Chapter 38 Section thirty-two

The current victory of the Corleone family is only preliminary.After a year of activity and subtle political intrigue that made Michael the head of the most powerful mob family in America, it was not complete.For twelve months, Michael divided his time evenly in half: half at his base on the Boulevard in Long Beach, and half at his new base in Vegas.However, towards the end of that year, he decided to end his activities in New York and sell his house and boulevard property.So he took the whole family east for one last visit.They plan to stay for a month, while doing business finishing work.Kai will be in charge of packing and shipping the household items, and there are countless other little things that need to be taken care of.

The current situation is: the status of the Corleone family is undisputed; Clemenza has established his own family organization; The general leader of the hotel security controlled by the Leon family in Nevada; Hagen is also a member of the Michael West family organization. Time helps heal old wounds.Connie Corleone has made up with her brother Michael.In fact, within a week of her swearing, she apologized to him for her slip of the tongue and assured Kay that nothing she said was true and that the tantrum was nothing more than a The hysterical fits of the young widow. Connie Corleone found a husband easily again.In fact, she had not waited until the one-year mourning period expired to bring a handsome young man to her bed.The young man came to work under Corleone as a secretary.He was born in a very reliable Italian family, and he was also a graduate of the top business school in the United States.He married the famous old man's sister, and his future was naturally guaranteed.

Kay Adams Corleone listened carefully to the teachings of Catholicism and followed suit, much to the delight of her mother-in-law and aunt.Her two boys are also receiving a Catholic education, as required.Michael himself is not too pleased with this new trend.He would rather let his children be Christians, because the Christian religion is more in line with American sentiments. Kay liked living in Nevada, which surprised even herself.She liked the scenery here, the mountains, the valleys, the bright red rocks, the fiery fields, the strange and wonderful lakes that made you feel refreshed, and even the extreme heat.Her two boys each had a pony that they rode to play.Now it is the real servant who serves her, and the next one is Bao Xiang.Michael also lived a more formal life.He started a construction firm of his own; he joined the merchants' club and was a member of the town council; he also had a healthy interest in local politics, but did not get involved overtly.This kind of life is pretty good.Kay is happy that they closed their New York base and that Vegas will truly be their permanent home.She resented the mention of returning to New York.So, on her final visit to New York, she single-handedly packed and shipped all the household goods, and did so neatly and quickly.On this last day she was anxious to leave New York with the almost eagerness of a long-term hospital patient to leave the hospital after recovery.

On this last day, Kay Adams Corleone woke up at dawn.She awoke to the sound of the carnian booming to and fro on the avenue outside.The trucks were going to remove all the furniture from the houses.The Corleone family, including Corleone's mother, planned to fly back to Vegas in the afternoon. Kai had already showered and came out of the bathroom.Michael was still leaning on the pillow and smoking a cigarette. "What on earth do you go to church every morning for?" he said. "It's all right to go on Sunday. But why do you go every day? You're just as annoying as my mother."

After that, he reached out in the dark and turned on the lamp on the bedside table. Kay was sitting on the edge of the bed, putting on his socks. "You need to know the mood of a new convert to Catholicism," she said. "Protestants have always been more zealous." Michael reached out to touch her thigh, where the skin felt warm to the touch as the stocking shaft of the nylon stocking had just been pulled up to her thigh; "Don't touch it," she said, "I'm going to receive Holy Communion this morning." With that said, she stood up, and he didn't try to stop her.He smiled and said:

"Since you are such a strict Catholic, why do you keep keeping children out of church?" When she heard this, she felt uncomfortable in her heart, so she became alert.He looked at her carefully, and his eyes at this time were those of the "old man" she thought secretly. "They'll have a long time," she said, "and I'll have them go to church more often when we get home there." She kissed him good-bye and went away.It was starting to warm up outside the house.The summer sun is rising from the east, looking red.Kay walked to the car parked near the gate.Mama Corleone, in her Black Widow outfit, was waiting in the car.This has been a routine that has been established for a long time: listen to early mass, go every morning, and the two go and return together.

