Chapter 43 29

Michael Corleone took precautions before everything changed.His plans are infallible; his security defenses are impeccable.He is very capable and hopes to spend a year preparing for it.But he couldn't get the year he needed, because fate was against him, and it came so suddenly.It was none other than the Godfather—the great old man himself—that disappointed Michael Corleone. On a sunny Sunday morning, while the girls were praying in church, Don Vito Corleone was dressed in the same attire he used to work in the vegetable garden: baggy gray trousers, a faded blue shirt, a A dirty-looking brown fedora.He has put on a lot of weight in recent years: according to him, pruning the Panzene is for his health.However, he does not meet people.

The actual situation is that he likes to work in the vegetable garden, and he likes the vibrant scene of the vegetable garden in the morning, which often reminds him of the scene when he was a child.Today, as far as the eye can see, rows of bean seedlings are covered with small white flowers; all around are Ashkelon onions, a firm green onion that encloses the vegetable garden like a fence.At the other end of the vegetable garden stood a large wooden barrel with a spout, standing there like a guard.The barrels are filled with thin cow dung, which is the ideal fertilizer for vegetable gardens.

In addition, in the lower part of the vegetable garden, there is a square branch frame that he built with his own hands. The crossed branches are tied tightly with ropes, and the branch frame is covered with Panzen vines. The old man was busy watering the vegetable garden.The task of watering must be completed before the sun rises, otherwise, the lettuce leaves will be burned.Sunlight is more important than water, and water is very important, but if the two are not properly mixed, it will cause serious consequences. The old man was walking up and down the vegetable garden looking for ants.If you find ants, it means that there are mice in the vegetable field; ants always follow the mice.In this way, he had to sprinkle rat poison.

He finished the watering work in time.The sun was getting hotter and hotter, and the old man thought to himself: "Be careful. Be careful." He stood up and wanted to go home to rest, but there were still some vegetable seedlings that needed to be supported by branches, so he bent down and continued to work. He wanted to go home and rest after setting up the branch frame for the last row of vegetable seedlings. Suddenly, he felt as if the sun had come down, very close to his head, and the sky was full of dancing golden sparks.Michael's oldest boy came running across the vegetable garden toward where the old man was kneeling, surrounded by a blinding yellow light.But the old man was not deluded; he was too sophisticated.Death was hiding behind the yellow flame-like light, ready to rush out and rush at him.The old man waved the boy away.Just right, neither too late nor too early, he suddenly felt as if a sledgehammer was hitting his chest, making him out of breath.The old man swayed forward and fell to the ground.

The boy ran back and called his father.Michael Corleone and some of the men at the gate ran out into the garden and found the old man lying face down on the ground with a large handful of clay in his hands.They carried the old man into the shade with flagstones.Michael knelt beside his father, holding his hand, while the others split up to find the ambulance and the doctor. The old man struggled to open his eyes with great effort, wanting to see his son again.The menacing heart attack had turned his blushing face livid.He was dying.He sniffed the smell of the garden, and the yellow light hit his eyes again.He whispered:

"Life is so beautiful." He didn't have time to see the tears of the women at home.He died before they returned from church.He died before an ambulance or doctors could arrive.He was dead, surrounded by men, and he put his hand on the hand of his favorite young son. Funerals are very grand.Like Tessio and Clemenza, the two newly spawned families, the five major families also sent their own old men and regiment commanders.Although Michael advised Johnny Fontane not to come, he attended the funeral anyway.Now Johnny Fontane was a sensational tabloid headline.Fontane also issued a statement to the papers: Vito Corleone was his godfather and the nicest man he ever knew; he was honored to be allowed to come and pay his last respects to such a fine man.

The wake was held at the house in the Boulevard according to the old custom.This time Amerigo Bonasera did his job more beautifully than ever before: he was like a mother grooming her daughter for the bride, full of admiration, and devoted herself to grooming her old lady. Friend, own godfather.Everyone remarked that not even Death had the power to erase the nobility and majesty of the great old man's countenance.Amerigo Bonasera listened to these remarks with a sense of pride, an inexplicable complacency at his own ingenuity.Only he understood how horribly death had tortured the old man's appearance.

All the old friends and subordinates are here.Nazorin came with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and their children; and Lucy Mancini came from Vegas with Freddie.Also, Tom Hagen with his wife and children.The elders of family organizations in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Cleveland.Rocco Rabon and Albert Neri, and Clemenza and Tessio, and of course the Don's two sons, were coffin bearers.The entire boulevard and the houses on both sides are covered with wreaths. Outside the gates of the boulevard were journalists and photographers, as well as a pickup truck, which was understood to be filled with FBI agents who recorded the epic scene with movie cameras.A few journalists wanted to break in to see how the funeral was held, but they found that the gate and the fence were guarded by security personnel, and they could not enter without ID cards and invitations.Although they were treated extremely politely, and snacks were brought out for them to eat, they were not allowed to enter.They tried in every possible way to talk to the people who came out of it, but the people they met were all stern-faced, staring and silent.

