Американские боги

           Shadowwonderediftheywouldturnoutthelight,buttheydidn’t,anditblazedintotheroomlikeacoldeye.Shadowcrawledacrossthefloortotheyellowfoam-rubberpadandclimbedontoit,pullingthethinblanketoverhimself,andheclosedhiseyes,andheheldontonothing,andheheldontodreams.

           Timepassed.

           Hewasfifteenagain,andhismotherwasdying,andshewastryingtotellhimsomethingveryimportant,andhecouldn’tunderstandher.Hemovedinhissleepandashaftofpainmovedhimfromhalf-sleeptohalf-waking,andhewinced.

           Shadowshiveredunderthethinblanket.Hisrightarmcoveredhiseyes,blockingoutthelightofthebulb.HewonderedwhetherWednesdayandtheotherswerestillatliberty,iftheywereevenstillalive.Hehopedthattheywere.

           Thesilverdollarremainedcoldinhislefthand.Hecouldfeelitthere,asithadbeenduringthebeating.Hewonderedidlywhyitdidnotwarmtohisbodytemperature.Half-asleep,now,andhalf-delirious,thecoin,andtheideaofLiberty,andthemoon,andZoryaPolunochnayasomehowbecameintertwinedinonewovenbeamofsilverlightthatshonefromthedepthstotheheavens,andherodethesilverbeamupandawayfromtheheartacheandthefear,awayfromthepainand,blessedly,backintodreams…

           Fromfarawayhecouldhearsomekindofnoise,butitwastoolatetothinkaboutit:hebelongedtosleepnow.