Американские боги
Chapter 5
Hebuiltthesewarehousesonthelandbeneaththehouse,andfilledthemwiththingsforpeopletosee,andthenthepeoplecametoseethem.Millionsofpeoplecomehereeveryyear."
"Why?"
ButWednesdaysimplysmiled,andtheywalkedintothedimlylit,tree-linedStreetsofYesterday.Prim-lippedVictorianchinadollsstaredinprofusionthroughdustystorewindows,likesomanypropsfromrespectablehorrorfilms.Cobblestonesundertheirfeet,thedarknessofaroofabovetheirheads,janglingmechanicalmusicinthebackground.Theypassedaglassboxofbrokenpuppets,andanovergrowngoldenmusicboxinaglasscase.Theypassedthedentist’sandthedrugstore(RESTOREPOTENCY!USEO’LEARY’SMAGNETICALBELT!).
Attheendofthestreetwasalargeglassboxwithafemalemannequininsideit,dressedasagypsyfortune-teller.
"Now,"boomedWednesday,overthemechanicalmusic,"atthestartofanyquestorenterpriseitbehoovesustoconsulttheNorns.SoletusdesignatethisSybilourUrd,eh?"Hedroppedabrass-coloredHouseontheRockcoinintotheslot.Withjagged,mechanicalmotions,thegypsyliftedherarmandlowereditoncemore.Aslipofpaperchunkedoutoftheslot.
Wednesdaytookit,readit,grunted,foldeditup,andputitinhispocket.
"Aren’tyougoingtoshowittome?I’llshowyoumine,"saidShadow.
"Aman’sfortuneishisownaffair,"saidWednesday,stiffly.
