Американские боги

           Theageofinformation-younglady,couldyoupourmeanotherglassofJackDaniel’s?Easyontheice-not,ofcourse,thattherehaseverbeenanyotherkindofage.Informationandknowledge:twocurrenciesthathavenevergoneoutofstyle."

           "Isaid,whoareyou?"

           "Let’ssee.Well,seeingthattodaycertainlyismyday-whydon’tyoucallmeWednesday?MisterWednesday.Althoughgiventheweather,itmightaswellbeThursday,eh?"

           "What’syourrealname?"

           "Workformelongenoughandwellenough,"saidthemaninthepalesuit,"andImayeventellyouthat.There.Joboffer.Thinkaboutit.Nooneexpectsyoutosayyesimmediately,notknowingwhetheryou’releapingintoapiranhatankorapitofbears.Takeyourtime."Heclosedhiseyesandleanedbackinhisseat.

           "Idon’tthinkso,"saidShadow."Idon’tlikeyou.Idon’twanttoworkwithyou."

           "LikeIsay,"saidtheman,withoutopeninghiseyes,"don’trushintoit.Takeyourtime."

           Theplanelandedwithabump,andafewpassengersgotoff.Shadowlookedoutofthewindow:itwasalittleairportinthemiddleofnowhere,andtherewerestilltwolittleairportstogobeforeEaglePoint.Shadowtransferredhisglancetothemaninthepalesuit-Mr.Wednesday?Heseemedtobeasleep.

           Impulsively,Shadowstoodup,grabbedhisbag,andsteppedofftheplane,downthestepsontotheslick,wettarmac,walkingatanevenpacetowardthelightsoftheterminal.Alightrainspatteredhisface.

           Beforehewentinsidetheairportbuilding,hestopped,andturned,andwatched.