Американские боги

           Heisunshaven,andhewearsathick,dust-coloredsweater,andblackplasticsunglasses.Theweatherisgray,andnightisfalling:Salimwondersifthemanhasaproblemwithhiseyes.Thewiperssmearthestreetsceneintograysandsmudgedlights.

           Fromnowhere,atruckpullsoutinfrontofthem,andthecabdriverswearsinArabic,bythebeardoftheProphet.

           Salimstaresatthenameonthedashboard,buthecannotmakeitoutfromhere."Howlonghaveyoubeendrivingacab,myfriend?"heaskstheman,inArabic.

           "Tenyears,"saysthedriver,inthesamelanguage."Whereareyoufrom?"

           "Muscat,"saysSalim."InOman."

           "FromOman.IhavebeeninOman.Itwasalongtimeago.HaveyouheardofthecityofUbar?"asksthetaxidriver.

           "IndeedIhave,"saysSalim."TheLostCityofTowers.Theyfounditinthedesertfive,tenyearsago,Idonotrememberexactly.Wereyouwiththeexpeditionthatexcavatedit?"

           "Somethinglikethat.Itwasagoodcity,"saysthetaxidriver."Onmostnightstherewouldbethree,maybefourthousandpeoplecampedthere:everytravelerwouldrestatUbar,andthemusicwouldplay,andthewinewouldflowlikewaterandthewaterwouldflowaswell,whichwaswhythecityexisted."

           "ThatiswhatIhaveheard,"saysSalim."Anditperished,what,athousandyearsago?Twothousand?"

           Thetaxidriversaysnothing.