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could figure out what that would be； we'd be in the driver's seat。〃
Sonny said reluctantly； 〃Yeah； I thought of that and the only thing I can figure is Luca。 The word is already out that he's to be brought here before he's allowed any of his old rights in the Family。 The only other thing I can think of is that Sollozzo has made his deal with the Families in New York and we'll get the word tomorrow that they will be against us in a war。 That we'll have to give the Turk his deal。 Right； Tom？〃
Hagen nodded。 〃That's what it looks like to me。 And we can't move against that kind of opposition without your father。 He's the only one who can stand against the Families。 He has the political connections they always need and he can use them for trading。 If he wants to badly enough。〃
Clemenza said； a little arrogantly for a man whose top button man had recently betrayed him； 〃Sollozzo will never get near this house； Boss； you don't have to worry about that。〃
Sonny looked at him thoughtfully for a moment。 Then he said to Tessio； 〃How about the hospital； your men got it covered？〃
For the first time during the conference Tessio seemed to be absolutely sure of his ground。 〃Outside and inside；〃 he said。 〃Right around the clock。 The cops have it covered pretty good too。 Detectives at the bedroom door waiting to question the old man。 That's a laugh。 The Don is still getting that stuff in the tubes； no food； so we don't have to worry about the kitchen； which would be something to worry about with those Turks； they believe in poison。 They can't get at the Don； not in any way。〃
Sonny tilted back in his chair。 〃It wouldn't be me； they have to do business with me； they need the Family machine。〃 He grinned at Michael。 〃I wonder if it's you？ Maybe Sollozzo figures to snatch you and hold you for a hostage to make a deal。〃
Michael thought ruefully； there goes my date with Kay。 Sonny wouldn't let him out of the house。 But Hagen said impatiently； 〃No； he could have snatched Mike anytime if he wanted insurance。 But everybody knows that Mike is not in the Family business。 He's a civilian and if Sollozzo snatches him； then he loses all the other New York Families。 Even the Tattaglias would have to help hunt him down。 No； it's simple enough。 Tomorrow we'll get a representative from all the Families who'll tell us we have to do business with the Turk。 That's what he's waiting for。 That's his ace in the hole。〃
Michael heaved a sigh of relief。 〃Good；〃 he said。 〃I have to go into town tonight。〃
〃Why？〃 Sonny asked sharply。
Michael grinned。 〃I figure I'll drop in to the hospital and visit the old man； see Mom and Connie。 And I got some other things to do。〃 Like the Don； Michael never told his real business and now he didn't want to tell Sonny he was seeing Kay Adams。 There was no reason not to tell him； it was just habit。
There was a loud murmur of voices in the kitchen。 Clemenza went out to see what was happening。 When he came back he was holding Luca Brasi's bulletproof vest in his hands。 Wrapped in the vest was a huge dead fish。
Clemenza said dryly； 〃The Turk has heard about his spy Paulie Gatto。〃
Tessio said just as dryly； 〃And now we know about Luca Brasi。〃
Sonny lit a cigar and took a shot of whiskey。 Michael； bewildered； said。 〃What the hell does that fish mean？〃 It was Hagen the Irisher； the Consigliere； who answered him。 〃The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean；〃 he said。 〃It's an old Sicilian message。〃
Chapter 09
When Michael Corleone went into the city that night it was with a depressed spirit。 He felt that he was being enmeshed in the Family business against his will and he resented Sonny using him even to answer the phone。 He felt unfortable being on the inside of the Family councils as if he could be absolutely trusted with such secrets as murder。 And now； going to see Kay； he felt guilty about her also。 He had never been pletely honest with her about his family。 He had told her about them but always with little jokes and colorful anecdotes that made them seem more like adventurers in a Technicolor movie than what they really were。 And now his father had been shot down in the street and his eldest brother was making plans for murder。 That was putting it plainly and simply but that was never how he would tell it to Kay。 He had already said his father being shot was more like an 〃accident〃 and that all the trouble was over。 Hell； it looked like it was just beginning。 Sonny and Tom were off…center on this guy Sollozzo； they were still underrating him； even though Sonny was smart enough to see the danger。 Michael tried to think what the Turk might have up his sleeve。 He was obviously a bold man； a clever man； a man of extraordinary force。 You had to figure him to e up with a real surprise。 But then Sonny and Tom and Clemenza and Tessio were all agreed that everything was under control and they all had more experience than he did。 He was the 〃civilian〃 in this war； Michael thought wryly。 And they'd have to give him a hell of a lot better medals than he'd gotten in World War II to make him join this one。
Thinking this made him feel guilty about not feeling more sympathy for his father。 His own father shot fall of holes and yet in a curious way Michael； better than anyone else； understood when Tom had said it was just business； not personal。 That his father had paid for the power he had wielded all his life； the respect he had extorted from all those around him。
What Michael wanted was out； out of all this； to lead his own life。 But he couldn't cut loose from the family until the crisis was over。 He had to help in a civilian capacity。 With sudden clarity he realized that he was annoyed with the role assigned to him； that of the privileged nonbatant； the excused conscientious objector。 That was why the word 〃civilian〃 kept popping into his skull in such an irritating way。
When he got to the hotel； Kay was waiting for him in the lobby。 （A couple of Clemenza's people had driven him into town and dropped him off on a nearby corner after making sure they were not followed。）
They had dinner together and some drinks。 〃What time are you going to visit your father？〃 Kay asked。
Michael looked at his watch。 〃Visiting hours end at eight…thirty。 I think I'll go after everybody has left。 They'll let me up。 He has a private room and his own nurses so I can just sit with him for a while。 I don't think he can talk yet or even know if I'm there。 But I have to show respect。〃
Kay said quietly； 〃I feel so sorry for your father； he seemed like such a nice man at the wedding。 I can't believe the things the papers are printing about him。 I'm sure most of it's not true。〃
Michael said politely； 〃I don't think so either。〃 He was surprised to find himself so secretive with Kay。 He loved her； he trusted her； but he would never tell her anything about his father or the Family。 She was an outsider。
〃What about you？〃 Kay asked。 〃Are you going to get mixed up in this gang war the papers are talking about so gleefully？〃
Michael grinned； unbuttoned his jacket and held it wide open。 〃Look； no guns；