Американские боги

           Hetouchedhisside,pressingfirmlywithhisfingertips,feelingforoneofthedeeppainsthattoldhimhehadencounteredMr.StoneandMr.Wood,huntingforthegreeningblossomsofbruisethatMadSweeneyhadgiftedhimwith,andfindingnothing.Hisfacewasclearandunmarked.Hissides,however,andhisback(hetwistedtoexamineit)werescratchedwithwhatlookedlikeclawmarks.

           Hehadn’tdreamedit,then.Notentirely.

           Shadowopenedthedrawers,andputonwhathefound:anancientpairofblue-denimLevis,ashirt,athickbluesweater,andablackundertaker’scoathefoundhanginginthewardrobeatthebackoftheroom.Hewonderedagainwhotheclotheshadbelongedto.

           Heworehisownoldshoes.

           Thehousewasstillasleep.Hecreptthroughit,willingthefloorboardsnottocreak,andthenhewasoutside(outthroughthefrontdoor,notthemortuary,notthismorning,notwhenhedidn’thaveto),andhewalkedthroughthesnow,hisfeetleavingdeepprintsinthevirginsnow,hisstepscrunchingastheypushedthesoftsnowdeepontothesidewalk.Itwaslighteroutthanithadseemedfrominsidethehouse,andthesnowreflectedthelightfromthesky.

           Afterfifteenminuteswalking,Shadowcametoabridge,withabigsignonthesideofitwarninghimhewasnowleavinghistoricalCairo.Amanstoodunderthebridge,tallandgangling,suckingonacigaretteandshiveringcontinually.