Американские боги

           Thedeadfawnlayinagladeintheshadowofahill,andablackbirdthesizeofasmalldogwaspickingatitssidewithalarge,wickedbeak,rendingandtearinggobbetsofredmeatfromthecorpse.Itseyesweregone,butitsheadwasuntouched,andwhitefawn-spotswerevisibleonitsrump.Shadowwonderedhowithaddied.

           Theblackbirdcockeditsheadontooneside,andthensaid,inavoicelikestonesbeingstruck,"Youshadowman."

           "I’mShadow,"saidShadow.Thebirdhoppedupontothefawn’srump,raiseditshead,ruffleditscrownandneckfeathers.Itwasenormousanditseyeswereblackbeads.Therewassomethingintimidatingaboutabirdthatsize,thisclose.

           "SayshewillseeyouinKay-ro,"tokkedtheraven.ShadowwonderedwhichofOdin’sravensthiswas:HuginnorMuninn:MemoryorThought.

           "Kay-ro?"heasked.

           "InEgypt."

           "HowamIgoingtogotoEgypt?"

           "FollowMississippi.Gosouth.FindJackal."

           "Look,"saidShadow,"Idon’twanttoseemlikeI’m…Jesus,look…"Hepaused.Regrouped.Hewascold,standinginawood,talkingtoabigblackbirdwhowascurrentlybrunchingonBambi."Okay.WhatI’mtryingtosayis,Idon’twantmysteries."

           "Mysteries,"agreedthebird,helpfully.

           "WhatIwantisexplanations.JackalinKay-ro.Thisdoesnothelpme.