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Filomena's wrinkled face was sly。 〃Old roosters can't greet the sun。 The doctor went to Palermo last night。〃
Michael laughed。 He went out the kitchen entrance and the smell of lemon blossoms penetrated even his sinus…filled nose。 He saw Apollonia wave to him from the car just ten paces up the villa's driveway and then he realized she was motioning him to stay where he was； that she meant to drive the car to where he stood。 Calo stood grinning beside the car； his lupara dangling in his hand。 But there was still no sign of Fabrizzio。 At that moment； without any conscious reasoning process； everything came together in his mind； and Michael shouted to the girl； 〃No！ No！〃 But his shout was drowned in the roar of the tremendous explosion as Apollonia switched on the ignition。 The kitchen door shattered into fragments and Michael was hurled along the wall of the villa for a good ten feet。 Stones tumbling from the villa roof hit him on the shoulders and one glanced off his skull as he was lying on the ground。 He was conscious just long enough to see that nothing remained of the Alfa Romeo but its four wheels and the steel shafts which held them together。
**********
He came to consciousness in a room that seemed very dark and heard voices that were so low that they were pure sound rather than words。 Out of animal instinct he tried to pretend he was still unconscious but the voices stopped and someone was leaning from a chair close to his bed and the voice was distinct now； saying； 〃Well； he's with us finally。〃 A lamp went on； its light like white fire on his eyeballs and Michael turned his head。 It felt very heavy； numb。 And then he could see the face over his bed was that of Dr。 Taza。
〃Let me look at you a minute and I'll put the light out；〃 Dr；。 Taza said gently。 He was busy shining a small pencil flashlight into Michael's eyes。 〃You'll be all right；〃 Dr。 Taza said and turned to someone else in the room。 〃You can speak to him。〃
It was Don Tommasino sitting on a chair near his bed； Michael could see him clearly now。 Don Tommasino was saying； 〃Michael； Michael； can I talk to you？ Do you want to rest？〃
It was easier to raise a hand to make a gesture and Michael did so and Don Tommasino said； 〃Did Fabrizzio bring the car from the garage？〃
Michael； without knowing he did so； smiled。 It was in some strange way； a chilling smile； of assent。 Don Tommasino said； 〃Fabrizzio has vanished。 Listen to me； Michael。 You've been unconscious for nearly a week。 Do you understand？ Everybody thinks you're dead； so you're safe now； they've stopped looking for you。 I've sent messages to your father and he's sent back instructions。 It won't be long now； you'll be back in America。 Meanwhile you'll rest here quietly。 You're safe up in the mountains； in a special farmhouse I own。 The Palermo people have made their peace with me now that you're supposed to be dead； so it was you they were after all the time。 They wanted to kill you while making people think it was me they were after。 That's something you should know。 As for everything else； leave it all to me。 You recover your strength and be tranquil。〃
Michael was remembering everything now。 He knew his wife was dead； that Calo was dead。 He thought of the old woman in the kitchen。 He couldn't remember if she had e outside with him。 He whispered； 〃Filomena？〃 Don Tommasino said quietly； 〃She wasn't hurt； just a bloody nose from the blast。 Don't worry about her。〃
Michael said； 〃Fabrizzio。 Let your shepherds know that the one who gives me Fabrizzio will own the finest pastures in Sicily。〃
Both men seemed to sigh with relief。 Don Tontmasino lifted a glass from a nearby table and drank from it an amber fluid that jolted his head up。 Dr。 Taza sat on the bed and said almost absently； 〃You know； you're a widower。 That's rare in Sicily。〃 As if the distinction might fort him。
Michael motioned to Don Tommasino to lean closer。 The Don sat on the bed and bent his head。 〃Tell my father to get me home；〃 Michael said。 〃Tell my father I wish to be his son。〃
But it was to be another month before Michael recovered from his injuries and another two months after that before all the necessary papers and arrangements were ready。 Then he was flown from Palermo to Rome and from Rome to New York。 In all that time no trace had been found of Fabrizzio。
Book seven
Chapter 25
When Kay Adams received her college degree； she took a job teaching grade school in her New Hampshire hometown。 The first six months after Michael vanished she made weekly telephone calls to his mother asking about him。 Mrs。 Corleone was always friendly and always wound up saying； 〃You a very very nice girl。 You forget about Mikey and find a nice husband。〃 Kay was not offended at her bluntness and understood that the mother spoke out of concern for her as a young girl in an impossible situation。
When her first school term ended； she decided to go to New York to buy some decent clothes and see some old college girl friends。 She thought also about looking for some sort of interesting job in New York。 She had lived like a spinster for almost two years； reading and teaching； refusing dates； refusing to go out at all； even though she had given up making calls to Long Beach。 She knew she couldn't keep that up； she was being irritable and unhappy。 But she had always believed Michael would write her or send her a message of some sort。 That he had not done so humiliated her； it saddened her that he was so distrustful even of her。
She took an early train and was checked into her hotel by midafternoon。 Her girl friends worked and she didn't want to bother them at their jobs； she planned to call them at night。 And she didn't really feel like going shopping after the exhausting train trip。 Being alone in the hotel room； remembering all the times she and Michael had used hotel rooms to make love； gave her a feeling of desolation。 It was that more than anything else that gave her the idea of calling Michael's mother out in Long Beach。
The phone was answered by a rough masculine voice with a typical； to her； New York accent。 Kay asked to speak to Mrs。 Corelone。 There was a few minutes' silence and then Kay heard the heavily accented voice asking who it was。
Kay was a little embarrassed now。 〃This is Kay Adams； Mrs。 Corleone；〃 she said。 〃Do you remember me？〃
〃Sure； sure； I remember you；〃 Mrs。 Corleone said。 〃How e you no call up no more？ You get a married？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 Kay said。 〃I've been busy。〃 She was surprised at the mother obviously being annoyed that she had stopped calling。 〃Have you heard anything from Michael？ Is he all right〃
There was silence at the other end of the phone and then Mrs。 Corleorie's voice came strong。 〃Mikey is a home。 He no call you up？ He no see you？〃
Kay felt her stomach go weak from shock and a humiliating desire to weep。 Her voice broke a little when she asked； 〃How long has he been home？〃
Mrs。 Corleone said； 〃Six months。〃
〃Oh； I see；〃 Kay said。 And she did。 She felt hot waves of shame that Michael's mother knew he was treating her so cheaply。 And then she was angry。 Angry at Michael