this time the exhausted mother awoke and turned on her side to face them。 She was just in time to see Brasi thrust violently at the bundle； crushing the newborn infant against Filomena's chest。 She called out weakly； 〃Luc； Luc； I'm sorry；〃 and Brasi turned to face her。
It was terrible； Filomena said now。 So terrible。 They were like two mad animals。 They were not human。 The hatred they bore each other blazed through the room。 Nothing else； not even the newborn infant； existed for them at that moment。 And yet there was a strange passion。 A bloody； demonical lust so unnatural you knew they were damned forever。 Then Luca Brasi turned back to Filomena and said harshly； 〃Do what tell you； I'll make you rich。〃
Filomena could not speak in her terror。 She shook her head。 Finally she managed to whisper； 〃You do it； you're the father； do it if you like。〃 But Brasi didn't answer。 Instead he drew a knife from inside his shirt。 〃I'll cut your throat；〃 he said。
She must have gone into shock then because the next thing she remembered they were all standing in the basement of the house in front of a square iron furnace。 Filomena was still holding the blanketed baby； which had not made a sound。 （Maybe if it had cried； maybe if I had been shrewd enough to pinch it； Filomena said； that monster would have shown mercy。）
One of the men must have opened the furnace door； the fire now was visible。 And then she was alone with Brasi in that basement with its sweating pipes； its mousy odor。 Brasi had his knife out again。 And there could be no doubting that he would kill her。 There were the flames； there were Brasi's eyes。 His face was the gargoyle of the devil； it was not human； it was not sane： He pushed her toward the open furnace door。
At this point Filomena fell silent。 She folded her bony hands in her lap and looked directly at Michael。 He knew what she wanted； how she wanted to tell him； without using her voice。 He asked gently； 〃Did you do it？〃 She nodded。
It was only after another glass of wine and crossing herself and muttering a prayer that she continued her story。 She was given a bundle of money and driven home。 She understood that if she uttered a word about what had happened she would be killed。 But two days later Brasi murdered the young Irish girl； the mother of the infant； and was arrested by the police。 Filomena； frightened out of her wits； went to the Godfather and told her story。 He ordered her to keep silent； that he would attend to everything。 At that time Brasi did not work for Don Corleone。
Before Don Corleone could set matters aright； Luca Brasi tried to mit suicide in his cell； hacking at his throat with a piece of glass。 He was transferred to the prison hospital and by the time he recovered Don Corleone had arranged everything。 The police did not have a case they could prove in court and Luca Brasi was released。
Though Don Corleone assured Filomena that she had nothing to fear from either Luca Brasi or the police； she had no peace。 Her nerves were shattered and she could no longer work at her profession。 Finally she persuaded her husband to sell the grocery store and they returned to Italy。 Her husband was a good man； had been told everything and understood。 But he was a weak man and in Italy squandered the fortune they had both slaved in America to earn。 And so after he died she had bee a servant。 So Filomena ended her story。 She had another glass of wine and said to Michael； 〃I bless the name of your father。 He always sent me money when I asked； he saved me from Brasi。 Tell him I say a prayer for his soul every night and that he shouldn't fear dying。〃
After she had left； Michael asked Don Tommasino； 〃Is her story true？〃 The capo…mafioso nodded。 And Michael thought； no wonder nobody wanted to tell him the story。 Some story。 Some Luca。
The next morning Michael wanted to discuss the whole thug with Don Tommasino but learned that the old man had been called to Palermo by an urgent message delivered by a courier。 That evening Don Tommasino returned and took Michael aside。 News had e from America； he said。 News that it grieved him to tell。 Santino Corleone had been killed。
Chapter 24
The Sicilian sun； early…morning lemon…colored； filled Michael's bedroom。 He awoke and； feeling Apollonia's satiny body against his own sleep…warm skin； made her e awake with love。 When they were done； even all the months of plete possession could not stop him from marveling at her beauty and her passion。
She left the bedroom to wash and dress in the bathroom down the hall。 Michael； still naked； the morning sun refreshing his body； lit a cigarette and relaxed on the bed。 This was the last morning they would spend in this house and the villa。 Don Tommasino had arranged for him to be transferred to another town on the southern coast of Sicily。 Apollonia； in the first month of pregnancy； wanted to visit with her family for a few weeks and would join him at the new hiding place after the visit。
The night before； Don Tommasino had sat with Michael in the garden after Apollonia had gone to bed。 The Don had been worried and tired； and admitted that he was concerned about Michael's safety。 〃Your marriage brought you into sight；〃 he told Michael： 〃I'm surprised your father hasn't made arrangements for you to go someplace else。 In any case I'm having my own troubles with the young Turks in Palermo。 I've offered some fair arrangements so that they can wet their beaks more than they deserve； but those scum want everything。 I can't understand their attitude。 They've tried a few little tricks but I'm not so easy to kill。 They must know I'm too strong for them to hold me so cheaply。 But that's the trouble with
