Американские боги

           "

           Thepeculiaryoungmanhesitated,thencommencedtohumoncemore,hisvoiceasdeepandreverberantasbefore.Thistimetherewerewordsinterspersedinthehumming."Downdowndown,"hesang,sodeeplythatthewindowsrattled."Downdowndown,downdown,downdown."

           Christmaslightsweredrapedacrosstheeavesofeveryhouseandbuildingthattheydrovepast.Theyrangedfromdiscreetgoldenlightsthatdrippedtwinklestogiantdisplaysofsnowmenandteddybearsandmulticoloredstars.

           Shadowpulledupattherestaurantandhelethispassengersoffbythefrontdoor,thenhegotbackintothecar.Hewouldparkitatthebackoftheparkinglot.Hewantedtomaketheshortwalkbacktotherestaurantonhisown,inthecold,toclearhishead.

           Heparkedthecarbesideablacktruck.Hewonderedifitwasthesameonethathadspedpasthimearlier.

           Heclosedthecardoor,andstoodthereintheparkinglot,hisbreathsteaming.

           Insidetherestaurant,ShadowcouldimagineWednesdayalreadysittingallhisguestsdownaroundabigtable,workingtheroom.ShadowwonderedwhetherhehadreallyhadKaliinthefrontofhiscar,wonderedwhathehadbeendrivingintheback…"Hey,bud,yougotamatch?"saidavoicethatwashalf-familiar,andShadowturnedtoapologizeandsayno,hedidn’thaveamatch,butthegunbarrelhithimoverthelefteye,andhestartedtofall.Heputoutanarmtosteadyhimselfashewentdown.