Американские боги

           "

           "Idon’tevenjudgethen,"saidMr.Nancy."Andasforhappiness,there’salotofdifferentkindsofhappiness,justasthere’sahellofalotofdifferentkindsofdead.Me,I’lljusttakewhatIcangetwhenIcangetit."

           Shadowchangedthesubject."Thosehelicopters,"hesaid."Theonesthattookawaythebodies,andtheinjured."

           "Whataboutthem?"

           "Whosentthem?Wheredidtheycomefrom?"

           "Youshouldn’tworryyourselfaboutthat.They’relikevalkyriesorbuzzards.Theycomebecausetheyhavetocome."

           "Ifyousayso."

           "Thedeadandthewoundedwillbetakencareof.Youaskme,oldJacquel’sgoingtobeverybusyforthenextmonthorso.Tellmesomethin’,Shadow-boy."

           "Okay."

           "Youlearnanythin’fromallthis?"

           Shadowshrugged."Idon’tknow.MostofwhatIlearnedonthetreeI’vealreadyforgotten,"hesaid."IthinkImetsomepeople.ButI’mnotcertainofanythinganymore.It’slikeoneofthosedreamsthatchangesyou.Youkeepsomeofthedreamforever,andyouknowthingsdowndeepinsideyourself,becauseithappenedtoyou,butwhenyougolookingfordetailstheykindofjustslipoutofyourhead."

           "Yeah,"saidMr.Nancy.Andthenhesaid,grudgingly,"You’renotsodumb."

           "Maybenot,"saidShadow.