[TheStellarEnsemble.com] The Godfather - Mario Puzo

Lucy was introducing them and one of the men Jules recognized instantly. The famousJohnny Fontane. The other was a big, muscular, snotty-looking Italian guy whose name wasNino Valenti. They both shook hands with Jules and then paid no further attention to him. Theywere kidding Lucy, talking about the old neighborhood in New York, about people and eventsJules had no way of sharing. So he said to Lucy, “I’ll drop by later, I have to see Dr. Kellneranyway.”But Johnny Fontane was turning the charm on him. “Hey, buddy, we have to leaveourselves, you keep Lucy company. Take good care of her, Doc.” Jules noticed a peculiarhoarseness in Johnny Fontane’s voice and remembered suddenly that the man hadn’t sung inpublic for over a year now, that he had won the Academy Award for his acting. Could the man’svoice have changed so late in life and the papers keeping it a secret, everybody keeping it asecret? Jules loved inside gossip and kept listening to Fontane’s voice in an attempt to diagnosethe trouble. It could be simple strain, or too much booze and cigarettes or even too much women.The voice had an ugly timbre to it, he could never be called the sweet crooner anymore.“You sound like you have a cold,” Jules said to Johnny Fontane.Fontane said politely, “Just strain, I tried to sing last night. I guess I just can’t accept thefact that my voice changed, getting old you know.” He gave Jules a what-the-hell grin.Jules said casually, “Didn’t you get a doctor to look at it? Maybe it’s something that canbe fixed.”Fontane was not so charming now. He gave Jules a long cool look. “That’s the first thingI did nearly two years ago. Best specialists. My own doctor who’s supposed to be the top guy outhere in California. They told me to get a lot of rest. Nothing wrong, just getting older. A man’svoice changes when he gets older.”Fontane ignored him after that, paying attention to Lucy, charming her as he charmed allwomen. Jules kept listening to the voice. There had to be a growth on those vocal cords. But thenwhy the hell hadn’t the specialists spotted it? Was it malignant and inoperable? Then there wasother stuff.He interrupted Fontane to ask, “When was the last time you got examined by aspecialist?”Fontane was obviously irritated but trying to be polite for Lucy’s sake.,. About eighteenmonths ago.” he said.277