Американские боги

           AssoonastheysayOdin’sname,thereedtransformsintoaspearandstabstheguyintheside,thecalfintestinesbecomeathickrope,thebranchbecomesaboughofatree,andthetreepullsup,andthegrounddropsaway,andthekingislefthangingtheretodiewithawoundinhissideandhisfacegoingblack.Endofstory.Whitepeoplehavesomefucked-upgods,MisterShadow."

           "Yes,"saidShadow."You’renotwhite?"

           "I’maCherokee,"shesaid.

           "Full-blooded?"

           "Nope.Onlyfourpints.Mymomwaswhite.MydadwasarealreservationIndian.Hecameoutthisway,eventuallymarriedmymom,hadme,thenwhentheysplithewentbacktoOklahoma."

           "Hewentbacktothereservation?"

           "No.HeborrowedmoneyandopenedaTacoBellknock-offcalledTacoBill’s.Hedoesokay.Hedoesn’tlikeme.SaysI’mhalf-breed."

           "I’msorry."

           "He’sajerk.I’mproudofmyIndianblood.Ithelpspaymycollegetuition.Hell,onedayit’llprobablyhelpgetmeajob,ifIcan’tsellmybronzes."

           "There’salwaysthat,"saidShadow.

           HestoppedinElPaso,IL(pop.2,500),toletSamoutatadown-at-heelhouseontheedgeofthetown.Alargewire-framedmodelofareindeercoveredintwinklinglightsstoodinthefrontyard."Youwanttocomein?"sheasked."Myauntwouldgiveyouacoffee."

           "No,"hesaid.