When Jerry Wagner and Kevin Moonan came out of the bar they were perfect
Setups. The bar girl's taunts had left their adolescent vanity prickly. Paulie Gatto,
leaning against the fender of his car, called out to them with a teasing laugh, "Hey,
Casanova, those broads really brushed you off."
The two young men turned on him with delight. Paulie Gatto looked like a
Perfect outlet for their humiliation. Ferret-faced, short, slightly built and a wise
Guy in the bargain. They pounced on him eagerly and immediately found their
Arms pinned by two men grabbing them from behind. At the same moment Paulie
Gatto had slipped onto his right hand a specially made set of brass knuckles
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Studded with one-sixteenth-inch iron spikes. His timing was good, he worked out
In the gym three times a week. He smashed the punk named Wagner right on the
Nose. The man holding Wagner lifted him up off the ground and Paulie swung his
Arm, uppercutting into the perfectly positioned groin. Wagner went limp and the
Big man dropped him. This had taken no more than six seconds.
Now both of them turned their attention to Kevin Moonan, who was trying to
Shout. The man holding him from behind did so easily with one huge muscled
Arm. The other hand he put around Moonan's throat to cut off any sound.
Paulie Gatto jumped into the car and started the motor. The two big men were
Beating Moonan to jelly. They did so with frightening deliberation, as if they had
All the time in the world. They did not throw punches in flurries but in timed, slow-
Motion sequences that carried the full weight of their massive bodies. Each blow
landed with a splat of flesh splitting open. Gatto got a glimpse of Moonan's face.
It was unrecognizable. The two men left Moonan lying on the sidewalk and turned
Their attention to Wagner. Wagner was trying to get to his feet and he started to
Scream for help. Someone came out of the bar and the two men had to work
Faster now. They clubbed Wagner to his knees. One of the men took his arm and
Twisted it, then kicked him in the spine. There was a cracking sound and
Wagner's scream of agony brought windows open all along the street. The two
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Men worked very quickly. One of them held Wagner up by using his two hands
Around Wagner's head like a vise. The other man smashed his huge fist into the
Fixed target. There were more people coming out of the bar but none tried to
interfere. Paulie Gatto yelled, "Come on, enough." The two big men jumped into
The car and Paulie gunned it away. Somebody would describe the car and read
The license plates but it didn't matter. It was a stolen California plate and there
Were one hundred thousand black Chevy sedans in New York City.
Chapter 2
1 Tom Hagen went to his law office in the city on Thursday morning. He planned to
catch up on his paper work (нагнать /упущенное/; to catch up – быстро схватить,
подхватить) so as to have everything cleared away for the meeting with Virgil Sollozzo
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on Friday. A meeting of such importance that he had asked the Don for a full evening of
talk to prepare for the proposition (чтобы подготовиться для предложения) they knew
Sollozzo would offer the family business. Hagen wanted to have all little details cleared
away so that he could go to that preparatory meeting with an unencumbered mind («с
необремененным умом»; to encumber [ın’kΛmb∂] – загромождать).
2 The Don had not seemed surprised when Hagen returned from California late
Tuesday evening and told him the results of the negotiations with Woltz. He had made
Hagen go over every detail and grimaced with distaste (с отвращением = от
отвращения) when Hagen told about the beautiful little girl and her mother. He had
murmured "infamita," his strongest disapproval (неодобрение). He has asked Hagen
one final question. "Does this man have real balls (настоящие яйца = мужество,
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пойдет ли он до конца)?"
