Американские боги

           Realcreatures,imaginarycreatures,andtransformationsofthetwo:eachcreaturewasdifferent—hesawmermaidandmerman,centaurandunicorn,elephants(onehuge,onetiny),bulldog,frogandphoenix,zebra,tiger,manticoreandbasilisk,swanspullingacarriage,awhiteox,afox,twinwalruses,evenaseaserpent,allofthembrightlycoloredandmorethanreal:eachrodetheplatformasthewaltzcametoanendandanewwaltzbegan.Thecarouseldidnotevenslowdown."What’sitfor?"askedShadow."Imean,okay,world’sbiggest,hundredsofanimals,thousandsoflightbulbs,anditgoesaroundallthetime,andnooneeverridesit."

           "It’snottheretoberidden,notbypeople,"saidWednesday."It’stheretobeadmired.It’stheretobe."

           "Likeaprayerwheelgoin’roundandround,"saidMr.Nancy."Accumulatingpower."

           "Sowherearewemeetingeveryone?"askedShadow."Ithoughtyousaidthatweweremeetingthemhere.Buttheplaceisempty."

           Wednesdaygrinnedhisscarygrin."Shadow,"hesaid."You’reaskingtoomanyquestions.You’repaidnottoaskquestions."

           "Sorry."

           "Now,standoverhereandhelpusup,"saidWednesday,andhewalkedovertotheplatformononeside,withadescriptionoftheCarouselonit,andawarningthattheCarouselwasnottoberidden.

           Shadowthoughtofsayingsomething,butinsteadhehelpedthem,onebyone,upontotheledge.