Godfather Chapter 10

The hospital is small and private, with only one entrance and exit. Michael scanned the street through the window. Below is an arc patio with several steps leading to the street, and there is no car on the road. Whoever wants to enter the hospital must go through this entrance. Knowing that time was running out, he ran out of the ward, jumped down four flights of stairs and rushed out of the wide double doors at the bottom entrance. He saw an ambulance parking lot on one side, where there were neither ambulances nor cars. Michael stood on the sidewalk outside the hospital, lit a cigarette, unbuttoned his coat and stood under the street lamp so that others could see his face. A young man was walking briskly along Columbus Avenue with a bag under his arm. He wears a military uniform and has thick black hair. He walked under the street lamp. Michael thinks he looks familiar, but he can't remember who it is. The young man stopped in front of him, held out his hand and said with a strong Italian accent, "Don Michael, do you remember me?" Enzo, the baker's assistant, and Zorini are also his son-in-law. Your father saved my life by letting the government allow me to stay in the United States. " Michael shook his hand. He remembers.

Enzo added, "I have come to pay tribute to your father. It's so late, can I go to the hospital? "

Michael smiled and shook his head. "No, but thank you. I'll tell Don you're here. " When a car rumbled through the street, Michael immediately became alert. He said to Enzo, "Let's go. There may be trouble.

You can't be pestered by the police. When he saw the Italian young man, he was afraid. Trouble with the police means repatriation or rejection of naturalization, but the young man stood there motionless and whispered in Italian, "If there is trouble, I am willing to stay and help." I owe the godfather a favor. " Michael was deeply moved. He was about to persuade the young man to go again, but on second thought, why not let him stay? There are two people standing in front of the hospital, which may scare off the troops sent by Sollozzo to carry out the task. You can't do it alone. He gave Enzo a cigarette and lit it for him. The two men stood under the street lamp, facing the cold night wind in1February. The green decoration of Christmas cut through the yellow pane of the hospital and shone on it. At the end of this cigarette, a low black car turned from 30th Street to Columbus Avenue and came towards them from the roadside. The speed of the car was so slow that it almost stopped. Michael looked into the car, trying to see each other's faces clearly, and his body trembled involuntarily. The car seems to have stopped, but suddenly it accelerated. Someone recognized him. Michael handed Enzo another cigarette, noticed that the baker's hand was shaking, and was surprised to find that his hand was stable. They smoked in the street for less than ten minutes, and the siren suddenly cut through the night sky. A patrol car creaked up Columbus Avenue and stopped in front of the hospital. Two other police cars followed. The hospital gate was suddenly crowded with uniformed policemen and plainclothes detectives. Michael breathed a sigh of relief. Sonny's friend must have called. He stepped forward to meet them. Two burly policemen grabbed his arm and the third policeman searched him. The big sheriff wearing a golden ear police cap walked up the steps and his men respectfully gave way. His waistline is amazing, and there is white hair under his hat, but he is extremely strong and blushes like beef. He walked up to Michael and said gruffly, "I thought you black hooligans were locked up." Who the fuck are you and what are you doing here? "

A policeman behind Michael said, "Sheriff, he is unarmed." Michael didn't answer. He was thinking about the sheriff, calmly looking at his face and steel blue eyes. A plainclothes detective said, "He is Michael Corleone, Don's son."

Michael said quietly, "Where is the detective who should protect my father?" Who moved the sentry? "

The sheriff flew into a rage: "Fucking rascal, who do you think you are to teach me to do things?" I removed it. I don't care if Italians kill each other. I won't help you protect your dad. Now get out of here. Get off this road, punk. Don't be in the hospital unless it's visiting hours. "

Michael still looked at him carefully. What the sheriff said didn't make him angry. His brain is spinning very fast. Will Sollozzo see him standing in the first car in front of the hospital? Will Sollozzo call the sheriff and say, "Why are Corleone's men still at the door? Didn't I pay you to lock them up? " Will things be planned as carefully as Sonny said? Everything makes sense. He remained calm and said to the sheriff, "I won't leave the hospital unless you arrange guards near my father's ward."