Kay kissed the old lady's wrinkled face and sat in the driver's seat.Mother Corleone asked suspiciously: "Have you had breakfast yet?" "No," Kay said. The old lady nodded appreciatively.Eating and drinking were forbidden from midnight onwards before Holy Communion, but Kai once forgot this rule.It was a long time ago, but the old lady has always been worried about her because of this, and she has to take a break every time. "Do you feel used to not eating breakfast?" the old lady asked. "Get used to it," he said. The church is small and looks deserted in the morning sun.The stained glass in the windows is insulated, and the church is cool inside, making it a great place to rest.Kai helped her mother-in-law up the white stone steps, then let go of her hand and let her mother-in-law walk forward by herself.The old lady always likes the front row, the one near the altar.But hesitated for a minute on the steps.Every time she enters the church, she always hesitates and is always a little scared at this moment.

At last she entered the chilly, dark church.She dipped her finger in the holy water, made the sign of the cross on her chest, and at the same time tapped her wet fingertips quickly on her dry lips.Candles glowed red before the icon, before the image of Christ on the cross.Kay curtseyed first, then stepped into her row of seats, knelt on the hardwood bars, and waited to receive communion.She bowed her head, as if praying, but she was really absent-minded. Only here, in this spooky, vaulted church, did she allow herself to think about the other side of her husband's life, about that terrible night a year ago when he exploited the trust and love between their husband and wife. Forced her to believe his lies, and said against his conscience that he did not kill his brother-in-law.

She left him at that time, the whole point was that he lied to her, and the second was the murder itself. On the second ruthless morning after the incident, she took the child back to her mother's house.Before leaving, she didn't say hello to anyone.In fact, she herself didn't know exactly what she wanted to do.Michael understood immediately.He went to find her that day, and then let her stay.A week later, Tom Hagen arrived at her natal house in a limousine. She had spent a long terrible afternoon with Hagen, the worst afternoon of her life.They walked into the woods outside the small town, and Hagen's attitude was not limp. .

Kay had the wrong idea: she was trying to be rude, but she wasn't right for the role. "Did Michael send you here to threaten me?" she asked sarcastically. "I thought some burly men would jump out of the car with machine guns and make me go back." Then, for the first time since she had known Hagen, she noticed that he was angry.He said gruffly: "Your words sound like the most absurd nonsense that ever came out of a young man's mouth. I never thought such nonsense could come out of a woman like you. Let's talk Come on, Kay." "Let's talk about it," she said.

