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an of respect。〃 But these unsophisticated sheep herders had e to their own opinion of Michael； and not a wise one。 The cold look； Michael's rigid white face； his anger that came off him like cold smoke off ice； sobered their laughter and snuffed out their familiar friendliness。
When he saw he had their proper； respectful attention Michael said to them； 〃Get that man out here to me。〃
They didn't hesitate。 They shouldered their luparas and went into the dark coolness of the café。 A few seconds later they reappeared with the café owner between them。 The stubby man looked in no way frightened but his anger had a certain wariness about it。
Michael leaned back in his chair and studied the man for a moment。 Then he said very quietly； 〃I understand I've offended you by talking about your daughter。 I offer you my apologies； I'm a stranger in this country； i don't know the customs that well。 Let me say this。 I meant no disrespect to you or her。〃
The shepherd bodyguards were impressed。 Michael's voice had never sounded like this before when speaking to them。 There was mand and authority in it though he was making an apology。 The café owner shrugged； more wary still； knowing he was not dealing with some farmboy。 〃Who are you and what do you want from my daughter？〃
Without even hesitating Michael said； 〃I am an American hiding in Sicily； from the police of my country。 My name is Michael。 You can inform the police and make your fortune but then your daughter would lose a father rather than gain a husband。 In any case I want to meet your daughter。 With your permission and under the supervision of your family。 With all decorum。 With all respect。 I'm an honorable man and I don't think of dishonoring your daughter。 I want to meet her； talk to her and then if it hits us both right we'll marry。 If not； you'll never see me again。 She may find me unsympathetic after all； and no man can remedy that。 But when the proper time es I'll tell you everything about me that a wife's father should know。〃
All three men were looking at him with amazement。 Fabrizzio whispered in awe； 〃It's the real thunderbolt。〃 The café owner； for the first time； didn't look so confident； or contemptuous； his anger was not so sure。 Finally he asked； 〃Are you a friend of the friends？〃
Since the word Mafia could never be uttered aloud by the ordinary Sicilian； this was as close as the café owner could e to asking if Michael was a member of the Mafia。 It was the usual way of asking if someone belonged but it was ordinarily not addressed to the person directly concerned。
〃No；〃 Michael said。 〃I'm a stranger in this country。〃
The café owner gave him another look； the smashed left side of his face； the long legs rare in Sicily。 He took a look at the two shepherds carrying their luparas quite openly without fear and remembered how they had e into his café and told him their padrone wanted to talk to him。 The café owner had snarled that he wanted the son of a bitch out of his terrace and one of the shepherds had said； 〃Take my word； it's best you go out and speak to him yourself。〃 And something had made him e out。 Now something made him realize that it would be best to show this stranger some courtesy。 He said grudgingly； 〃e Sunday afternoon。 My name is Vitelli and my house is up there on the hill； above the village。 But e here to the café and I'll take you up。〃
Fabrizzio started to say something but Michael gave him one look and the shepherd's tongue froze in his mouth。 This was not lost on Vitelli。 So when Michael stood up and stretched out his hand； the café owner took it and smiled。 He would make some inquiries and if the answers were wrong he could always greet Michael with his two sons bearing their own shotguns。 The café owner was not without his contacts among the 〃friends of the friends。〃 But something told him this was one of those wild strokes of good fortune that Sicilians always believed in； something told him that his daughter's beauty would make her fortune and her family secure。 And it was just as well。 Some of the local youths were already beginning to buzz around and this stranger with his broken face could do the necessary job of scaring them off。 Vitelli； to show his goodwill； sent the strangers off with a bottle of his best and coldest wine。 He noticed that one of the shepherds paid the bill。 This impressed him even more； made it clear that Michael was the superior of the two men who acpanied him。
Michael was no longer interested in his hike。 They found a garage and hired a car and driver to take them back to Corleone； and some time before supper； Dr。 Taza must have been informed by the shepherds of what had happen。 That evening； sitting in the garden； Dr。 Taza said to Don Tommasino； 〃Our friend got hit by the thunderbolt today。〃
Don Tommasino did not seem surprised。 He grunted。 〃I wish some of those young fellows in Palermo would get a thunderbolt； maybe I could get some peace。〃 He was talking about the new…style Mafia chiefs rising in the big cities of Palermo and challenging the power of old…regime stalwarts like himself。
Michael said to Tommasino； 〃I want you to tell those two sheep herders to leave me alone Sunday。 I'm going to go to this girl's family for dinner and I don't want them hanging around。〃
Don Tommasino shook his head。 〃I'm responsible to your father for you； don't ask me that。 Another thing； I hear you've even talked marriage。 I can't allow that until I've sent somebody to speak to your father。〃
Michael Corleone was very careful； this was after all a man of respect。 〃Don Tommasino； you know my father。 He's a man who goes deaf when somebody says the word no to him。 And he doesn't get his hearing back until they answer him with a yes。 Well； he has heard my no many times。 I understand about the two guards； I don't want to cause you trouble； they can e with me Sunday； but if I want to marry I'll marry。 Surely if I don't permit my own father to interfere with my personal life it would be an insult to him to allow you to do so。〃
The capo…mafioso sighed。 〃Well； then； marriage it will have to be。 I know your thunderbolt。 She's a good girl from a respectable family。 You can't dishonor them without the father trying to kill you； and then you'll have to shed blood。 Besides； I know the family well； I can't allow it to happen。〃
Michael said； 〃She may not be able to stand the sight of me； and she's a very young girl； she'll think me old。〃 He saw the two men smiling at him。 〃I'll need some money for presents and I think I'll need a car。〃
The Don nodded。 〃Fabrizzio will take care of everything； he's a clever boy； they taught him mechanics in the navy。 I'll give you some money in the morning and I'll let your father know what's happening。 That I must do。〃
Michael said to Dr。 Taza； 〃Have you got anything that can dry up this damn snot always ing out of my nose？ I can't have that girl seeing me wiping it all the time。〃
Dr。 Taza said； 〃I'll coat it with a drug before you have to see her。 It makes your flesh a little numb but； don't worry； you won't be kissing her for a while yet。〃 Both doctor and Don smiled at this witticism。
By Sunday； Michael had an Alfa Romeo； battered but serviceable。 He had also made a bus trip to Palermo to buy presents for the girl and her family。 He had learned that the girl's name was Apollonia and every night he thought of her lovely face and her lovely name。 He had to drink a good deal of wine to get some sleep and orders were given to the old women servants in the house to leave a chilled bottle at his bedside。 He drank。it empty every night。
On Sunday； to the tolling of church bells that covered all of Sicily； he drove the Alfa Romeo to the village and parked it just outside the café。 Calo and Fabrizzio were in the back seat with their luparas and Michael told them they were to wait in the café； they were not to e to the house。 The café was closed but Vitelli was there waiting for them； leaning against the railing of his empty terrace。
They shook hands all around and Michael took the three packages； the presents； and trudged up the hill with Vitelli to his home。 This proved t