The sheriff didn't care about Michael, so he turned to the detective next to him and said, "Phil, arrest him."

The detective hesitated. "The boy has no criminal record, sheriff. He is a war hero and never takes part in illegal activities. The newspaper will be turned upside down. "

The sheriff glared at the detective, flushed with anger. He shouted, "Fuck you, I said arrest him."

Michael is still sober and lifeless. He said sarcastically, "How much did the natives give you to betray my father, sheriff?"

The sheriff turned to him and said to two burly patrolmen, "Get him." Michael felt his arms pressed tightly and saw the sheriff's huge fist fly to his face. He tried to dodge, but his fist hit his cheekbone hard. A Grenade exploded in the skull. His mouth was full of blood and broken bones, and he realized it was a tooth. He felt that half his head was swollen and his legs were light. If two policemen hadn't dragged him, he would have fallen to the ground. But he was still conscious. The plainclothes detective stopped the sheriff from punching again and said, "God, sheriff, you really hurt him."

The sheriff shouted, "I didn't touch him." He jumped on me and hit me, and then he fell. Are you blind? He resisted arrest. "

Michael saw several cars parked on the side of the road in the bloody fog. Many people filed out. He recognized Clemenza's lawyer inside. He was talking to the sheriff, friendly and confident. "The Corleone family hired a private detective company to defend Mr. Corleone. These people I brought here have gun permits, sheriff. If you arrest them, you will see the judge tomorrow morning and explain to him why. "

The lawyer looked at Michael and asked, "Will you sue the person who did this to you?" Michael had difficulty in speaking, and his chin could not be closed properly, but he managed to mumble that my foot slipped and fell. "He saw the sheriff glance at him triumphantly, so he tried to smile back. He wants to hide and control the wonderful cold chill of his brain and the hatred that fills his whole body like winter at all costs. He doesn't want anyone to know how he feels at the moment. So is Don. He felt that he had been taken to the hospital and then he lost consciousness.

When he woke up the next morning, he found an iron hoop on his chin and four teeth missing on his left side. Hagen sat by the bed.

"The doctor gave me an anesthetic?" Michael asked.

"Yes," Hagen said. "They will break bones from the gums, thinking it will be unbearable. Besides, you passed out anyway. " "Did I get hurt?" Michael asked.

"No," Hagen said. "Sonny wants to take you home to Long Beach. Can you hold on? "

"Sure," Michael said. "How's Don?"

Hagen's face lit up. "I think the problem has been solved. We hired a detective company, and the neighborhood is now heavily guarded. I'll talk to you in the car.

Clemenza drives, and Michael and Hagen sit in the back row. Michael has a headache. "Have you figured out what happened last night?"

Hagen said quietly, "Sonny has an inside man, the detective Phillips who wants to protect you. He gave us a message. The sheriff's name is McCluskey. He has been collecting money since he became a patrolman, and he has a great appetite. Our family gave him a lot of benefits, but he was greedy and unreliable. Sollozzo must have made him a lot of money. As soon as visiting hours ended last night, McCrosky arrested everyone Tessio arranged inside and outside the hospital. It doesn't help that some people carry guns. McCrosky immediately withdrew the detectives guarding Tangmen, saying that they needed their help, and claimed to send several other policemen to it, but they confused the orders. Nonsense, he took the black money and betrayed Don. Phillips said that he belongs to the kind of person who splits in two. Sollozzo's large sum of money must be only an advance payment, and there are countless benefits after the promise. "

"Did the newspaper say that I was injured?"

"No," Hagen said. "We keep this a secret, and no one wants it to leak out. The police don't want it, and neither do we. " "Good," Michael said. "Enzo's child ran away?

"Slipped away," Hagen said. "He is smarter than you. The police are here. He said Sollozzo was standing next to you when his car passed by. Really? "

"Yes," Michael said. "Nice guy.

"Take good care of him," Hagen said. "Are you feeling all right?

He looked at Michael with concern. "Not good-looking."

"I'm fine," Michael said. "What's the name of the sheriff?

