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I can see what's happening. You gave Lampone his own living, you gave him a lot of

freedom. So he needs people to help him in his little empire. But everybody he recruits

has to be reported to me. And I notice everybody he puts on the payroll is a little too

good for that particular job, is getting a little more money than that particular exercise is

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worth. You picked the right man when you picked Lampone, by the way. He's operating

perfectly."

Michael grimaced. "Not so damn perfect if you noticed. Anyway the Don picked

Lampone."

"OK," Tom said, "so why am I cut out of the action?"

Michael faced him and without flinching gave it to him straight. "Tom, you're not a

wartime Consigliori. Things may get tough with this move we're trying to make and we

may have to fight. And I want to get you out of the line of fire too, just in case."

Hagen's face reddened. If the Don had told him the same thing, he would have

accepted it humbly. But where the hell did Mike come off making such a snap judgment?

"OK," he said, "but I happen to agree with Tessio. I think you're going about this all

wrong. You're making the move out of weakness, not strength. That's always bad.

Barzini is like a wolf, and if he tears you limb from limb, the other Families won't come

rushing to help the Corleones."

The Don finally spoke. "Tom, it's not just Michael. I advised him on these matters.

There are things that may have to be done that I don't want in any way to be

responsible for. That is my wish, not Michael's. I never thought you were a bad

Consigliori, I thought Santino a bad Don, may his soul rest in peace. He had a good

heart but he wasn't the right man to head the Family when I had my little misfortune.

And who would have thought that Fredo would become a lackey of women? So don't

feel badly. Michael has all my confidence as you do. For reasons which you can't know,

you must have no part in what may happen. By the way, I told Michael that Lampone's

secret regime would not escape your eye. So that shows I have faith in you."

Michael laughed. "I honestly didn't think you'd pick that up, Tom."

Hagen knew he was being mollified. "Maybe I can help," he said.

Michael shook his head decisively. "You're out, Tom."

Tom finished his drink and before he left he gave Michael a mild reproof. "You're

nearly as good as your father," he told Michael. "But there's one thing you still have to

learn."

"What's that?" Michael said politely.

"How to say no," Hagen answered.

Michael nodded gravely. "You're right," he said. "I'll rememher that."

When Hagen had left, Michael said jokingly to his father, "So you've taught me

everything else. Tell me how to say no to people in a way they'll like."

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The Don moved to sit behind the hig desk. "You cannot say 'no' to the people you love,

not often. That's the secret. And then when you do, it has to sound like a 'yes.' Or you

have to make them say 'no.' You have to take time and trouble. But I'm old-fashioned,

you're the new modern generation, don't listen to me."

Michael laughed. "Right. You agree about Tom being out, though, don't you?"

The Don nodded. "He can't be involved in this."

Michael said quietly, "I think it's time for me to tell you that what I'm going to do is not

purely out of vengeance for Apollonia and Sonny. It's the right thing to do. Tessio and

Tom are right about the Barzinis."

Don Corleone nodded. "Revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold," he said. "I

would not have made that peace but that I knew you would never come home alive

otherwise. I'm surprised, though, that Barzini still made a last try at you. Maybe it was

arranged before the peace talk and he couldn't stop it. Are you sure they were not after

Don Tommasino?"

Michael said, "That's the way it was supposed to look. And it would have been perfect,

even you would never have suspected. Except that I came out alive. I saw Fabrizzio

going through the gate, running away. And of course I've checked it all out since I've

been back."

"Have they found that shepherd?" the Don asked.

"I found him," Michael said. "I found him a year ago. He's got his own little pizza place

up in Buffalo. New name, phony passport and identification. He's doing very well this

Fabrizzio the shepherd."

The Don nodded. "So it's to no purpose to wait any longer. When will you start?"

Michael said, "I want to wait until after Kay has the baby. Just in case anything goes

wrong. And I want Tom settled in Vegas so he won't be concerned in the affair. I think a

year from now."

"You've prepared for everything?" the Don asked. He did not look at Michael when he

said this. Michael said gently, "You have no part. You're not responsible. I take all

responsibility. I would refuse to let you even veto. If you tried to do that now, I would

leave the Family and go my own way. You're not responsible."

The Don was silent for a long time and then he sighed. He said, "So be it. Maybe