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〃You've prepared for everything？〃 the Don asked。 He did not look at Michael when he said this。
Michael said gently； 〃You have no part。 You're not responsible。 I take all responsibility。 I would refuse to let you even veto。 If you tried to do that now； I would leave the Family and go my own way。 You're not responsible。〃
The Don was silent for a long time and then he sighed。 He said； 〃So be it。 Maybe that's why I retired； maybe that's why I've turned everything over to you。 I've done my share in life； I haven't got the heart anymore。 And there are some duties the best of men can't assume。 That's it then。〃
During that year Kay Adams Corleone was delivered of a second child； another boy。 She delivered easily； without any trouble whatsoever； and was weled back to the mall like a royal princess。 Connie Corleone presented the baby with a silk layette handmade in Italy； enormously expensive and beautiful。 She told Kay； 〃Carlo found it。 He shopped all over New York to get something extra special after I couldn't find anything I really liked。〃 Kay smiled her thanks； understood immediately that she was to tell Michael this fine tale。 She was on her way to being a Sicilian。
Also during that year； Nino Valenti died of a cerebral hemorrhage。 His death made the front pages of the tabloids because the movie Johnny Fontane had featured him in had opened a few weeks before and was a smash hit； establishing Nino as a major star。 The papers mentioned that Johnny Fontane was handling the funeral arrangements； that the funeral would be private； only family and close friends to attend。 One sensational story even claimed that in an interview Johnny Fontane had blamed himself for his friend's death； that he should have forced his friend to place himself under medical care； but the reporter made it sound like the usual self…reproach of the sensitive but innocent bystander to a tragedy。 Johnny Fontane had made his childhood friend； Nino Valenti； a movie star and what more could a friend do？
No member of the Corleone Family attended the California funeral except Freddie。 Lucy and Jules Segal attended。 The Don himself had wanted to go to California but had suffered a slight heart attack； which kept him in his bed for a month。 He sent a huge floral wreath instead。 Albert Neri was also sent West as the official representative of the Family。
Two days after Nino's funeral； Moe Greene was shot to death in the Hollywood home of his movie…star mistress； Albert Neri did not reappear in New York until almost a month later。 He had taken his vacation in the Caribbean and returned to duty tanned almost black。 Michael Corleone weled him with a smile and a few words of praise； which included the information that Neri would from then on receive an extra 〃living；〃 the Family ine from an East Side 〃book〃 considered especially rich。 Neri was content； satisfied that he lived in a world that properly rewarded a man who did his duty。
Book eight
Chapter 29
Michael Corleone had taken precautions against every eventuality。 His planning was faultless； his security impeccable。 He was patient； hoping to use the full year to prepare。 But he was not to get his necessary year because fate itself took a stand against him； and in the most surprising fashion。 For it was the Godfather； the great Don himself； who failed Michael Corleone。
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On one sunny Sunday morning； while the women were at church； Don Vito Corleone dressed in his gardening uniform： baggy gray trousers； a faded blue shirt； battered dirty…brown fedora decorated by a stained gray silk hatband。 The Don had gained considerable weight in his few years and worked on his tomato vines； he said； for the sake of his health。 But he deceived no one。
The truth was； he loved tending his garden； he loved the sight of it early on a morning。 It brought back his childhood in Sicily sixty years ago； brought it back without the terror； the sorrow of his own father's death。 Now the beans in their rows grew little white flowers on top； strong green stalks of scallion fenced everything in。 At the foot of the garden a spouted barrel stood guard。 It was filled with liquidy cow manure； the finest garden fertilizer。 Also in that lower part of the garden were the square wooden frames he had built with his own hands； the sticks cross…tied with thick white string。 Over these frames crawled the tomato vines。
The Don hastened to water his garden。 It must be done before the sun waxed too hot and turned the water into a prism of fire that could burn his lettuce leaves like paper。 Sun was more important than water； water also was important； but the two； imprudently mixed； could cause great misfortune。
The Don moved through his garden hunting for ants。 If ants were present； it meant that lice were in his vegetables and the ants were going after the lice and he would have to spray。
He had watered just in time。 The sun was being hot and the Don thought； 〃Prudence。 Prudence。〃 But there were just a few more plants to be supported by sticks and he bent down again。 He would go back into the house when he finished this last row。
Quite suddenly it felt as if the sun had e down very close to his head。 The air filled with dancing golden specks。 Michael's oldest boy came running through the garden toward where the Don knelt and the boy was enveloped by a yellow shield of blinding light。 But the Don was not to be tricked； he was too old a hand。 Death hid behind that flaming yellow shield ready to pounce out on him and the Don with a wave of his hand warned the boy away from his presence。 Just in time。 The sledgehammer blow inside his chest made him choke for air。 The Don pitched forward into the earth。
The boy raced away to call his father。 Michael Corleone and some men at the mall gate ran to the garden and found the Don lying prone； clutching handfuls of earth。 They lifted the Don up and carried him to the shade of his stone…flagged patio。 Michael knelt beside his father； holding his hand； while the other men called for an ambulance and doctor。
With a great effort the Don opened his eyes to see his son once more。 The massive heart attack had turned his ruddy face almost blue。 He was in extremis。 He smelled the garden； the yellow shield of light smote his eyes； and he whispered； 〃Life is so beautiful。〃
He was spared the sight of his women's tears； dying before they came back from church； dying before the ambulance arrived； or the doctor。 He died surrounded by men； holding the hand of the son he had most loved。
The funeral was royal。 The Five Families sent their Dons and caporegimes； as did the Tessio and Clemenza Families。 Johnny Fontane made the tabloid headlines by attending the funeral despite the advice of Michael not to appear。 Fontane gave a statement to the newspapers that Vito Corleone was his Godfather and the finest man he had ever known and that he was honored to be permitted to pay his last respects to such a man and didn't give a damn who knew it。
The wake was held in the house of the mall； in the old…fashioned style。 Amerigo Bonasera had never done finer work； had discharged all obligations； by prep