Американские боги
Chapter 7
"
Theyoungmanscratchedhishead-stubble."Notaroundhere,mister.IfyourcardiedyoucouldcallTriple-A.Ortalktothegasstationnextdooraboutatow."
"Afineidea,"saidShadow."Thanks."
Hewalkedacrossthemeltingsnow,fromtheCulver’sparkinglottothegasstation.Heboughtcandybarsandbeefjerkysticksandmorechemicalhand-andfeetwarmers.
"AnywherehereaboutsIcouldrentacar?"heaskedthewomanbehindthecashregister.Shewasimmenselyplump,andbespectacled,andwasdelightedtohavesomeonetotalkto.
"Letmethink,"shesaid."We’rekindofoutofthewayhere.TheydothatkindofthingoverinMadison.Whereyougoing?"
"Kay-ro,"hesaid."Whereverthatis."
"Iknowwherethatis,"shesaid."Handmethatmapfromthatrackoverthere."Shadowpassedheraplastic-coatedmapofIllinois.Sheunfoldedit,thenpointedintriumphtothebottommostcornerofthestate."Thereitis."
"Cairo?"
"That’showtheypronouncetheoneinEgypt.TheoneinLittleEgypt,theycallthatoneKayro.TheygotaThebesdownthere,allsorts.Mysister-in-lawcomesfromThebes.IaskedherabouttheoneinEgypt,shelookedatmeasifIhadascrewloose."Thewomanchuckledlikeadrain.
"Anypyramids?"Thecitywasfivehundredmilesaway,almostdirectlysouth.
