Американские боги

           Hislipsdidnotmove,butavoiceinShadow’sheadsaid,"Whereareyougoing,Shadow?"

           "Cairo."

           "Why?"

           "WhereelsehaveIgottogo?It’swhereWednesdaywantsmetogo.Idrankhismead."InShadow’sdream,withthepowerofdream-logicbehindit,theobligationseemedunarguable:hedrankWednesday’smeadthreetimes,andsealedthepact—whatotherchoiceofactiondidhehave?

           Thebuffalo-headedmanreachedahandintothefire,stirringtheembersandthebrokenbranchesintoablaze."Thestormiscoming,"hesaid.Nowtherewasashonhishands,andhewipeditontohishairlesschest,leavingsoot-blackstreaks.

           "Soyoupeoplekeeptellingme.CanIaskyouaquestion?"

           Therewasapause.Aflysettledonthefurryforehead.Thebuffalomanflickeditaway."Ask."

           "Isthistrue?Arethesepeoplereallygods?It’sallso…"Hepaused.Thenhesaid,"Unlikely,"whichwasnotexactlythewordhehadbeengoingforbutseemedtobethebesthecoulddo.

           "Whataregods?"askedthebuffaloman.

           "Idon’tknow,"saidShadow.

           Therewasatapping,relentlessanddull.Shadowwaitedforthebuffalomantosaysomethingmore,toexplainwhatgodswere,toexplainthewholetanglednightmarethathislifeseemedtohavebecome.Hewascold.Thefirenolongerburned.

           Tap.Tap.Tap.