Американские боги

           Theleftlunghadbeenstabbedandwashalfcollapsed.Heweighedthem,andtheheart,andhephotographedthewounds.Fromeachlungheslicedasmallpieceoftissue,whichheplacedintoajar.

           "Formaldehyde,"whisperedMr.Ibis,helpfully.

           Jacquelcontinuedtotalktothemicrophone,describingwhathewasdoing,whathesaw,asheremovedthegirl’sliver,thestomach,spleen,pancreas,bothkidneys,theuterusandtheovaries.

           Heweighedeachorgan,reportedthemasnormalanduninjured.Fromeachorganhetookasmallsliceandputitintoajarofformaldehyde.

           Fromtheheart,theliver,andfromoneofthekidneys,hecutanadditionalslice.Thesepieceshechewed,slowly,makingthemlast,andatewhileheworked.

           SomehowitseemedtoShadowagoodthingforhimtodo:respectful,notobscene.

           "Soyouwanttostayherewithusforaspell?"saidJacquel,masticatingthesliceofthegirl’sheart.

           "Ifyou’llhaveme,"saidShadow.

           "Certainlywe’llhaveyou,"saidMr.Ibis."Noreasonswhynotandplentyofreasonswhy.You’llbeunderourprotectionaslongasyou’rehere."

           "Ihopeyoudon’tmindsleepingunderthesameroofasthedead,"saidJacquel.

           ShadowthoughtofthetouchofLaura’slips,bitterandcold."No,"hesaid."Notaslongastheystaydead,anyhow.