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tered； followed by two very rough…looking young fellows。 They searched the rooms without saying a word to Bonasera； then clemenza went out。 The two young men remained with the undertaker。
A few moments later Bonasera recognized the sound of a heavy ambulance ing through the narrow driveway。 Then Clemenza appeared in the doorway followed by two men carrying a stretcher。 And Amerigo Bonasera's worst fears were realized。 On the stretcher was a corpse swaddled in a gray blanket but with bare yellow feet sticking out the end。
Clemenza motioned the stretcher…bearers into the embalming room。 And then from the blackness of the yard another man stepped into the lighted office room。 It was Don Corleone。
The Don had lost weight during his illness and moved with a curious stiffness。 He was holding his hat in his hands and his hair seemed thin over his massive skull。 He looked older； more shrunken than when Bonasera had seen him at the wedding； but he still radiated power。 Holding his hat against his chest； he said to Bonasera； 〃Well； old friend； are you ready to do me this service？〃
Bonasera nodded。 The Don followed the stretcher into the embalming room and Bonasera trailed after him。 The corpse was on one of the guttered tables。 Don Corleone made a tiny gesture with his hat and the other men left the room。
Bonasera whispered； 〃What do you wish me to do？〃
Don Corleone was staring at the table。 〃I want you to use all your powers； all your skill； as you love me；〃 he said。 〃I do not wish his mother to see him as he is。〃 He went to the table and drew down the gray blanket。 Amerigo Bonasera against all his will； against all his years of training and experience； let out a gasp of horror。 On the embalming able was the bullet…smashed face of Sonny Corleone。 The left eye drowned in blood had a star fracture in its lens。 The bridge of his nose and left cheekbone were hammered into Pulp。
For one fraction of a second the Don put out his hand to support himself against Bonasera's body。 〃See how they have massacred my son；〃 he said。
Chapter 19
Perhaps it was the stalemate that made Sonny Corleone embark on the bloody course of attrition that ended in his own death。 Perhaps it was his dark violent nature given full rein。
In any case； that spring and summer he mounts senseless raids on enemy auxiliaries。 Tattaglia Family pimps were shot to death in Harlem； dock goons were massacred。 Union officials who owed allegiance to the Five Families were warned to stay neutral； and when the Corleone bookmakers and shylocks were still barred from the docks； Sonny sent Clemenza and his regime to wreak havoc upon the long shore。
This slaughter was senseless because it could not affect affect the oute of the war。 Sonny was a brilliant tactician and wears his brilliant victories。 But what was needed was the strategical genius of Don Corleone。 The whole thing degenerated into such a deadly guerrilla war that both sides found themselves losing a great deal of revenue and lives to no purpose。 The Corleone Family was finally forced to close down some of its most profitable bookmaking stations； including the book given to son…in…law Carlo Rizzi for his living。 Carlo took to drink and running with chorus girls and giving his wife Connie a hard time。 Since his beating at the hands of Sonny he had not dared to hit his wife again but he had not slept with her。 Connie had thrown herself at his feet and he had spurned her； as he thought； like a Roman； with exquisite patrician pleasure。 He had sneered at her； 〃Go call your brother and tell him I won't screw you； maybe he'll beat me up until I get a hard on。〃
But he was in deadly fear of Sonny though they treated each other with cold politeness。 Carlo had the sense to realize that Sonny would kill him； that Sonny was a man who could； with the naturalness of an animal； kill another man； while he himself would have to call up all his courage； all his will； to mit murder。 It never occurred to Carlo that because of this he was a better man than Sonny Corleone； if such terms could be used； he envied Sonny his awesome savagery； a savagery which was now being a legend。
Tom Hagen； as the Consigliere； disapproved of Sonny's tactics and yet decided not to protest to the Don simply because the tactics； to some extent； worked。 The Five Families seemed to be cowed； finally； as the attrition went on； and their counterblows weakened and finally ceased altogether。 Hagen at first distrusted this seeming pacification of the enemy but Sonny was jubilant。 〃I'll pour it on；〃 he told Hagen； 〃and then those bastards will e begging for a deal。〃
Sonny was worried about other things。 His wife was giving him a hard time because the rumors had gotten to her that Lucy Mancini had bewitched her husband。 And though she joked publicly about her Sonny's equipment and technique； he had stayed away from her too long and she missed him in her bed； and she was making life miserable for him with her nagging。
In addition to this Sonny was under the enormous strain of being a marked man。 He had to be extraordinarily careful in all his movements and he knew that his visits to Lucy Mancini had been charted by the enemy。 But here he took elaborate precautions since this was the traditional vulnerable spot。 He was safe there。 Though Lucy had not the slightest suspicion； she was watched twenty…four hours a day by men of the Santino regime and when an apartment became vacant on her floor it was immediately rented by one of the most reliable men of that regime。
The Don was recovering and would soon be able to resume mand。 At that time the tide of battle must swing to the Corleone Family。 This Sonny was sure of。 Meanwhile he would guard his Family's empire； earn the respect of his father； and； since the position was not hereditary to an absolute degree； cement his claim as heir to the Corleone Empire。
But the enemy was making its plans。 They too had analyzed the situation and had e to the conclusion that the only way to stave off plete defeat was to kill Sonny Corleone。 They understood the situation better now and felt it was possible to negotiate with the Don； known for his logical reasonableness。 They had e to hate Sonny for his bloodthirstiness； which they considered barbaric。 Also not good business sense。 Nobody wanted the old days back again with all its turmoil and trouble。
One evening Connie Corleone received an anonymous phone call； a girl's voice； asking for Carlo。 〃Who is this？〃 Connie asked。
The girl on the other end giggled and said； 〃I'm a friend of Carlo's。 I just wanted to tell him I can't see him tonight。 I have to go out of town。〃
〃You lousy bitch；〃 Connie Corleone said。 She screamed it again into the phone。 〃You lousy tramp bitch。〃 There was a click on the other end。
Carlo had gone to the track for that afternoon and when he came home in the late evening he was sore at losing and half drunk from the bottle he always carried。 As soon as he stepped into the door； Connie started screaming curses at him。 He ignored her and went in to take a shower。 When he came out he dried his naked body in front of her and started dolling u