Американские боги
Chapter 1
Insteadhetookadeepbreath.("LikeIsaid,don’tpissoffthosebitchesinairports,"saidJohnnieLarch,inthebackofhismind,"orthey’llhaulyoursorryassbackherebeforeyoucanspit.")Hecountedtofive.
"SowasI,"hesaid.
Themanshookhishead."Ifitcouldbuthavebeenanyotherway,"hesaid,andsighed.
"Shediedinacarcrash,"saidShadow."Thereareworsewaystodie."
Themanshookhishead,slowly.ForamomentitseemedtoShadowasifthemanwasinsubstantial;asiftheplanehadsuddenlybecomemorereal,whilehisneighborhadbecomelessso.
"Shadow,"hesaid."It’snotajoke.It’snotatrick.Icanpayyoubetterthananyotherjobyoufindwillpayyou.You’reanex-con.Therewon’tbealonglineofpeopleelbowingeachotheroutofthewaytohireyou."
"Misterwhoever-the-fuckyouare,"saidShadow,justloudenoughtobeheardoverthedinoftheengines,"thereisn’tenoughmoneyintheworld."
Thegringotbigger.ShadowfoundhimselfrememberingaPBSshowaboutchimpanzees.Theshowclaimedthatwhenapesandchimpssmileit’sonlytobaretheirteethinagrimaceofhateoraggressionorterror.Whenachimpgrins,it’sathreat.
"Workforme.Theremaybealittlerisk,ofcourse,butifyousurviveyoucanhavewhateveryourheartdesires.YoucouldbethenextkingofAmerica.Now,"saidtheman,"whoelseisgoingtopayyouthatwell?Hmm?"
"Whoareyou?"askedShadow.
"Ah,yes.
