Американские боги
Chapter 6
Aroundherneckwereskulls,andhermanyhandsheldknives,andswords,andseveredheads."Ididnotcallyouachild,Mama-ji,"saidWednesday,peaceably."Butitseemsself-evident—"
"Theonlythingthatseemsself-evident,"saidtheoldwoman,pointing(asbehindher,throughher,aboveher,ablackfinger,sharp-taloned,pointedinecho),"isyourowndesireforglory.We’velivedinpeaceinthiscountryforalongtime.Someofusdobetterthanothers,Iagree.Idowell.BackinIndia,thereisanincarnationofmewhodoesmuchbetter,butsobeit.Iamnotenvious.I’vewatchedthenewonesrise,andI’vewatchedthemfallagain."Herhandfelltoherside.Shadowsawthattheotherswerelookingather,amixtureofexpressions—respect,amusement,embarrassment—intheireyes."Theyworshipedtherailroadshere,onlyablinkofaneyeago.Andnowtheirongodsareasforgottenastheemeraldhunters…"
"Makeyourpoint,Mama-ji,"saidWednesday.
"Mypoint?"Hernostrilsflared.Thecornersofhermouthturneddown."I—andIamobviouslyonlyachild—saythatwewait.Wedonothing.Wedon’tknowthattheymeanusharm."
"Andwillyoustillcounselwaitingwhentheycomeinthenightandtheykillyou,ortheytakeyouaway?"
Herexpressionwasdisdainfulandamused:itwasallinthelipsandtheeyebrowsandthesetofthenose.
