When Michael got out of the cab in front of the French Hospital he was

Surprised to see that the street was completely deserted. When he entered the

Hospital he was even more surprised to find the lobby empty. Damn it, what the

Hell were Clemenza and Tessio doing? Sure, they never went to West Point but

They knew enough about tactics to have outposts. A couple of their men should

Have been in the lobby at least.

Even the latest visitors had departed, it was almost ten-thirty at night. Michael

Was tense and alert now. He didn't bother to stop at the information desk, he

Already knew his father's room number up on the fourth floor. He took the self-

service elevator. Oddly enough nobody stopped him until he reached the nurses'

Station on the fourth floor. But he strode right past her query and on to his

Father's room. There was no one outside the door. Where the hell were the two

Detectives who were supposed to be waiting around to guard and question the

Old man? Where the hell were Tessio and Clemenza's people? Could there be

Someone inside the room? But the door was open. Michael went in. There was a

Figure in the bed and by the December moonlight straining through the window

Michael could see his father's face. Even now it was impassive, the chest heaved

Shallowly with his uneven breath. Tubes hung from steel gallows beside the bed

And ran into his nose. On the floor was a glass jar receiving the poisons emptied

From his stomach by other tubes. Michael stayed there for a few moments to

Make sure his father was all right, then backed out of the room.

3 He told the nurse, "My name is Michael Corleone, I just want to sit with my

Father. What happened to the detectives who were supposed to be guarding

him?"

The nurse was a pretty young thing with a great deal of confidence in the

power of her office. "Oh, your father just had too many visitors, it interfered with

the hospital service," she said. "The police came and made them all leave about

Ten minutes ago. And then just five minutes ago I had to call the detectives to the

Phone for an emergency alarm from their headquarters, and then they left too.

 

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But don't worry, I look in on your father often and I can hear any sound from his

room. That's why we leave the doors open."

5 "Thank you," Michael said. "I'll sit with him for a little while. OK?"

6 She smiled at him. "Just for a little bit and then I'm afraid you'll have to leave.

It's the rules, you know."

Michael went back into his father's room. He took the phone from its cradle

And got the hospital operator to give him the house in Long Beach, the phone in

the comer office room. Sonny answered. Michael whispered, "Sonny, I'm down at

The hospital, I came down late. Sonny, there's nobody here. None of Tessio's

people. No detectives at the door. The old man was completely unprotected." His

Voice was trembling.

There was a long silence and then Sonny's voice came, low and impressed,

"This is Sollozzo's move you were talking about."

9 Michael said, "That's what I figured too. But how did he get the cops to clear

Everybody out and where did they go? What happened to Tessio's men? Jesus

Christ, has that bastard Sollozzo got the New York Police Department in his

pocket too?"

10"Take it easy, kid." Sonny's voice was soothing. "We got lucky again with you

Going to visit the hospital so late. Stay in the old man's room. Lock the door from

The inside. I'll have some men there inside of fifteen minutes, soon as I make

some calls. Just sit tight and don't panic. OK, kid?"

11 "I won't panic," Michael said. For the first time since it had all started he felt a

Furious anger rising in him, a cold hatred for his father's enemies.

He hung up the phone and rang the buzzer for the nurse. He decided to use