Американские боги
Chapter 7
Hestumblesintooverheatedoffices,hischeeksnumbfromthecoldoutside,sweatingbeneathhiscoat,shoessoakedbyslush;andwhenthewindsblowdowntheavenues(whichrunfromnorthtosouth,asthestreetsrunwesttoeast,allsosimple,andSalimalwaysknowswheretofaceMecca)hefeelsacoldonhisexposedskinthatissointenseitislikebeingstruck.
Henevereatsatthehotel(forwhilethehotelbillisbeingcoveredbyFuad’sbusinesspartners,hemustpayforhisownfood);insteadhebuysfoodatfalafelhousesandatlittlefoodstores,smugglesituptothehotelbeneathhiscoatfordaysbeforeherealizesthatnoonecares.Andeventhenhefeelsstrangeaboutcarryingthebagsoffoodintothedimlylitelevators(Salimalwayshastobendandsquinttofindthebuttontopresstotakehimtohisfloor)anduptothetinywhiteroominwhichhestays.
Salimisupset.Thefaxthatwaswaitingforhimwhenhewokethismorningwascurt,andalternatelychiding,stern,anddisappointed:Salimwaslettingthemdown—hissister,Fuad,Fuad’sbusinesspartners,theSultanateofOman,thewholeArabworld.Unlesshewasabletogettheorders,FuadwouldnolongerconsiderithisobligationtoemploySalim.Theydependeduponhim.Hishotelwastooexpensive.
