Американские боги

           "

           "Wouldyoucallhim?"askedShadow.

           "I’mwayaheadofyou,"shetoldhim,andshepickedupthephone."Hon?It’sMattie.Yougetoverherethisminute.Igotamanherewantstobuyacar."

           Thepieceofshithechosewasa1983ChevyNova,whichhebought,withafulltankofgas,forfourhundredandfiftydollars.Ithadalmostaquarterofamillionmilesontheclock,andsmelledfaintlyofbourbon,tobacco,andmorestronglyofsomethingthatremindedShadowofbananas.Hecouldn’ttellwhatcoloritwas,underthedirtandthesnow.Still,ofallthevehiclesinMattie’sbrother-in-law’sbacklot,itwastheonlyonethatlookedlikeitmighttakehimfivehundredmiles.

           Thedealwasdoneincash,andMattie’sbrother-in-lawneveraskedforShadow’snameorsocialsecuritynumberorforanythingexceptthemoney.

           Shadowdrovewest,thensouth,withfivehundredandfiftydollarsinhispocket,keepingofftheinterstate.Thepieceofshithadaradio,butnothinghappenedwhenheturnediton.Asignsaidhe’dleftWisconsinandwasnowinIllinois.Hepassedastrip-miningworks,hugebluearclightsburninginthedimmidwinterdaylight.

           HestoppedandatelunchataplacecalledMom’s,catchingthemjustbeforetheyclosedfortheafternoon.Thefoodwasokay.

           EachtownhepassedthroughhadanextrasignupbesidethesigntellinghimthathewasnowenteringOurTown(pop.720).