Американские боги
Chapter 1
Thenshepressedabutton,andafewmomentslatertheairportsecurityshowedup,andtheytriedtopersuadeJohnnieLarchtoleavetheairportquietly,andhedidnotwishtoleave,andtherewassomethingofanaltercation.
TheupshotofitallwasthatJohnnieLarchneveractuallymadeittoSeattle,andhespentthenextcoupleofdaysintowninbars,andwhenhisonehundreddollarswasgoneheheldupagasstationwithatoygunformoneytokeepdrinking,andthepolicefinallypickedhimupforpissinginthestreet.Prettysoonhewasbackinsideservingtherestofhissentenceandalittleextraforthegasstationjob.
Andthemoralofthisstory,accordingtoJohnnieLarch,wasthis:don’tpissoffpeoplewhoworkinairports.
"Areyousureit’snotsomethinglike’Thekindofbehaviorthatworksinaspecializedenvironment,suchasprison,canfailtoworkandinfactbecomeharmfulwhenusedoutsidesuchanenvironment’?"saidShadow,whenJohnnieLarchtoldhimthestory.
"No,listentome,I’mtellingyou,man,"saidJohnnieLarch,"don’tpissoffthosebitchesinairports."
Shadowhalfsmiledatthememory.Hisowndriver’slicensehadseveralmonthsstilltogobeforeitexpired.
"Busstation!Everybodyout!"
Thebuildingstankofpissandsourbeer.Shadowclimbedintoataxiandtoldthedrivertotakehimtotheairport.Hetoldhimthattherewasanextrafivedollarsifhecoulddoitinsilence.Theymadeitintwentyminutesandthedriverneversaidaword.
ThenShadowwasstumblingthroughthebrightlylitairportterminal.