The two of them walked along the grassy country lane, and Hagen asked calmly, "Why did you run away?" Kay replied, "Because Michael lied to me. Because he fooled me when he was godfather to Connie's boy. He betrayed me. I can't love that kind of man. Live with someone I don't love." , I can't stand it. I can't keep having him as a father to my kids." "I just can't understand what you mean," said Hagen. She turned her head, angry and confident, and lashed out at him. " "I mean he killed his brother-in-law. You understand that, don't you?" She paused for a moment. "And he lied to me." Then, the two of them walked in silence for a long, long time.Finally, Hagen said: "You have no way of knowing for sure whether that is all true. However, for the sake of argument, let's assume that it is true. Remember, I am not saying that it is true. But if I give you some evidence to justify what he did, or if I give you some possible reasons to justify what he did, so what? Say?" Kai looked at him contemptuously. "That's the first time I've discovered your lawyer side, Tom. Your lawyer side isn't the best part of you." Hagen gave a wry smile and said: "Okay, listen to me first. What do you think if Carlo is going to lure the tiger away from the mountain and lure Sonny into an ambush to be beaten? What if Carlo's beating of Connie was an elaborate conspiracy to kill Sonny lured out, and they know he's going the way of the Jones Causeway, so what do you think? What do you think if Carlo takes a bribe to help somebody kill Sonny? Well, what do you think?" Kai said nothing.Hagen continued: "Also, if the old man, a great man, himself can't bear to do what he should do, that is, kill his son-in-law to avenge his son, what do you think? Besides, if the old man feels that task is too much for him It is heavy, so let Michael be his heir, and he also thinks that Michael will take the burden from his shoulders, and at the same time, he is willing to take the responsibility, so what do you think?" "That's all in the past," Kay said, tearing up. "Afterwards, everyone got along harmoniously. Why couldn't Carlo be tolerated? Why couldn't he make do with it? Why couldn't everyone forget the resentment?" She led the way across a meadow to a stream lined with trees.Hagen sat down on the grass and let out a long sigh.He looked around, sighed again, and said, "In this world, you are the only one who can forget grudges." "He's changed," Kay said. "He wasn't what he was when I married him." Hagen couldn't help laughing out loud. "If he was still the same as when he was married, he would be dead by now. Then you would have been a widow long ago, and there would be no disputes between husband and wife." Kay suffocated and burst out at him, "What the hell does that mean? Please, Tom, you've been beating around the bush all your life, so please be straight this time. I know, Michael can't do it, But you are not a Sicilian, you can tell the truth to women, you can treat women as equals, and treat women as human beings." The two sides were silent for a long time, and Hagen shook his head. "You're wrong about Michael. You're mad because he lied to you. Well, he's warned you to stay out of his business. You're godfather to Carlo's boys. You are so angry that you are desperate. But you are the one who asked him to be godfather. In fact, if he intends to deal with Carlo, it is only natural for him to do so. To deceive the enemy's trust is an ancient tactic." Speaking of this, Hagen gave her a smirk: "You think this is enough to be straightforward?" However, Kai lowered his head and remained silent. "There are other things I'll tell you straight too. Michael was targeted for murder after the old man died. Do you know who? It was Tessio. Therefore, Tessio must be killed. Carlo, must also be killed. Because betrayal is intolerable. Michael may have tolerated this kind of behavior, but anyone who has committed such a mistake will never forgive himself. They always have evil intentions, so they Always dangerous. Michael really likes Tessio; Michael really loves his sister. But if Tessio and Carlo get away with it, he's doing you, his kids, and To his whole family, to me and my family, to pass the buck. These two guys are a ticking time bomb to all of us, to all of our lives." Kai has been listening, and she listens to the tears streaming all over her face. "Did Michael send you here just to tell me that?" Hagen looked at her, puzzled by her questioning. "No," he said, "what he wants me to tell you is that as long as you take good care of the baby, you can do whatever you want, whatever you want." Speaking of this, Hagen smiled: "He also wants me to tell you: you are his 'old man'. This is just a joke." Kay put a hand on Hagen's arm. "Didn't he order you to tell me what you just told me?" Hagen hesitated for a moment, as if he could not make up his mind whether to tell her the most fundamental truth. "You're still in the dark," he said, "and if you tell Michael what I told you today, I'm sure I'll die." He was silent for another moment. "On this earth, there are only you and your two children whom he can't bear to hurt." Five minutes after Hagen finished speaking, Kai suddenly stood up from the grass.The two of them started to go home.When they were almost home, Kay said to Hagen: "After dinner, can you take me and the kids back to New York in your car?" "I'm here to pick you up and the baby," Hagen said. After she returned to Michael, a week later, she went to the priest and asked to guide her to become a formal Catholic. From the depths of the church bells sounded, calling for confession.According to the method taught to her, Kai clenched his fist with his right hand and lightly thumped his chest, which was a sign of repentance.The bell rang again for the second time, and only the rustling of footsteps was heard, and the people who wanted to receive Holy Communion left their places and walked towards the railing in front of the altar.Kai also stood up and walked with everyone.She knelt outside the altar rail, and for the third time a bell sounded from the depths of the church.She raised her head and opened her mouth, ready to receive the paper-thin pancakes.This is the scariest moment.When the pancake melted in her mouth and she could swallow it, her nervousness could be relieved, and she could be more casual. Sins are washed away, petitions are granted.She hung her head, put her hands together, and held them on the railing in front of the altar.She staggered to relieve the punishment of the weight of her whole body on her knees. Her mind was empty now, shut out of all other thoughts, not at all of herself, not of her child, not of all danger, not of all rebellion, not of all problems.And now, as she had done every day since Carlo Reese's murder, she said the necessary prayers for Michael Corleone's soul.She said her prayers with fervor and earnest desire from the bottom of her heart.She is convinced that the prayers she says work and that God hears them.