Американские боги

           "

           "Soyou’vebeentolotsofothercountries,then?"Wednesdaysaidnothing.Shadowglancedathim."No,"saidWednesday,withasigh."No.Ineverhave."

           Theystoppedforgas,andWednesdaywentintotherestroominhissecurityguardjacketwithhissuitcase,andcameoutinacrisp,palesuit,brownshoes,andaknee-lengthbrowncoatthatlookedlikeitmightbeItalian.

           "SowhenwegettoMadison,whatthen?"

           "TakeHighway14westtoSpringGreen.We’llbemeetingeveryoneataplacecalledtheHouseontheRock.Youbeenthere?"

           "No,"saidShadow."ButI’veseenthesigns."

           ThesignsfortheHouseontheRockwereallaroundthatpartoftheworld:oblique,ambiguoussignsallacrossIllinoisandMinnesotaandWisconsin,probablyasfarawayasIowa,Shadowsuspected,signsalertingyoutotheexistenceoftheHouseontheRock.Shadowhadseenthesigns,andwonderedaboutthem.DidtheHousebalanceperilouslyupontheRock?WhatwassointerestingabouttheRock?AbouttheHouse?Hehadgivenitapassingthought,butthenforgottenit.Shadowwasnotinthehabitofvisitingroadsideattractions.

           TheydrovepastthecapitoldomeofMadison,anotherperfectsnowglobesceneinthefallingsnow,andthentheywereofftheinterstate,anddrivingdowncountryroads.