Американские боги

           "

           WhileShadowdrove,Wednesdaysatinthebackseatandremovedthebillsfromthedepositbagsinhandfuls,leavingthechecksandthecreditcardslips,andtakingthecashfromsome,althoughnotall,oftheenvelopes.Hedroppedthecashbackintothemetalcase.Shadowpulledupoutsidethebank,stoppingthecaraboutfiftyyardsdowntheroad,welloutofcamerarange.Wednesdaygotoutofthecar,andpushedtheenvelopesthroughthenightdepositslot.Thenheopenedthenightsafe,anddroppedinthegraybags.Hecloseditagain.

           Heclimbedintothepassengerseat."You’reheadingforI-90,"saidWednesday."FollowthesignswestforMadison."

           Shadowbegantodrive.

           Wednesdaylookedbackatthebanktheywereleaving."There,myboy,"hesaid,cheerfully,"thatwillconfuseeverything.Now,togetthereallybigmoney,youneedtodothatatabout4:30onaSundaymorning,whentheclubsandthebarsdropofftheirSaturdaynight’stakings.Hittherightbank,therightguymakingthedropoff—theytendtopickthembigandhonest,andsometimeshaveacoupleofbouncersaccompanythem,buttheyaren’tnecessarilysmart—andyoucanwalkawaywithaquarterofamilliondollarsforanevening’swork."

           "Ifit’sthateasy,"saidShadow,"howcomeeverybodydoesn’tdoit?"

           "It’snotanentirelyrisk-freeoccupation,"saidWednesday,"especiallynotat4:30inthemorning.