Американские боги

           ThemanwasalmostastallasShadow:helookedlikethefatherfromaseventiessitcom,andhetappedsomethingintoacomputerandtoldShadowtorun-run!-toagateonthefarsideoftheterminal.

           Shadowranthroughtheairport,butthedoorswerealreadyclosedwhenhegottothegate.Hewatchedtheplanepullawayfromthegate,throughtheplateglass.

           Thewomanatthepassengerassistancedesk(shortandbrown,withamoleonthesideofhernose)consultedwithanotherwomanandmadeaphonecall("Nope,thatone’sout.They’vejustcancelledit."),thensheprintedoutanotherboardingcard."Thiswillgetyouthere,"shetoldhim."We’llcallaheadtothegateandtellthemyou’recoming."

           Shadowfeltlikeapeabeingflickedbetweenthreecups,oracardbeingshuffledthroughadeck.Againheranthroughtheairport,endingupnearwherehehadgottenofforiginally.

           Asmallmanatthegatetookhisboardingpass."We’vebeenwaitingforyou,"heconfided,tearingoffthestuboftheboardingpass,withShadow’sseatassignment-17D-onit.Shadowhurriedontotheplane,andtheyclosedthedoorbehindhim.

           Hewalkedthroughfirstclass-therewereonlyfourfirst-classseats,threeofwhichwereoccupied.ThebeardedmaninapalesuitseatednexttotheunoccupiedseatattheveryfrontgrinnedatShadowashegotontotheplane,thenraisedhiswristandtappedhiswatchasShadowwalkedpast.

           Yeah,yeah,I’mmakingyoulate,thoughtShadow.Letthatbetheworstofyourworries.