Американские боги

           Nooneelsegotofftheplane.Thegroundcrewrolledthestepsaway,thedoorwasclosed,andittookoff.Shadowwalkedinsideandherentedwhatturnedout,whenhegottotheparkinglot,tobeasmallredToyota.

           Shadowunfoldedthemapthey’dgivenhim.Hespreaditoutonthepassenger’sseat.EaglePointwasabout250milesaway.

           Thestormshadpassed,iftheyhadcomethisfar.Itwascoldandclear.Cloudsscuddedinfrontofthemoon,andforamomentShadowcouldnotbecertainwhetheritwasthecloudsorthemoonthatweremoving.

           Hedrovenorthforanhourandahalf.

           Itwasgettinglate.Hewashungry,andwhenherealizedhowhungryhereallywas,hepulledoffatthenextexitanddroveintothetownofNottamun(pop.1301).HefilledthegastankattheAmocoandaskedtheboredwomanatthecashregisterwherehecouldgetsomethingtoeat.

           "Jack’sCrocodileBar,"shetoldhim."It’swestonCountyRoadN."

           "CrocodileBar?"

           "Yeah.Jacksaystheyaddcharacter."Shedrewhimamaponthebackofamauveflyer,whichadvertisedachickenroastforthebenefitofayounggirlwhoneededanewkidney."He’sgotacoupleofcrocodiles,asnake,oneathembiglizardthings."

           "Aniguana?"

           "That’shim."

           Throughthetown,overabridge,onforacoupleofmiles,andhestoppedatalow,rectangularbuildingwithanilluminatedPabstsign.

           Theparkinglotwashalfempty.

           Insidetheairwasthickwithsmokeand"WalkingAfterMidnight"wasplayingonthejukebox.Shadowlookedaroundforthecrocodiles,butcouldnotseethem.