Американские боги

           "Ithink,"hepronounced,gloomily,"thatourkind,welikethecigarettessomuchbecausetheyremindusoftheofferingsthatoncetheyburnedforus,thesmokerisingupastheysoughtourapprovalorourfavor."

           "Theynevergavemenothin’likethat,"saidNancy."BestIcouldhopeforwasapileoffruittoeat,maybecurrygoat,somethingslowandcoldandtalltodrink,andabigoldhigh-tittywomantokeepmecompany."Hegrinnedwhiteteeth,andwinkedatShadow.

           "Thesedays,"saidCzernobog,hisexpressionunchanged,"wehavenothing."

           "Well,Idon’tgetanywherenearasmuchfruitasIusedto,"saidMr.Nancy,hiseyesshining."Buttherestillain’tnothingoutthereintheworldformymoneythatcanbeatabigoldhigh-tittywoman.Somefolkyoutalkto,theysayit’sthebootyyougottoinspectatfirst,butI’mheretotellyouthatit’sthetittiesthatstillcrankmyengineonacoldmorning."Nancybegantolaugh,awheezing,rattling,good-naturedlaugh,andShadowfoundhimselflikingtheoldmandespitehimself.

           Wednesdayreturnedfromtherestroom,andshookhandswithNancy."Shadow,youwantsomethingtoeat?Asliceofpizza?Orasandwich?"

           "I’mnothungry,"saidShadow.

           "Letmetellyousomethin’,"saidMr.Nancy."Itcanbealongtimebetweenmeals.Someoneoffersyoufood,yousayyes.