Hagen knew what Sonny would say. Sonny was chafing at being under the
Don's thumb. He wanted a big operation of his own. Something like this would be
Perfect.
3 Sonny took a long slug of scotch. "There's a lot of money in that white
powder," he said. "But it could be dangerous. Some people could wind up in jail
For twenty years. I'd say that if we kept out of the operations end, just stuck to
protection and financing, it might be a good idea."
Hagen looked at Sonny approvingly. He had played his cards well. He had
Stuck to the obvious, much the best course for him.
5 The Don puffed on his cigar. "And you, Tom, what do you think?"
Hagen composed himself to be absolutely honest. He had already come to the
Conclusion that the Don would refuse Sollozzo's proposition. But what was worse,
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Hagen was convinced that for one of the few times in his experience, the Don had
Not thought things through. He was not looking far enough ahead.
7 "Go ahead, Tom," the Don said encouragingly. "Not even a Sicilian Consigliori
always agrees with the boss." They all laughed.
8 "I think you should say yes," Hagen said. "You know all the obvious reasons.
But the most important one is this. There is more money potential in narcotics
Than in any other business. If we don't get into it, somebody else will, maybe the
Tattaglia family. With the revenue they earn they can amass more and more
Police and political power. Their family will become stronger than ours.
Eventually they will come after us to take away what we have. It's just like
Countries. If they arm, we have to arm. If they become stronger economically,
They become a threat to us. Now we have the gambling and we have the unions
And right now they are the best things to have. But I think narcotics is the coming
Thing. I think we have to have a piece of that action or we risk everything we have.
Not now, but maybe ten years from now.
The Don seemed enormously impressed. He puffed on his cigar and murmured,
"That's the most important thing of course." He sighed and got to his feet. "What
time do I have to meet this infidel tomorrow?"
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10 Hagen said hopefully, "He'll be here at ten in the morning." Maybe the Don
Would go for it.
11 "I'll want you both here with me," the Don said. He rose, stretching, and took
his son by the arm. "Santino, get some sleep tonight, you look like the devil
himself. Take care of yourself, you won't be young forever."
Sonny, encouraged by this sign of fatherly concern, asked the question
Hagen did not dare to ask. "Pop, what's your answer going to be?"
13 Don Corleone smiled. "How do I know until I hear the percentages and other
Details? Besides I have to have time to think over the advice given here tonight.
After all, I'm not a man who does things rashly." As he went out the door he said
casually to Hagen, "Do you have in your notes that the Turk made his living from
Prostitution before the war? As the Tattaglia family does now. Write that down
before you forget." There was just a touch of derision in the Don's voice and
Hagen flushed. He had deliberately not mentioned it, legitimately so since it really
Had no bearing, but he had feared it might prejudice the Don's decision. He was
Notoriously straitlaced in matters of sex.
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1 Virgil "the Turk" Sollozzo was a powerfully built, medium-sized man (среднего роста)
of dark complexion (с темным цветом лица) who could have been taken for a true Turk.
He had a scimitar of a nose (/изогнутый/ нос, напоминающий турецкую саблю;
scimitar [‘sımıt∂] – кривая турецкая сабля) and cruel (жестокие) black eyes. He also
had an impressive dignity (внушительное чувство собственного достоинства,
важность).
2 Sonny Corleone met him at the door and brought him into the office where Hagen
and the Don waited. Hagen thought he had never seen a more dangerous-looking man
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except for Luca Brasi.
3 There were polite handshakings all around. If the Don ever asks me if this man has
balls, I would have to answer yes, Hagen thought. He had never seen such force in one
man, not even the Don. In fact the Don appeared at his worst (в худшей своей форме,
был не в форме). He was being a little too simple, a little too peasantlike (по-
крестьянски, деревенский) in his greeting.
4 Sollozzo came to the point immediately (сразу перешел к сути). The business was
narcotics. Everything was set up (подготовлено). Certain poppy fields in Turkey had
pledged him (обещали, заверили = гарантировали) certain amounts (определенные
количества; amount [∂‘maunt]) every year. He had a protected plant in France to
convert into morphine. He had an absolutely secure plant in Sicily to process into heroin.
Smuggling (провоз контрабанды; to smuggle – провозить контрабанду) into both
countries was as positively safe as such matters could be (настолько безопасен,
насколько такие вещи могут быть /безопасны/). Entry into the United States (ввоз;
еntry [‘entrı] – вход, въезд) would entail (повлечет за собой [ın'teıl]) about five percent
losses since the FBI itself was incorruptible (неподкупно [ınk∂'rypt∂bl]), as they both
knew. But the profits would be enormous (но выгоды, доходы будут огромными), the
risk nonexistent («несуществующим» = а риска никакого).
5 "Then why do you come to me?" the Don asked politely. "How have I deserved your
generosity (чем я заслужил вашу щедрость, великодушие [dGen∂'rosıtı])?"
6 Sollozzo's dark face remained impassive («осталось бесстрастным»). "I need two
million dollars cash," he said. "Equally important (и что не менее: «одинаково» важно),
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I need a man who has powerful friends in the important places. Some of my couriers
(некоторые из моих курьеров /с контрабандным товаром/ ['kurı∂]) will be caught over
the years (будут пойманы с течением времени). That is inevitable (неизбежно
[ın'evıt∂bl]). They will all have clean records (у них не будет судимостей), that I
promise. So it will be logical for judges to give light sentences (легкие приговоры). I
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need a friend who can guarantee that when my people get in trouble they won't spend
more than a year or two in jail. Then they won't talk. But if they get ten and twenty years,
who knows? In this world there are many weak individuals. They may talk, they may
jeopardize more important people (подвергнуть опасности, поставить в рискованное
положение ['dGep∂daız]). Legal protection is a must (/абсолютная/ необходимость). I
hear, Don Corleone, that you have as many judges in your pocket as a bootblack
(чистильщик сапог) has pieces of silver."
7 Don Corleone didn't bother to acknowledge the compliment (не подумал: «не
побеспокоился» показать, что ему приятен комплимент: «признать комплимент»).
"What percentage for my family?" he asked.
8 Sollozzo's eyes gleamed. "Fifty percent." He paused and then said in a voice that
was almost a caress (ласка), "In the first year your share (доля) would be three or four
million dollars. Then it would go up."
9 Don Corleone said, "And what is the percentage of the Tattaglia family?"
10 For the first time Sollozzo seemed to be nervous. "They will receive something from
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my share. I need some help in the operations."
11 "So," Don Corleone said, "I receive fifty percent merely for finance and legal
protection. I have no worries about operations, is that what you tell me?"
12 Sollozzo nodded. "If you think two million dollars in cash is 'merely finance,' I
congratulate you, Don Corleone (поздравляю)."
1 Virgil "the Turk" Sollozzo was a powerfully built, medium-sized man of dark
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