Американские боги

           Hisfacewasoblong,withgrayhaircutintoamilitarybristlecut.HesmelledofOldSpice.Behindhimwasashelfofbooks,eachwiththewordPrisoninthetitle;hisdeskwasperfectlyclean,emptybutforatelephoneandatear-off-the-pagesFarSidecalendar.Hehadahearingaidinhisrightear.

           "Please,sitdown."

           Shadowsatdown.Wilsonstoodbehindhim.

           Thewardenopenedadeskdrawerandtookoutafile,placeditonhisdesk.

           "Sayshereyouweresentencedtosixyearsforaggravatedassaultandbattery.You’veservedthreeyears.YouwereduetobereleasedonFriday."

           Were?Shadowfelthisstomachlurchinsidehim.Hewonderedhowmuchlongerhewasgoingtohavetoserve-anotheryear?Twoyears?Allthree?Allhesaidwas"Yes,sir."

           Thewardenlickedhislips."Whatdidyousay?"

           "Isaid,’Yes,sir.’"

           "Shadow,we’regoingtobereleasingyoulaterthisafternoon.You’llbegettingoutacoupleofdaysearly."Shadownodded,andhewaitedfortheothershoetodrop.Thewardenlookeddownatthepaperonhisdesk."ThiscamefromtheJohnsonMemorialHospitalinEaglePoint...Yourwife.Shediedintheearlyhoursofthismorning.Itwasanautomobileaccident.I’msorry."

           Shadownoddedoncemore.

           Wilsonwalkedhimbacktohiscell,notsayinganything.HeunlockedthecelldoorandletShadowin.Thenhesaid,"It’slikeoneofthemgoodnews,badnewsjokes,isn’tit?Goodnews,we’relettingyououtearly,badnews,yourwifeisdead."Helaughed,asifitweregenuinelyfunny.

           Shadowsaidnothingatall.