The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
109
Clemenza led Hagen and Michael Corleone into the house. 
The door was opened by another guard before they rang. He had obviously been 
watching from a window. They went to the corner office and found Sonny and Tessio 
waiting for them. Sonny came to Michael, took his younger brother’s head in his hands 
and said kiddingly, “Beautiful. Beautiful.” Michael knocked his hands away, and went to 
the desk and poured himself some scotch, hoping it would dull the ache in his wired jaw. 
The five of them sat around the room but the atmosphere was different from their earlier 
meetings. Sonny was gayer, more cheerful, and Michael realized what that gaiety 
meant. There were no longer any doubts in his older brother’s mind. He was committed 
and nothing would sway him. The attempt by Sollozzo the night before was the final 
straw. There could no longer be any question of a truce. 
“We got a call from the negotiator while you were gone,” Sonny said to Hagen. “The 
Turk wants a meeting now.” Sonny laughed. “The balls on that son of a bitch,” he said 
admiringly. “After he craps out last night he wants a meeting today or the next day. 
Meanwhile we’re supposed just to lay back and take everything he dishes out. What 
fucking nerve.” 
Tom asked cautiously, “What did you answer?” 
Sonny grinned. “I said sure, why not? Anytime he says, I’m in no hurry. I’ve got a 
hundred button men out on the street twenty-four hours a day. If Sollozzo shows one 
hair on his asshole he’s dead. Let them take all the time they want.” 
Hagen said, “Was there a definite proposal?” 
“Yeah,” Sonny said. “He wants us to send Mike to meet him to hear his proposition. The 
negotiator guarantees Mike’s safety. Sollozzo doesn’t ask us to guarantee his safety, he 
knows he can’t ask that. No point. So the meeting will be arranged on his side. His 
people will pick Mike up and take Mike to the meeting place. Mike will listen to Sollozzo 
and then they’ll turn him loose. But the meeting place is secret. The promise is the deal 
will be so good we can’t turn it down.” 
Hagen asked, “What about the Tattaglias? What will they do about Bruno?” 
“That’s part of the deal. The negotiator says the Tattaglia Family has agreed to go along 
with Sollozzo. They’ll forget about Bruno Tattaglia. He pays for what they did to my 
father. One cancels out the other.” Sonny laughed again. “The nervy bastards.” 
Hagen said cautiously, “We should hear what they have to say.” 

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