Американские боги
Chapter 5
Youjusthavetokeepyoureyesopen.Ah,forthemermaidsofWeekiWachee…Followme,thisway."
Everywherewasthesoundofmusic:jangling,awkwardmusic,ever-so-slightlyoffthebeatandoutoftime.Wednesdaytookafive-dollarbillandputitintoachangemachine,receivingahandfulofbrass-coloredmetalcoinsinreturn.HetossedonetoShadow,whocaughtit,and,realizingthatasmallboywaswatchinghim,helditupbetweenforefingerandthumbandvanishedit.Thesmallboyranovertohismother,whowasinspectingoneoftheubiquitousSantaClauses—OVER6000ONDISPLAY!thesignssaid—andhetuggedurgentlyatthehemofhercoat.
ShadowfollowedWednesdayoutsidebriefly,andthenfollowedthesignstotheStreetsofYesterday.
"FortyyearsagoAlexJordan—hisfaceisonthetokenyouhavepalmedinyourrighthand,Shadow—begantobuildahouseonahighjutofrockinafieldhedidnotown,andevenhecouldnothavetoldyouwhy.Andpeoplecametoseehimbuildit—thecurious,andthepuzzled,andthosewhowereneitherandwhocouldnothonestlyhavetoldyouwhytheycame.SohedidwhatanysensibleAmericanmaleofhisgenerationwoulddo:hebegantochargethemmoney—nothingmuch.Anickeleach,perhaps.Oraquarter.Andhecontinuedbuilding,andthepeoplekeptcoming.
"Sohetookthosequartersandnickelsandmadesomethingevenbiggerandstranger.