"McCluskey," Hagen said, "there is news that might make you feel better. The Corleone family finally won back a point. Bruno Tattaglia, four o'clock this morning. "

Michael sat up. "What's the matter? Didn't you say we should stay put? "

Hagen shrugged. "After the hospital accident, Sonny became very cruel. Barton's people are all over new york and New Jersey. We made a list last night. I'm still trying to convince Sonny to relax, Mike. Maybe you can talk to him. You don't need a total war to end the whole problem. " "I'll talk to him," Michael said. "Do you want to meet this morning?" "Yes," Hagen said. "Sollozzo finally got in touch. He wants to sit down with us and talk. A mediator is arranging the details. It means we won. Sollozzo knew he had lost and wanted to save his life. " Hagen paused. "We didn't fight back immediately. He may think we are weak. But after Tattaglia lost a son, he knew we were serious. What dare he do to Don? It's a gamble. In addition, Luca's whereabouts have been clarified. They killed Luca the night before they ambushed your father. At Bruno's nightclub. I can't imagine. " Michael said, "He must have been caught off guard."

A long black car came and blocked the entrance to Long Beach Avenue. Two people leaned against the hood. Michael noticed that the upstairs windows of the two houses on both sides of the entrance were open. Oh, my God, Sonny is serious.

Clemenza stopped outside the shopping center and three people came in. Clemenza had two guards under him, and Clemenza greeted them with a frown. The guard nodded in return. No smiles, no greetings. Clemenza leads Hagen and Michael Corleone into the house.

Another guard opened the door before they rang the doorbell. He obviously saw them from the window. They walked into the corner office and found Sonny and Tessio waiting for them. Sonny walked up to Michael, holding his brother's head in his hands and joking, "Beautiful, really beautiful." Michael patted his hand, went to his table and poured a glass of scotch, hoping that the strong liquor would relieve the sharp pain in his chin.

Five people sat in a circle, and the atmosphere was very different from the previous meeting. Sonny looks happier. Michael knows what his happiness means. Big brother no longer hesitates. He made up his mind that nothing could shake him. Sollozzo's attempt last night was the last straw. A truce is impossible.

"The mediator called after you left," Sonny told Hagen. "Country people want to talk." Sonny smiled. "He has an egg," he said enviously. "After what happened last night, he dared to ask us to talk today or tomorrow. Why don't we stay where we are and eat whatever he cooks? He has the courage. " Tom asked cautiously, "What's your answer?"

Sonny grinned. "I said yes, yes, he can choose any time. I am in no hurry. " I have hundreds of police officers patrolling the streets 24 hours a day. If Sollozzo shows a hair, he's dead. I will give them as much time as they want. "Hagen said," do you have any specific suggestions? "

"Yes," Sonny said. "He wants us to send Mike to see him and listen to his proposal. The mediator ensured Mike's safety. Sollozzo didn't ask us to guarantee his safety. He knew he was not qualified, so he arranged the meeting. His people came to pick up Mike and take him to the meeting place. Mike listened to Sollozzo and let him come back. But the meeting place is kept secret for the time being. They promised that the terms of the transaction were too good for us to refuse. "

Hagen asked, "What happened to the Tattaglia family? Bruno is dead. What are their plans? "

"This is part of the deal. The mediator said that the Tattaglia family promised to listen to Sollozzo and would forget Bruno Tattaglia. They caught my father, and he was the price. One life is worth one life. " Sonny smiled again. "Bastard has guts." Hagen said cautiously, "We should listen to what they have to say." Sonny shook his head vigorously. "No, I can't, counselor. Not this time. " With an Italian accent, he deliberately imitated his father and played jokes on everyone. "There is nothing to talk about, nothing to discuss, Sollozzo will not have a chance to play tricks. When the mediator comes to ask us how to answer, you answer him for me: I want Sollozzo, or there will be an all-out war. We began to sleep on the mattress and sent all the button people out to the street. Everyone has a time when the larger foe is broken.

"Other big families will not agree to a total war," Hagen said. "It's like setting everyone on fire."

