Американские боги

           Itwasbrownandwhite,asoberandrespectableroomthatlookedtoShadowasifithadlastbeendecoratedin1920.TherewasahugeKelvinatorrattlingtoitselfbyonewall.JacquelopenedtheKelvinator’sdoor,puttheplasticjarswiththeirsliversofspleen,ofkidney,ofliver,ofheart,inside.Hetookoutthreebrownbottles.Ibisopenedaglass-frontedcupboard,removedthreetallglasses.ThenhegesturedforShadowtositdownatthekitchentable.

           IbispouredthebeerandpassedaglasstoShadow,aglasstoJacquel.Itwasafinebeer,bitteranddark.

           "Goodbeer,"saidShadow.

           "Webrewitourselves,"saidIbis."Intheolddaysthewomendidthebrewing.Theywerebetterbrewersthanweare.Butnowitisonlythethreeofushere.Me,him,andher."Hegesturedtowardthesmallbrowncat,fastasleepinacat-basketinthecorneroftheroom."Thereweremoreofus,inthebeginning.ButSetleftustoexplore,what,twohundredyearsago?Mustbe,bynow.WegotapostcardfromhimfromSanFranciscoin1905,1906.Thennothing.WhilepoorHorus…"Hetrailedoff,inasigh,andshookhishead.

           "Istillseehim,onoccasion,"saidJacquel."Onmywaytoapickup."Hesippedhisbeer.

           "I’llworkformykeep,"saidShadow."WhileI’mhere.Youtellmewhatyouneeddoing,andI’lldoit."

           "We’llfindworkforyou,"agreedJacquel.