Американские боги

           "Andtheydidn’tmutilatecattlethemselves.Theygotpeopletodoitforthem."

           Shechuckled.Theydroveinsilenceforafewminutes,andthenshesaid,"Hey,thatremindsmeofmyfavoritegodstory,fromComparativeReligion101.Youwanttohearit?"

           "Sure,"saidShadow.

           "Okay.ThisisoneaboutOdin.TheNorsegod.Youknow?TherewassomeVikingkingonaVikingship—thiswasbackintheVikingtimes,obviously—andtheywerebecalmed,sohesayshe’llsacrificeoneofhismentoOdinifOdinwillsendthemawind,andgetthemtoland.Okay.Thewindcomesup,andtheygettoland.So,onland,theydrawlotstofigureoutwhogetssacrificed—andit’sthekinghimself.Well,he’snothappyaboutthis,buttheyfigureoutthattheycanhanghimineffigyandnothurthim.Theytakeacalf’sintestinesandloopthemlooselyaroundtheguy’sneck,andtheytietheotherendtoathinbranch,andtheytakeareedinsteadofaspearandpokehimwithitandgo,‘Okay,you’vebeenhung’—hanged?—whatever—‘you’vebeensacrificedtoOdin.’"

           Theroadcurved:AnotherTown,pop.300,homeoftherunner-uptotheStateUnder-12sspeed-skatingchampionship,twohugegianteconomy-sizedfuneralparlorsoneachsideoftheroad,andhowmanyfuneralparlorsdoyouneed,Shadowwondered,whenyouonlyhavethreehundredpeople…?"Okay.