The Godfather

 

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 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
104
Chapter 10
The hospital was small and private with just one entrance. Michael looked through the 
window down into the street. There was a curved courtyard that had steps leading down 
into the street and the street was empty of cars. But whoever came into the hospital 
would have to come through that entrance. He knew he didn’t have much time so he ran 
out of the room and down the four flights and through the wide doors of the ground floor 
entrance. Off to the side he saw the ambulance yard and there was no car there, no 
ambulances either. 
Michael stood on the sidewalk outside the hospital and lit a cigarette. He unbuttoned his 
coat and stood in the light of a lamppost so that his features could be seen. A young 
man was walking swiftly down from Ninth Avenue, a package under his arm. The young 
man wore a combat jacket and had a heavy shock of black hair. His face was familiar 
when he came under the lamplight but Michael could not place it. But the young man 
stopped in front of him and put out his hand, saying in a heavy Italian accent, “Don 
Michael, do you remember me? Enzo, the baker’s helper to Nazorine the Paniterra; his 
son-in-law. Your father saved my life by getting the government to let me stay in 
America.” 
Michael shook his hand. He remembered him now. 
Enzo went on, “I’ve come to pay my respects to your father. Will they let me into the 
hospital so late?” 
Michael smiled and shook his head. “No, but thanks anyway. I’ll tell the Don you came.” 
A car came roaring down the street and Michael was instantly alert. He said to Enzo, 
“Leave here quickly. There may be trouble. You don’t want to get involved with the 
police.” 
He saw the look of fear on the young Italian’s face. Trouble with the police might mean 
being deported or refusal of citizenship. But the young man stood fast. He whispered in 
Italian. “If there’s trouble I’ll stay to help. I owe it to the Godfather.” 
Michael was touched. He was about to tell the young man to go away again, but then he 
thought, why not let him stay? Two men in front of the hospital might scare off any of 
Sollozzo’s crew sent to do a job. One man almost certainly would not. He gave Enzo a 
cigarette and lit it for him. They both stood under the lamppost is the cold December 
night. The yellow panes of the hospital, bisected by the greens of Christmas 
decorations, twinkled down on them. They had almost finished their cigarettes when a 

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