Американские боги

           Idon’tthinkIgaveanyoneachancetoraisethealarm.Takeacoatfromoutthere,oryou’llfreezeyourbuttoff."

           "Youkilledthem?"

           Sheshrugged,andhalf-smiled,awkwardly.Herhandslookedasifshehadbeenfinger-painting,composingapicturethathadbeenexecutedsolelyincrimsons,andthereweresplashesandspattersonherfaceandclothes(thesamebluesuitinwhichshehadbeenburied)thatmadeShadowthinkofJacksonPollock,becauseitwaslessproblematictothinkofJacksonPollockthantoacceptthealternative.

           "It’seasiertokillpeople,whenyou’redeadyourself,"shetoldhim."Imean,it’snotsuchabigdeal.You’renotsoprejudicedanymore."

           "It’sstillabigdealtome,"saidShadow.

           "Youwanttostayhereuntilthemorningcrewcomes?"shesaid."Youcanifyoulike.Ithoughtyou’dliketogetoutofhere."

           "They’llthinkIdidit,"hesaid,stupidly.

           "Maybe,"shesaid."Putonacoat,hon.You’llfreeze."

           Hewalkedoutintothecorridor.Attheendofthecorridorwasaguardroom.Intheguardroomwerefourdeadmen:threeguards,andthemanwhohadcalledhimselfStone.Hisfriendwasnowheretobeseen.Fromtheblood-coloredskid-marksonthefloor,twoofthemhadbeendraggedintotheguardroom,anddroppedontothefloor.

           Shadow’scoatwashangingfromthecoatrack.