Американские боги

           Hefeltstrangelydistantashetrudgedacrossthefrozenlake,asifhewerewatchinghimselfonamoviescreen—amovieinwhichhewasthehero,adetective,perhaps:therewasafeelingofinevitability,now,asifeverythingthatwasgoingtohappenwouldplayitselfout,andtherewasnothinghecouldhavedonetochangeamomentofit.

           Hewalkedtowardtheklunker,painfullyawarethattheicewastoorottenforthis,andthatthewaterbeneaththeicewasascoldaswatercouldbewithoutfreezing.Hefeltveryexposed,outontheicealone.Hekeptwalking,andheslippedandslid.Severaltimeshefell.

           Hepassedemptybeerbottlesandcanslefttolittertheice,andhepassedcircularholescutintotheice,forfishing,holesthathadnotfrozenagain,eachholefilledwithblackwater.

           Theklunkerseemedfurtherawaythanithadlookedfromtheroad.Heheardaloudcrackfromthesouthofthelake,likeastickbreaking,followedbythesoundofsomethinghugethrumming,asifabassstringthesizeofalakewasvibrating.Massively,theicecreakedandgroaned,likeanolddoorprotestingbeingopened.Shadowkeptwalking,assteadilyashecould.

           Thisissuicide,whisperedasanevoiceinthebackofhismind.Can’tyoujustletitgo?

           "No,"hesaid,aloud."Ihavetoknow."Andhekeptrightonwalking.

           Hearrivedattheklunker,andevenbeforehereacheditheknewthathehadbeenright.