Американские боги

           "

           "WhatdoestheAstandfor?"

           "Alfredo?Alphonse?Augustine?Ambrose?Yourcallentirely."

           "Oh.Isee."

           "I’mJamesO’Gorman,"saidWednesday."Jimmytomyfriends.See?I’vegotacardtoo."

           Theygotbackinthecar.Wednesdaysaid,"Ifyoucanthink‘A.Haddock’aswellasyouthought‘snow,’weshouldhaveplentyoflovelymoneywithwhichtowineanddinemyfriendsoftonight."

           "Andifwe’reinjailbythisevening?"

           "Thenmyfriendswilljusthavetomakedowithoutus."

           "I’mnotgoingbacktoprison."

           "Youwon’tbe."

           "IthoughtwehadagreedthatIwouldn’tbedoinganythingillegal."

           "Youaren’t.Possiblyaidingandabetting,alittleconspiracytocommit,followedofcoursebyreceivingstolenmoney,buttrustme,you’llcomeoutofthissmellinglikearose."

           "IsthatbeforeorafteryourelderlySlavicCharlesAtlascrushesmyskullwithoneblow?"

           "Hiseyesight’sgoing,"saidWednesdayreassuringly."He’llprobablymissyouentirely.Now,westillhavealittletimetokill—thebankclosesatmiddayonSaturdays,afterall.Wouldyoulikelunch?"

           "Yes,"saidShadow."I’mstarving."

           "Iknowjusttheplace,"saidWednesday.