Американские боги

           "

           Jacquelturnedandlookedathimwithdarkbrowneyesasquizzicalandcoldasadesertdog’s."Theystaydeadhere,"wasallhesaid.

           "Seemstome,"saidShadow."Seemstomethatthedeadcomebackprettyeasy."

           "Notatall,"saidIbis."Evenzombies,theymakethemoutoftheliving,youknow.Alittlepowder,alittlechanting,alittlepush,andyouhaveazombie.Theylive,buttheybelievetheyaredead.Buttotrulybringthedeadbacktolife,intheirbodies.Thattakespower."Hehesitates,then,"Intheoldland,intheolddays,itwaseasierthen."

           "Youcouldbindthekaofamantohisbodyforfivethousandyears,"saidJacquel."Bindingorloosing.Butthatwasalongtimeago."Hetookalltheorgansthathehadremovedandreplacedthem,respectfully,inthebodycavity.Hereplacedtheintestinesandthebreastboneandpulledtheskinedgesneareachother.Thenhetookathickneedleandthreadand,withdeft,quickstrokes,heseweditup,likeamanstitchingabaseball:thecadavertransformedfrommeatintogirlonceagain.

           "Ineedabeer,"saidJacquel.Hepulledoffhisrubberglovesanddroppedthemintothebin.Hedroppedhisdarkbrownoverallsintoahamper.Thenhetookthecardboardtrayofjarsfilledwithlittleredandbrownandpurpleslicesoftheorgans."Coming?"

           Theywalkedupthebackstairstothekitchen.