Американские боги
Chapter 6
"WhenthepeoplecametoAmericatheybroughtuswiththem.Theybroughtme,andLokiandThor,AnansiandtheLion-God,LeprechaunsandCluracansandBanshees,KuberaandFrauHolleandAshtaroth,andtheybroughtyou.Werodehereintheirminds,andwetookroot.Wetraveledwiththesettlerstothenewlandsacrosstheocean.
"Thelandisvast.Soonenough,ourpeopleabandonedus,rememberedusonlyascreaturesoftheoldland,asthingsthathadnotcomewiththemtothenew.Ourtruebelieverspassedon,orstoppedbelieving,andwewereleft,lostandscaredanddispossessed,togetbyonwhatlittlesmidgensofworshiporbeliefwecouldfind.Andtogetbyasbestwecould.
"Sothat’swhatwe’vedone,gottenby,outontheedgesofthings,wherenoonewaswatchingustooclosely.
"Wehave,letusfaceitandadmitit,littleinfluence.Wepreyonthem,andwetakefromthem,andwegetby;westripandwewhoreandwedrinktoomuch;wepumpgasandwestealandwecheatandweexistinthecracksattheedgesofsociety.Oldgods,hereinthisnewlandwithoutgods."
Wednesdaypaused.Helookedfromonetoanotherofhislisteners,graveandstatesmanlike.Theystaredbackathimimpassively,theirfacesmasklikeandunreadable.Wednesdayclearedhisthroat,andhespat,hard,intothefire.Itflaredandflamed,illuminatingtheinsideofthehall.
