Американские боги
Chapter 8
TheBasqueestablishedtheirsecretsacredfishinggroundsoffthecoastofNewfoundlandtwelvehundredyearsback.Now,Isupposeyou’regoingtosay,but,MisterIbis,thesepeoplewereprimitives,theydidn’thaveradiocontrolsandvitaminpillsandjetairplanes."Shadowhadn’tsaidanything,andhadn’tplannedtosayanything,buthefeltitwasrequiredofhim,sohesaid,"Well,weren’tthey?"Thelastdeadleavesoftheautumncrackledunderfoot,winter-crisp.
"Themisconceptionisthatmendidn’ttravellongdistancesinboatsbeforethedaysofColumbus.YetNewZealandandTahitiandcountlessPacificislandsweresettledbypeopleinboatswhosenavigationskillswouldhaveputColumbustoshame;andthewealthofAfricawasfromtrading,althoughthatwasmostlytotheEast,toIndiaandChina.Mypeople,theNilefolk,wediscoveredearlyonthatareedboatwilltakeyouaroundtheworld,ifyouhavethepatienceandenoughjarsofsweetwater.Yousee,thebiggestproblemwithcomingtoAmericaintheolddayswasthattherewasn’talotherethatanyonewantedtotrade,anditwasmuchtoofaraway."
Theyhadreachedalargehouse,builtinthestylepeoplecalledQueenAnne.ShadowwonderedwhoQueenAnnewas,andwhyshehadbeensofondofAddamsFamily–stylehouses.Itwastheonlybuildingontheblockthatwasn’tlockedupwithboarded-overwindows.Theywentthroughthegateandwalkedaroundthebackofthebuilding.
Throughlargedoubledoors,whichMr.
