Английский язык с Крестным Отцом
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bath towel was found in the man's stomach when the police performed their autopsy to
determine the cause of death.
A few days later in Chicago the Capones received a message from Vito Corleone. It
was to this effect: "You know now how I deal with enemies. Why does a Neapolitan
interfere in a quarrel between two Sicilians? If you wish me to consider you as a friend I
owe you a service which I will pay on demand. A man like yourself must know how
much more profitable it is to have a friend who, instead of calling on you for help, takes
care of his own affairs and stands ever ready to help you in some future time of trouble.
If you do not wish my friendship, so be it. But then I must tell you that the climate in this
city is damp; unhealthy for Neapolitans, and you are advised never to visit it."
The arrogance of this letter was a calculated one. The Don held the Capones in small
esteem as stupid, obvious cutthroats. His intelligence informed him that Capone had
forfeited (to forfeit [‘fo:fit] –
расплата /за проступок/; конфискация) all political influence because of his public
arrogance and the flaunting (to flaunt – гордо развеваться /о знаменах/; выставлять
напоказ, щеголять) of his criminal wealth. The Don knew, in fact was positive, that
without political influence, without the camouflage of society, Capone's world, and
others like it, could be easily destroyed. He knew Capone was on the path to
destruction. He also knew that Capone's influence did not extend beyond the
boundaries of Chicago, terrible and all-pervading as that influence there might be.
The tactic was successful. Not so much because of its ferocity (жестокость) but
because of the chilling swiftness, the quickness of the Don's reaction. If his intelligence
was so good, any further moves would be fraught (полный, чреватый) with danger. It
was better, far wiser, to accept the offer of friendship with its implied payoff (с
предполагаемой, подразумеваемой компенсацией; to imply – заключать в себе;
предполагать, подразумевать). The Capones sent back word that they would not
interfere.
The odds were now equal. And Vito Corleone had earned an enormous amount of
"respect" throughout the United States underworld with his humiliation of the Capones.
For six months he out-generaled Maranzano. He raided the crap games under that
man's protection, located his biggest policy banker (держатель игорного дома) in
Harlem and had him relieved of a day's play not only in money but in records. He
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engaged his enemies on all fronts. Even in the garment centers he sent Clemenza and
his men to fight on the side of the unionists against the enforcers on the payroll of
Maranzano and the owners of the dress firms. And on all fronts his superior intelligence
and organization made him the victor. Clemenza's jolly ferocity, which Corleone
employed judiciously (рассудительно), also helped turn the tide of battle. And then Don
Corleone sent the held-back reserve of the Tessio regime after Maranzano himself.
By this time Maranzano had dispatched emissaries suing for (to sue for –
чем-либо) a peace. Vito Corleone refused to see them, put them off on one pretext or
another. The Maranzano soldiers were deserting their leader, not wishing to die in a
losing cause. Bookmakers and shylocks were paying the Corleone organization their
protection money. The war was all but over (почти окончена).
And then finally on New Year's Eve of 1933 Tessio got inside the defenses of
Maranzano himself. The Maranzano lieutenants were anxious for a deal and agreed to
lead their chief to the slaughter. They told him that a meeting had been arranged in a
Brooklyn restaurant with Corleone and they accompanied Maranzano as his
bodyguards.
They left him sitting at a checkered (checker – шашка; checkerboard – шахматный
стол) table, morosely munching (мрачно жуя; morose [m’rus] – мрачный) a piece of
bread, and fled the restaurant as Tessio and four of his men entered. The execution
was swift and sure. Maranzano, his mouth full of half-chewed bread, was riddled with
bullets. The war was over.
The Maranzano empire was incorporated into the Corleone operation. Don Corleone
set up a system of tribute, allowing all incumbents (incumbent – пользующийся
бенефицием священник; /здесь/ букмекер, пользующийся своим доходным местом)
to remain in their bookmaking and policy number spots. As a bonus he had a foothold
(точка опоры) in the unions of the garment center which in later years was to prove
extremely important. And now that he had settled his business affairs the Don found
trouble at home.
Santino Corleone, Sonny, was sixteen years old and grown to an astonishing six feet
with broad shoulders and a heavy face that was sensual but by no means effeminate.
But where Fredo was a quiet boy, and Michael, of course, a toddler (ребенок,
начинающий ходить; to toddle – ковылять; учиться ходить), Santino was constantly
in trouble. He got into fights, did badly in school and, finally, Clemenza, who was the