3 Hagen considered exactly (поразмыслил точно) what the Don meant by this
question. Over the years he had learned that the Don's values (ценности: value
[‘vжlju:]) were so different from those of most people that his words also could have a
different meaning. Did Woltz have character ([‘kжrıkt∂])? Did he have a strong will
(сильную волю)? He most certainly did, but that was not what the Don was asking. Did
the movie producer have the courage not to be bluffed? Did he have the willingness to
suffer heavy financial loss (понести тяжелую финансовую потерю; to suffer –
страдать) delay on his movies would mean (которую будет означать отсрочка), the
scandal of his big star exposed (выставленному напоказ) as a user of heroin? Again
the answer was yes. But again this was not what the Don meant. Finally Hagen
translated the question properly (как следует, верно) in his mind. Did Jack Woltz have
the balls to risk everything, to run the chance (рискнуть: «подвергнуться
возможности») of losing all on a matter of principle (ради принципа), on a matter of
honor; for revenge (ради мести)?
4 Hagen smiled. He did it rarely but now he could not resist jesting with the Don (не
мог удержаться от шутки, чтобы не пошутить; to resist – сопротивляться). "You're
asking if he is a Sicilian." The Don nodded his head pleasantly, acknowledging the
flattering witticism (признавая, подтверждая /одобрительно/ лестную остроту) and
its truth. "No," Hagen said.
5 That had been all. The Don had pondered the question (размышлял) until the next
day. On Wednesday afternoon he had called Hagen to his home and given him his
instructions. The instructions had consumed (поглотили) the rest of Hagen's working
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day and left him dazed with admiration (изумленным от восхищения /Доном/; to daze
– изумить, ошеломить). There was no question in his mind that the Don had solved
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the problem, that Woltz would call him this morning with the news that Johnny Fontane
had the starring part in his new war movie.
6 At that moment the phone did ring but it was Amerigo Bonasera. The undertaker's
voice was trembling with gratitude (дрожащим от благодарности). He wanted Hagen
to convey (передать, выразить /чувства/ [k∂n’veı]) to the Don his undying friendship.
The Don had only to call on him (пусть только позвонит ему). He, Amerigo Bonasera,
would lay down his life (жизнь положит) for the blessed (ради благословенного; to
bless – благославлять) Godfather. Hagen assured him that the Don would be told (что
Дону будет сказано).
7 The Daily News had carried a middle-page spread (разворот) of Jerry Wagner and
Kevin Moonan lying in the street. The photos were expertly gruesome
(«профессионально, умело» отвратительные, ужасные), they seemed to be pulps of
human beings (каждый из них казался какой-то бесформенной массой, а не
человеческим существом: «/из/ человеческого существа»; pulp – мягкая масса,
мяготь). Miraculously (как ни удивительно, чудесным образом), said the News, they
were both still alive though they would both be in the hospital for months and would
require plastic surgery (им понадобятся пластические операции; to require –
требовать; нуждаться в чем-либо). Hagen made a note to tell Clemenza that
something should be done for Paulie Gatto. He seemed to know his job.
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8 Hagen worked quickly and efficiently for the next three hours consolidating earning
reports (объединяя отчеты о доходах) from the Don's real estate company (real estate
– недвижимое имущество), his olive oil importing business and his construction firm
(строительной фирмы). None of them were doing well (нигде дела не шли хорошо)
but with the war over (с окончанием войны) they should all become rich producers. He
had almost forgotten the Johnny Fontane problem when his secretary told him
California was calling. He felt a little thrill (возбуждение, нервная дрожь, трепет) of
anticipation (предчувствия) as he picked up the phone and said, "Hagen here."
9 The voice that came over the phone was unrecognizable with hate and passion.
"You fucking bastard," Woltz screamed. "I'll have you all in jail for a hundred years. I'll
spend every penny I have to get you (чтобы добраться до тебя). I'll get that Johnny
Fontane's balls cut off (устрою, чтобы ему отрезали яйца), do you hear me, you
guinea fuck?"
10 Hagen said kindly (любезным, вежливым голосом), "I'm German-Irish." There
was a long pause and then a click (щелчок) of the phone being hung up (которую
вешают). Hagen smiled. Not once (ни разу) had Woltz uttered a threat against Don
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Corleone himself. Genius had its rewards (гениальность имеет свои вознаграждения).
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