Американские боги

           "

           "Soyou’resayingthatwasaluckyguessorsomething?"

           "Whatwas?"

           Shestaredathimwithdarkeyes."Youareonepeculiarguy,Mister…Idon’tknowyourname."

           "TheycallmeShadow,"hesaid.

           Shetwistedhermouthwryly,asifsheweretastingsomethingshedisliked.Shestoppedtalking,putherheaddown,finishedherlasagna.

           "Doyouknowwhyit’scalledEgypt?"askedShadow,whenSamfinishedeating.

           "DownCairoway?Yeah.It’sinthedeltaoftheOhioandtheMississippi.LikeCairoinEgypt,intheNiledelta."

           "Thatmakessense."

           Shesatbackinherchair,orderedcoffeeandchocolatecreampie,ranahandthroughherblackhair."Youmarried,Mr.Shadow?"Andthen,ashehesitated,"Gee.Ijustaskedanothertrickyquestion,didn’tI?"

           "TheyburiedheronThursday,"hesaid,pickinghiswordswithcare."Shewaskilledinacarcrash."

           "Oh.God.Jesus.I’msorry."

           "Metoo."

           Anawkwardpause."Myhalf-sisterlostherkid,mynephew,endoflastyear.It’srough."

           "Yeah.Itis.Whatdidhedieof?"

           Shesippedhercoffee."Wedon’tknow.Wedon’tevenreallyknowthathe’sdead.Hejustvanished.Buthewasonlythirteen.Itwasthemiddleoflastwinter.Mysisterwasprettybrokenupaboutit.