Американские боги

           Shadowfiguredhe’dlearnsoonenoughwhatWednesdaywasupto,whetherhewantedtoornot,andsoheprowledtheliquidationaisles,staringatthethingsforsale:boxesofcoffee"foruseinairlinefiltersonly,"TeenageMutantNinjaTurtletoysandXena:WarriorPrincessharemdolls,teddybearsthatplayedpatriotictunesonthexylophonewhenpluggedin,andotherteddybearsthatplayedseasonalsongsonthexylophonewhenpluggedin,cansofprocessedmeat,galoshesandsundryovershoes,marshmallows,BillClintonpresidentialwristwatches,artificialminiatureChristmastrees,saltandpeppershakersintheshapesofanimals,bodyparts,fruitandnuns,and,Shadow’sfavorite,a"justaddrealcarrot"snowmankit,withplasticcoaleyes,acorncobpipe,andaplastichat.

           Shadowthoughtabouthowyoumadethemoonseemtocomeoutoftheskyandbecomeasilverdollar,andwhatmadeawomangetoutofhergraveandwalkacrosstowntotalktoyou.

           "Isn’titawonderfulplace?"askedWednesdaywhenhecameoutofthemen’sroom.Hishandswerestillwet,andhewasdryingthemoffonahandkerchief."They’reoutofpapertowelsinthere,"hesaid.Hehadchangedhisclothes.Hewasnowwearingadarkbluejacket,withmatchingtrousers,ablueknittie,athickbluesweater,awhiteshirt,andblackshoes.Helookedlikeasecurityguard,andShadowsaidso.