Американские боги

           Hehadintendedtosaysomethinglessdirect,buttherewasnothinglessdirectthathecouldsay.

           "Depends.Backinmyday,wehaditallsetup.Youlineupwhenyoudie,andyouanswerforyourevildeedsandforyourgooddeeds,andifyourevildeedsoutweighedafeather,we’dfeedyoursoulandyourhearttoAmmet,theEaterofSouls."

           "Hemusthaveeatenalotofpeople."

           "Notasmanyasyou’dthink.Itwasareallyheavyfeather.Wehaditmadespecial.Youhadtobeprettydamneviltotipthescalesonthatbaby.Stophere,thatgasstation.We’llputinafewgallons."

           Thestreetswerequiet,inthewaythatstreetsonlyarewhenthefirstsnowfalls."It’sgoingtobeawhiteChristmas,"saidShadowashepumpedthegas.

           "Yup.Shit.Thatboywasoneluckysonofavirgin."

           "Jesus?"

           "Lucky,luckyguy.Hecouldfallinacesspitandcomeupsmellinglikeroses.Hell,it’snotevenhisbirthday,youknowthat?HetookitfromMithras.YourunintoMithrasyet?Redcap.Nicekid.""No,Idon’tthinkso."

           "Well…I’veneverseenMithrasaroundhere.Hewasanarmybrat.Maybehe’sbackintheMiddleEast,takingiteasy,butIexpecthe’sprobablygonebynow.Ithappens.Onedayeverysoldierintheempirehastoshowerinthebloodofyoursacrificialbull.Thenexttheydon’tevenrememberyourbirthday.