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Don Corleone turned his head。 〃Why do you doubt me？〃 he asked Johnny Fontane。 〃Hasn't your Godfather always done what he said he would do？ Have I ever been taken for a fool？〃
Johnny apologized nervously。 〃Godfather； the man who runs it is a real 。90 caliber pezzonovante。 You can't budge him； not even with money。 He has big connections。 And he hates me。 I just don't know how you can swing it。〃
The Don spoke with affectionate amusement。 〃I say to you： you shall have it。〃 He nudged Michael with his elbow。 〃We won't disappoint my godson； eh； Michael？〃
Michael； who never doubted his father for a moment； shook his head。
As they walked toward the hospital entrance； Don Corleone put his hand on Michael's arm so that the others forged ahead。 〃When you get through with college； e and talk to me；〃 the Don said。 〃I have some plans you will like。〃
Michael didn't say anything。 Don Corleone grunted in exasperation。 〃I know how you are。 I won't ask you to do anything you don't approve of。 This is something special。 Go your own way now； you're a man after all。 But e to me as a son should when you have finished with your schooling。〃
**********
The family of Genco Abbandando； wife and three daughters dressed in black； clustered like a flock of plump crows on the white tile floor of the hospital corridor。 When they saw Don Corleone e out of the elevator； they seemed to flutter up off the white tiles in an instinctive surge toward him for protection。 The mother was regally stout in black； the daughters fat and plain。 Mrs。 Abbandando pecked at Don Corleone's cheek； sobbing； wailing； 〃Oh； what a saint you are； to e here on your daughter's wedding day。〃
Don Corleone brushed these thanks aside。 〃Don't I owe respect to such a friend； a friend who has been my right arm for twenty； years？〃 He had understood immediately that the soon…to…be widow did not prehend that her husband would die this night。 Genco Abbandando had been in this hospital for nearly a year dying of his cancer and the wife had e to consider his fatal illness almost an ordinary part of life。 Tonight was just another crisis。 She babbled on。 〃Go in and see my poor husband；〃 she said； 〃he asks for you。 Poor man； he wanted to e to the wedding to show his respect but the doctor would not permit it。 Then he said you would e to see him on this great day but I did not believe it possible。 Ah； men understand friendship more than we women。 Go inside； you will make him happy。〃
A nurse and a doctor came out of Genco Abbandando's private room。 The doctor was a young man； serious…faced and with the air of one born to mand； that is to say； the air of one who has been immensely rich all his life。 One of the daughters asked timidly； 〃Dr。 Kennedy； can we go to see him now？〃
Dr。 Kennedy looked over the large group with exasperation。 Didn't these people realize that the man inside was dying and dying in torturous pain？ It would be much better if everyone let him die in peace。 〃I think just the immediate family；〃 he said in his exquisitely polite voice。 He was surprised when the wife and daughters turned to the short； heavy man dressed in an awkwardly fitted tuxedo； as if to hear his decision。
The heavy man spoke。 There was just the slightest trace of an Italian accent in his voice。 〃My dear doctor；〃 said Don Corleone； 〃is it true he is dying？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Dr。 Kennedy。
〃Then there is nothing more for you to do；〃 said Don Corleone。 〃We will take up the burden。 We will fort him。 We will close his eyes。 We will bury him and weep at his funeral and afterwards we will watch over his wife and daughters。〃 At hearing things put so bluntly； forcing her to understand； Mrs。 Abbandando began to weep。
Dr。 Kennedy shrugged。 It was impossible to explain to these peasants。 At the same time he recognized the crude justice in the man's remarks。 His role was over。 Still exquisitely polite； he said； 〃Please wait for the nurse to let you in； she has a few necessary things to do with the patient。〃 He walked away from them down the corridor； his white coat flapping。
The nurse went back into the room and they waited。 Finally she came out again； holding the door for them to enter。 She whispered； 〃He's delirious with the pain and fever； try not to excite him。 And you can stay only a few minutes； except for the wife。〃 She recognized Johnny Fontane as he went by her and her eyes opened wide。 He gave her a faint smile of acknowledgment and she stared at him with frank invitation。 He filed her away for future reference； then followed the others into the sick man's room。
Genco Abbandando had run a long race with death； and now； vanquished； he lay exhausted on the raised bed。 He was wasted away to no more than a skeleton； and what had once been vigorous black hair had turned into obscene stringy wisps。 Don Corleone said cheerily； 〃Genco； dear friend； I have brought my sons to pay their respects； and look； even Johnny； all the way from Hollywood。〃
The dying man raised his fevered eyes gratefully to the Don。 He let the young men clasp his bony hand in their fleshy ones。 His wife and daughters ranged themselves along his bed； kissing his cheek； taking his other hand in turn。
The Don pressed his old friend's hand。 He said fortingly； 〃Hurry up and get better and we'll take a trip back to Italy together to our old village。 We'll play boccie in front of the wineshop like our fathers before us。〃
The dying man shook his head。 He motioned the young men and his family away from his bedside； with the other bony claw he hung fast to the Don。 He tried to speak。 The Don put his head down and then sat on the bedside chair。 Genco Abbandando was babbling about their childhood。 Then his coal…black eyes became sly。 He whispered。 The Don bent closer。 The others in the room were astonished to see tears running down Don Corleone's face as he shook his head。 The quavering voice grew louder； filling the room。 With a tortured； superhuman effort； Abbandando lifted his head off his pillow； eyes unseeing； and pointed a skeletal forefinger at the Don。 〃Godfather； Godfather；〃 he called out blindly； 〃save me from death； I beg of you。 My flesh is burning off my bones and I can feel the worms eating away my brain。 Godfather； cure me； you have the power； dry the tears of my poor wife。 In Corleone we played together as children and now will you let me die when I fear hell for my sins？〃
The Don was silent。 Abbandando said； 〃It is your daughter's wedding day； you cannot refuse me。〃
The Don spoke quietly； gravely； to pierce through the blasphemous delirium。 〃Old friend；〃 he said； 〃I have no such powers。 If I did I would be more merciful than God； believe me。 But don't fear death and don't fear hell。 I will have a mass said for your soul every night and every morning。 Your wife and your children will pray for you。 How can God punish you with so many pleas for mercy？〃
The skeleton face took on a cunning expression that was obscene。 Abbandanda said slyly； 〃It's been arranged then？〃
When the Don answered； his voice was cold； without fort。 〃You blaspheme。 Resign yourself。〃
Abbandando fell back on the pillow。 His eye