Американские боги

           WhenSalimgetsoutofthecabhegivestheifritatwenty-dollarbill,tellshimtokeepthechange.Then,withasuddenburstofcourage,hetellshimhisroomnumber.Thetaxidriversaysnothinginreply.Ayoungwomanclambersintothebackofthecab,anditpullsoutintothecoldandtherain.

           Sixo’clockintheevening.Salimhasnotyetwrittenthefaxtohisbrother-in-law.Hegoesoutintotherain,buyshimselfthisnight’skebabandfrenchfries.Ithasonlybeenaweek,buthefeelsthatheisbecomingheavier,rounder,softeninginthiscountryofNewYork.

           Whenhecomesbacktothehotelheissurprisedtoseethetaxidriverstandinginthelobby,handsdeepintohispockets.Heisstaringatadisplayofblack-and-whitepostcards.WhenheseesSalimhesmiles,self-consciously."Icalledyourroom,"hesays,"buttherewasnoanswer.SoIthoughtIwouldwait."

           Salimsmilesalso,andtouchestheman’sarm."Iamhere,"hesays.

           Togethertheyenterthedim,green-litelevator,ascendtothefifthfloorholdinghands.TheifritasksifhemayuseSalim’sbathroom."Ifeelverydirty,"hesays.Salimnods.Hesitsonthebed,whichfillsmostofthesmallwhiteroom,andlistenstothesoundoftheshowerrunning.Salimtakesoffhisshoes,hissocks,andthentherestofhisclothes.

           Thetaxidrivercomesoutoftheshower,wet,withatowelwrappedabouthismid-section.