Американские боги

           ("Letmebethejudgeofthat,m’dear.")

           "Timeiscertainlyoftheessence,"saidtheman."Butno.Iwasmerelyconcernedthatyouwouldnotmaketheplane."

           "Thatwaskindofyou."

           Theplanesatrestlesslyontheground,enginesthrobbing,achingtobeoff.

           "Kindmyass,"saidthemaninthepalesuit."I’vegotajobforyou,Shadow."

           Aroarofengines.Thelittleplanejerkedforward,pushingShadowbackintohisseat.Thentheywereairborne,andtheairportlightswerefallingawaybelowthem.Shadowlookedatthemanintheseatnexttohim.

           Hishairwasareddishgray;hisbeard,littlemorethanstubble,wasgrayishred.Acraggy,squarefacewithpalegrayeyes.Thesuitlookedexpensive,andwasthecolorofmeltedvanillaicecream.Histiewasdarkgraysilk,andthetiepinwasatree,workedinsilver:trunk,branches,anddeeproots.

           HeheldhisglassofJackDaniel’sastheytookoff,anddidnotspilladrop.

           "Aren’tyougoingtoaskmewhatkindofjob?"heasked.

           "HowdoyouknowwhoIam?"

           Themanchuckled."Oh,it’stheeasiestthingintheworldtoknowwhatpeoplecallthemselves.Alittlethought,alittleluck,alittlememory.Askmewhatkindofjob."

           "No,"saidShadow.Theattendantbroughthimanotherglassofbeer,andhesippedatit.

           "Whynot?"

           "I’mgoinghome.I’vegotajobwaitingformethere.Idon’twantanyotherjob."

           Theman’scraggysmiledidnotchange,outwardly,butnowheseemed,actually,amused."Youdon’thaveajobwaitingforyouathome,"hesaid."Youhavenothingwaitingforyouthere.