Американские боги

           Theywalkedtheoldmanbackintothehouse,upthestairstohisroom.AsmallTVsetdronedfromonecornerofthecouple’sbedroom.AsShadowpassedithenoticedthatthenewsreaderwasgrinningandwinkingathim.Whenhewassurethatnoonewaslookinginhisdirectionhegavethesetthefinger.

           "They’vegotnomoney,"saidJacquelwhentheywerebackinthehearse."He’llcomeintoseeIbistomorrow.He’llchoosethecheapestfuneral.Herfriendswillpersuadehimtodoherright,giveherapropersendoffinthefrontroom,Iexpect.Buthe’llgrumble.Gotnomoney.Nobodyaroundhere’sgotmoneythesedays.Anyway,he’llbedeadinsixmonths.Ayearattheoutside."

           Snowflakestumbledanddriftedinfrontoftheheadlights.Thesnowwascomingsouth.Shadowsaid,"Ishesick?"

           "Itain’tthat.Womensurvivetheirmen.Men—menlikehim—don’tlivelongwhentheirwomenaregone.You’llsee—he’lljuststartwandering,allthefamiliarthingsaregoingtobegonewithher.Hegetstiredandhefadesandthenhegivesupandthenhe’sgone.Maybepneumoniawilltakehimormaybeit’llbecancer,ormaybehisheartwillstop.Oldage,andallthefightgoneoutofyou.Thenyoudie."

           Shadowthought."Hey,Jacquel?"

           "Yeah."

           "Doyoubelieveinthesoul?"Itwasn’tquitethequestionhehadbeengoingtoask,andittookhimbysurprisetohearitcomingfromhismouth.