Английский язык с Крестным Отцом

times a year for maybe a week-long engagement. We hope your friends in movies do

the same. You've done them a lot of favors, now you can call them in."

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"Sure," Johnny said. "I'll do anything for my Godfather, you know that, Mike." But there

was just the faint shadow of doubt in his voice.

Michael smiled and said, "You won't lose money on the deal and neither will your

friends. You get points in the hotel, and if there's somebody else you think important

enough, they get some points too. Maybe you don't believe me, so let me say I'm

speaking the Don's words."

Johnny said hurriedly, "I believe you, Mike. But there's ten more hotels and casinos

being built on the Strip right now. When you come in, the market may be glutted, you

may be too late with all that competition already there."

Tom Hagen spoke up. "The Corleone Family has friends who are financing three of

those hotels." Johnny understood immediately that he meant the Corleone Family

owned the three hotels, with their casinos. And that there would be plenty of points to

give out.

"I'll start working on it," Johnny said.

Michael turned to Lucy and Jules Segal. "I owe you," he said to Jules. "I hear you

want to go back to cutting people up and that hospitals won't let you use their facilities

because of that old abortion business. I have to know from you, is that what you want?"

Jules smiled. "I guess so. But you don't know the medical setup. Whatever power you

have doesn't mean anything to them. I'm afraid you can't help me in that."

Michael nodded absentmindedly. "Sure, you're right. But some friends of mine, pretty

well-known people, are going to build a big hospital for Las Vegas. The town will need it

the way it's growing and the way it's projected to grow. Maybe they'll let you into the

operating room if it's put to them right. Hell, how many surgeons as good as you can

they get to come out to this desert? Or any half as good? We'll be doing the hospital a

favor. So stick around. I hear you and Lucy are going to get married?"

Jules shrugged. "When I see that I have any future."

Lucy said wryly, "Mike, if you don't build that hospital, I'll die an old maid."

They all laughed. All except Jules. He said to Michael, "If I took a job like that there

couldn't be any strings attached."

Michael said coldly, "No strings. I just owe you and I want to even out."

Lucy said gently, "Mike, don't get sore."

Michael smiled at her. "I'm not sore." He turned to Jules. "That was a dumb thing for

you to say. The Corleone Family has pulled some strings for you. Do you think I'm so

stupid I'd ask you to do things you'd hate to do? But if I did, so what? Who the hell else

ever lifted a finger to help you when you were in trouble? When I heard you wanted to

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get back to being a real surgeon, I took a lot of time to find out if I could help. I can. I'm

not asking you for anything. But at least you can consider our relationship friendly, and I

assume you would do for me what you'd do for any good friend. That's my string. But

you can refuse it."

Tom Hagen lowered his head and smiled. Not even the Don himself could have done

it any better.

Jules was flushing. "Mike, I didn't mean it that way at all. I'm very grateful to you and

your father. Forget I said it."

Michael nodded and said, "Fine. Until the hospital gets built and opens up you'll be

medical director for the four hotels. Get yourself a staff. Your money goes up too, but

you can discuss that with Tom at a later time. And Lucy, I want you to do something

more important. Maybe coordinate all the shops that will be opening up in the hotel

arcades. On the financial side. Or maybe hiring the girls we need to work in the casinos,

something like that. So if Jules doesn't marry you, you can be a rich old maid."

Freddie had been puffing on his cigar angrily. Michael turned to him and said gently,

"I'm just the errand boy for the Don, Freddie. What he wants you to do he'll tell you

himself, naturally, but I'm sure it will be something big enough to make you happy.

Everybody tells us what a great job you've been doing here."

"Then why is he sore at me?" Freddie asked plaintively. "Just because the casino has

been losing money? I don't control that end, Moe Greene does. What the hell does the

old man want from me?"

"Don't worry about it," Michael said. He turned to Johnny Fontane. "Where's Nino? I

was looking forward to seeing him again."

Johnny shrugged. "Nino is pretty sick. A nurse is taking care of him in his room. But

the doc here says he should be committed, that he's trying to kill himself. Nino!"

Michael said thoughtfully, really surprised, "Nino was always a real good guy. I never

knew him to do anything lousy, say anything to put anybody down. He never gave a

damn about anything. Except the booze."

"Yeah," Johnny said. "The money is rolling in, he could get a lot of work, singing or in

the movies. He gets fifty grand a picture now and he blows it. He doesn't give a damn

about being famous. All the years we've been buddies I've never known him to do