Американские боги

           Thefirstthinghehaddone,whenthespookshadpushedhimintotheroom,afterthey’drippedoffthetapefromhisanklesandwristsandmouthandlefthimalone,wastowalkaroundtheroomandinspectit,carefully.Hetappedthewalls.Theysoundeddullymetallic.Therewasasmallventilationgridatthetopoftheroom.Thedoorwassoundlylocked.

           Hewasbleedingabovethelefteyebrowinaslowooze.Hisheadached.

           Thefloorwasuncarpeted.Hetappedit.Itwasmadeofthesamemetalasthewalls.

           Hetookthetopoffthebucket,pissedinit,andcovereditoncemore.Accordingtohiswatchonlyfourhourshadpassedsincetheraidontherestaurant.

           Hiswalletwasgone,buttheyhadlefthimhiscoins.

           Hesatonthechair,atthecard-table.Thetablewascoveredwithacigarette-burnedgreenbaize.Shadowpracticedappearingtopushcoinsthroughthetable.ThenhetooktwoquartersandmadeupaPointlessCoinTrick.

           Heconcealedaquarterinhisrightpalm,andopenlydisplayedtheotherquarterinhislefthand,betweenfingerandthumb.Thenheappearedtotakethequarterfromhislefthand,whileactuallylettingitdropbackintohislefthand.Heopenedhisrighthandtodisplaythequarterthathadbeenthereallalong.