Американские боги

           Lightningburstinblindingflashesaroundtheplane.Thecaptaincameontheintercomtotellthemthathewasgoingtotryandgainsomealtitude,togetawayfromthestorm.

           Theplaneshookandshuddered,andShadowwondered,coldlyandidly,ifhewasgoingtodie.Itseemedpossible,hedecided,butunlikely.Hestaredoutofthewindowandwatchedthelightningilluminatethehorizon.

           Thenhedozedoncemore,anddreamedhewasbackinprisonandthatLowKeyhadwhisperedtohiminthefoodlinethatsomeonehadputoutacontractonhislife,butthatShadowcouldnotfindoutwhoorwhy;andwhenhewokeuptheywerecominginforalanding.

           Hestumbledofftheplane,blinkingintowakefulness.

           Allairports,hethought,lookverymuchthesame.Itdoesn’tactuallymatterwhereyouare,youareinanairport:tilesandwalkwaysandrestrooms,gatesandnewsstandsandfluorescentlights.Thisairportlookedlikeanairport.Thetroubleis,thiswasn’ttheairporthewasgoingto.Thiswasabigairport,withwaytoomanypeople,andwaytoomanygates.

           "Excuseme,ma’am?"

           Thewomanlookedathimovertheclipboard."Yes?"

           "Whatairportisthis?"

           Shelookedathim,puzzled,tryingtodecidewhetherornothewasjoking,thenshesaid,"St.Louis."

           "IthoughtthiswastheplanetoEaglePoint."

           "Itwas.Theyredirecteditherebecauseofthestorms.Didn’ttheymakeanannouncement?"

           "Probably.Ifellasleep."

           "You’llneedtotalktothatmanoverthere,intheredcoat."