Американские боги
Chapter 7
Theextrasignannouncedthatthetown’sUnder-14steamwasthethirdrunner-upintheinterstateHundred-YardSprint,orthatthetownwasthehomeoftheIllinoisGirls’Under-16sWrestlingsemifinalist.
Hedroveon,headnodding,feelingmoredrainedandexhaustedwitheveryminutethatpassed.Heranastoplight,andwasnearlysideswipedbyawomaninaDodge.Assoonashegotoutintoopencountryhepulledoffontoanemptytractorpathonthesideoftheroad,andheparkedbyasnow-spottedstubblyfieldinwhichaslowprocessionoffatblackwildturkeyswalkedlikealineofmourners;heturnedofftheengine,stretchedoutinthebackseat,andfellasleep.
Darkness;asensationoffalling—asifheweretumblingdownagreathole,likeAlice.Hefellforahundredyearsintodarkness.Facespassedhim,swimmingoutoftheblack,theneachfacewasrippedupandawaybeforehecouldtouchit…
Abruptly,andwithouttransition,hewasnotfalling.Nowhewasinacave,andhewasnolongeralone.Shadowstaredintofamiliareyes:huge,liquidblackeyes.Theyblinked.
Undertheearth:yes.Herememberedthisplace.Thestinkofwetcow.Firelightflickeredonthewetcavewalls,illuminatingthebuffalohead,theman’sbody,skinthecolorofbrickclay.
"Can’tyoupeopleleavemebe?"askedShadow."Ijustwanttosleep."
Thebuffalomannodded,slowly.