Michael Corleone spent most of the day in the corner library, receiving visitors with Kay, Tom Hagen, and Freddie.Michael tried to be polite to his guests.Even when some people called him "Godfather" or "Old Michael", he just pursed his lips in displeasure, a subtle expression that only Jing could see. Clemenza and Tessio had come to this inner circle meeting; Michael poured their drinks himself.Everyone chatted about business matters.Michael informed them that the avenue and all the houses on either side were going to be sold to a construction company.The deal is profitable.Here's another testament to the great old man's genius.

Everyone knew in their hearts that the center of gravity of the entire empire had now moved west; the Corleone family planned to withdraw their influence completely from New York.This action plan has been set long ago, and it can only be implemented after the old man retires or dies. It was said that there had not been such a grand gathering in the house for nearly ten years.Almost ten years had passed since Constantia Corleone and Carlo Rizzi had been married.Michael went to the window that looked out on the garden.Long ago, he had sat with Kay in the garden and never dreamed that such a strange fate would befall him.Before his death his father said, "Life is so beautiful. Michael never remembers his father saying anything about death, as if the old man had too much respect for death to be able to bear to comment."

Now is the time to set off to the cemetery.Now is the time to bury the great old man.Michael took Kay's arm and walked out of the house into the garden.Joined the funeral procession.Immediately behind him were several commanders, and behind him a group of soldiers, and lastly, all the unknown characters whom the godfather had bestowed upon him.Nazorin the baker, the widow of Columbus and her sons, and all the other people in his world, too numerous to count.Even his old enemies came to greet him. Michael saw all this in his eyes and remembered it in his heart, and a polite smile appeared on his tense face.All this made no particular impression on his mind.However, he thought to himself: If I could say "life is so beautiful" when I die, then I think everything else will be easy; if I can have such confidence in myself, then I think everything else will be It's not worth mentioning.He himself was willing to follow in his father's footsteps.He has to worry about his children, his family, his world.However, he wants his children to grow up in another world.They will also become doctors, artists, scientists, even governors, even presidents, whatever.He must pay attention to let them join the human family.But he himself, as a courageous and resourceful father, must undoubtedly pay close attention to the movement in that human family. The morning after the funeral, the most important members of the Corleone family gathered on the avenue.Near noon they were allowed to enter the vacant house where the old man had lived.Michael Corleone receives them. Those people crowded the corner library to the brim.Among them were the two commanders, Clemenza and Tessio; there was Rocco Rabon, who seemed very sensible and capable; Hagen, who put aside the strict rules of being only responsible for legal matters, also came to this meeting at this critical moment; The blend was handed to him, and despite the new calamities the Corleone family had suffered, he showed an unwavering devotion in every way. The death of the old man was a great misfortune for the family.Without him, the power of the entire family seems to have lost more than half, and the bargaining power in negotiations with the Bazzini-Tataglia alliance has almost been lost.Everyone in the room understands this.They waited to see what Michael had to say.In their eyes, he was not yet an old man, he had not yet acquired such a position and such a title.If the old man was alive, he could guarantee his son's rise to power; but at the moment, he was not sure whether he would be able to rise to power. Michael waited until Neri finished pouring the wine for everyone, and he said calmly, "What I want to tell you now is that I understand your feelings. I know you all respect my father, but now you feel that you have lost your support and are worried." your own fate, and worry about the fate of your family. Some of you are wondering how recent developments will affect the plans we make and the commitments I make personally. Well, the answer to that question is none at all , everything goes on as it is.” Clemenza shook his big, shaggy, buffalo-like head, looking displeased. He said: "The Bazzini and the Tattaglias are pushing us so hard, Mike, you're fighting or making peace, stop hesitating like this." Everyone in the room noticed Clement Zha did not use the official name "Michael" when addressing Michael, but used the abbreviation "Mike", and of course he did not use the title "Old Man". "Let's see," Michael said, "let them break the peace first. Tessie said in his soft voice, "They've broken the peace, Mike. They opened two lottery gambling registrations in Brooklyn this morning. I got the news from the officers of the District Police Department." .Maybe a month from now, I won't even have a foothold in Brooklyn." Michael stared at him gravely and said, "Have you taken any measures?" Tessio shook his little white head. "No," he said, "I'm afraid I'll get you into trouble." "Well," Michael said, "we're just going to sit still, and I think that's what I'm going to say to you all. Stand still, don't react casually to any provocation. Give me a few more weeks to let me Get ready, let me see the changes in the whole situation. At that time, I will go all out for the eleventh game to ensure that it will be beneficial to everyone here. At that time, let's have a final meeting and make some final Decide." They were all astonished, but he pretended not to see it at all. Albert Chinley sent them out at once. Michael suddenly shouted: “Tom, wait a while before you go. Hagen walked to the window that looked out on the mall.He stood looking out until he saw the two commanders, Carlo.Rize, Rocco Rabon, and the others were sent