Sonny shrugged. "They have a very simple solution, give me Sollozzo. Or fight the Corleone family. " Sonny paused and then said rudely, "Tom, don't suggest how to make peace." I have made up my mind. Your task is to help me win. Do you understand? "

Hagen looked down, thought for a moment, and then said, "I talked to your acquaintance at the police station." He said that Sheriff McCrosky must have taken money from Sollozzo and had a big appetite. Not only that, McCrosky also got a slice of the drug trafficking business. McCluskey has agreed to be Sollozzo's bodyguard. Without McCrosky, the aborigines couldn't even stick their noses out of the dog hole. When he meets Mike, McCluskey will sit next to him, dressed casually, but with a gun. You have to understand, Sonny, Sollozzo is impeccable in front of such people. No one can get away with shooting sheriff new york. The newspaper, the whole police station, the church and so on will not let you go, and the pressure is so great that you can't imagine. That would be a disaster. Your family will follow you. The Corleone family will be expelled. Even the political protection network of the elderly will protect themselves. You must take these factors into account.

Sonny shrugged. "McCrosky can't be with the aborigines all his life. We can afford it. "

Tessio and Clemenza smoked cigars uneasily and dared not interrupt.

Sweating like a pig. If the superior makes a mistake in decision-making, it is oneself who is unlucky first.

When Michael spoke for the first time, he asked Hagen, "Can you move the old man back from the hospital to the mall?"

Hagen shook his head and said, "I'll ask as soon as I go." No His condition is still very bad. He can survive, but he needs all kinds of care and may need another operation. Impossible. "

"Then you must kill Sollozzo at once," Michael said. "We can't wait. This guy is too dangerous. He will put forward some new ideas. He knew that getting rid of the old man was the most important thing. Yes, he knows that the situation is not good now, so he is willing to bow down for that kind of life. But if he knew that both his left and right sides were dead, he would attack Don again. With the help of the sheriff, God knows what will happen this time. We can't take risks, we must kill Sollozzo at once. "

Sonny scratched his chin thoughtfully. "You're right, little brother," he said. "You hit the nail on the head. Sollozzo can't be allowed to attack the old man again. " Hagen said quietly, "Where's Sheriff McCluskey?"

Sonny turned to Michael with an odd smile. "Yes, little brother, where's the tough sheriff?"

Michael said slowly, "Well, this is extreme." But sometimes, the most extreme means make sense. Think about it, if we have to kill Mike Lousqui, then we have to prove that he has nothing to do with it, so he is not an honest police chief who is performing his duties, but a corrupt policeman who participates in gang activities, which leads to his death. "

Totally deserved it. We have newspaper people who collect our money and provide them with stories with sufficient evidence, so that they can support us and relieve some pressure. How does that sound? "Michael looked at the crowd with advice. Tessio and Clemenza look gloomy and refuse to talk. Sonny still smiled strangely: "go on, little brother, that's good." "Children's words are not clear, which is Tang's mantra. Go on, Mike. Go on.

Hagen smiled, too, and then turned around. Michael blushed. "Well, they want me to talk to Sollozzo. Just me, Sollozzo and McCrosky. Arrange the time in two days and send our informant to find the meeting place. Insist that it must be a public place, and say that I don't want them to take me to any apartment or residence. Restaurants or bars during rush hours, etc., so I feel safe. They also feel safe. Even Sollozzo didn't think we dared to shoot the sheriff. When I meet them, they will search me, so I can't carry a gun with me. You must find a way to get me the weapon in the negotiation. Then I killed them both. "

Four heads turned to stare at him. Clemenza and Tessio were surprised. Hagen was a little sad, but not surprised. He wants to say something, but think about it and forget it. But Sonny, his heavy-eyed Cupid face twitched with joy, and suddenly burst into laughter, which was from the heart and was by no means fake. He was really laughing, pointing at Mike and panting, saying, "You, a noble college student, never want to get involved in the family business. Now you want to kill a sheriff and a hillbilly because McCrosky punched you in the face. You treat it as a person, it's just a business, but you take it seriously. You want to kill these two people because you got punched in the face. That's nonsense. You have been farting for so many years. "