out of the heavily guarded gate by Neri like sheep, and then they turned around and said to Michael: "Have you closed all the political back doors?" Michael shook his head ruefully. "Not connected yet. I need four months. The old man and I have been in contact with the handover of the political backdoor connector. I have connected with all the judges. This is the first one we caught. Then there is the connection with some of the big names in Congress. The big party leaders in New York City, of course, will not be a problem. In fact, the Corleone family is much more powerful than anyone imagined, but I hope to get things done Nothing is lost." Speaking of this, he smiled at Hagen, and continued: "Now you have a clear idea of ​​all the problems, don't you?" Hagen nodded. "It's not difficult to imagine, but why you excluded me, I was a little puzzled. But I thought about it in the Sicilian way of thinking, and I finally understood it." Michael laughed loudly: "The old man said long ago that you will understand. However, I can no longer provide you with this opportunity to let you live a leisurely life. I need you here, at least in the future I need you for a few years, you call Vegas one last time, talk it over with your wife and tell her it's just a matter of a few weeks." Hagen mused. "How do you know they're going to kill you?" Michael sighed: "The old man told me. They wanted to use someone close to me to stab me. Barzney pointed the finger at me. They wanted to use someone close to me to stab me. It's a guess. But I don't think there's any doubt about it." Hagen smiled at him. "A man like me?" Michael also smiled at Hagen: "You're Irish, people won't trust you." "I'm a German-American," said Hagen. "It's all Irish from their point of view," said Michael, "so they won't come looking for you. They won't come looking for Neri, because Neri used to be a policeman. Besides, you two are very close to me." They don't dare take such a gamble. Rocco Rabon isn't close enough to me. Either Clemenza or Tessie, it seems, or Carlo Rizzi." Hagen said in a low voice, "Carol, I guess." "We'll figure it out," Michael said, "and it won't be long." Early the next morning, while Hagen was having breakfast with Michael, Michael went to the library to answer the phone.When he got back into the kitchen he said to Hagen: "It's all settled. I'm going to meet Barziny in a month from today. Now that the old man is dead, we'll have to renew the peace talks." After all, Michael laughed out loud. Hagen: "Who is calling? Who is going to contact?" They both believed that whoever in the Corleone family made such a connection was a traitor. Michael smiled sadly and ruefully at Hagen. "Tessio." As for Dari, the two of them ate their breakfast without saying a word.Finally, Hagen shook his head as he sipped his coffee. "I thought it was Carlo, or it could have been Clemenza. I never thought of Tessio. He was the most reliable of these guys." "He's got the most brains," Michael said, "and he seems to think he's playing with a wishful thinking. He's showing me as a target for Barzney so he can take over the leadership of the Corleone family." Yes. He took a tolerant attitude towards me, and as a result he did not get the highest leadership. At the same time, he estimated that I would not be able to win in foreign struggles.” Hagen was silent for a while.Then he reluctantly interjected, "What is the basis for his estimation?" Michael shrugged. "The situation seems to be very unfavorable, but my father is the only one who has a political mind. He understands that political backdoors and political strength can be worth ten large army groups. Most of my father's original political power has now been transferred to mine. I have it in my hand, but I am the only one who knows about this situation right now." Having said that, he smiled at Hagen, a smile that could act as a "reassurance pill". Then he added, "I'm going to try to get them to call me 'Old Man,' but I think Tessio is nasty." Hagen asked, "Have you agreed to meet with Barziney? "Yes," Michael said. "A week from tonight. It's in Brooklyn. I'll be safe on Tessio's place." After that, he laughed again. Hagen reminded him, "Be careful beforehand." At this warning, Michael became stern. "I don't need a staff adviser to advise me like that," he said. A week before the Corleone and Bazzney families and the mediocre judgment, Michael showed Hagen just how careful he could be: he would never step out of the avenue; anyone.At this time, a troublesome problem also appeared: Connie and Carlo's eldest son was going to the church in the sky to receive his confirmation ceremony, and quietly asked Michael to be his godfather. Michael politely declined. "It's one of the rare times I beg you," he begged, "please say yes, it's for me. Connie asked very foolishly, and so did Carlo. It was extremely important to the two of them." , please, Michael. She saw that he was angry with her because she insisted when she expected him to refuse, and she was a little surprised when he nodded in agreement.He said: "All right, but I can't leave the avenue. Tell them to make arrangements for the priest to come here and confirm the boy, and I'll pay for the cost. If they can't get it right with the people in church, it's up to Hagen." Come out and do it." So Michael became godfather to the son of Carlo Rizzi and Connie Rizzi the day before he was scheduled to meet with the Bazzini family.He gave his godson a very expensive watch and a gold strap.Carlo gave a little evening party in his house, to which were invited the two commanders, Hagen, Rabone, and everyone who lived in Limbang Road, including of course the late Don's widow.Connie was overwhelmed with excitement, hugging and kissing her brother and Kay throughout the evening. Even Carlo Rizzi became tender, taking every opportunity to shake Michael's hand and call him godfather--an old custom in their native Italy.Michael himself had never been so amiable, so chatty and laughing.Connie whispered: "I think Caro and Mike are really close friends now. An occasion like this makes people bond emotionally. Kay squeezed her arm and said: "I'm glad too."