Американские боги
Chapter 8
Hesaidhewantedtoseewhatyouweremadeof."
"Hetellyoutodoanythingelse?"
Sweeneyshiveredandtwitched;Shadowthoughtitwasthecoldforamoment,thenknewwherehe’dseenthatshudderingshiverbefore.Inprison:itwasajunkieshiver.Sweeneywasinwithdrawalfromsomething,andShadowwouldhavebeenwillingtobetitwasheroin.Ajunkieleprechaun?MadSweeneypinchedofftheburningheadofhiscigarette,droppeditontheground,puttheunfinishedyellowingrestofitintohispocket.Herubbedhisfilthyfingerstogether,breathedonthemtotryandrubwarmthintothem.Hisvoicewasawhinenow."Listen,justgivemethefuckencoin,man.Whatdoyouwantitfor?Huh?Hey,youknowthere’smorewherethatcamefrom.I’llgiveyouanother,justasgood.Hell,I’llgiveyouashitload,man."
Hetookoffhisfilthybaseballcap—then,withhisrighthand,hestrokedtheair,producingalargegoldencoin.Hedroppeditintohiscap.Andthenhetookanotherfromawispofbreathsteam,andanother,catchingandgrabbingthemfromthestillmorningairuntilthebaseballcapwasbrimmingwiththemandSweeneywasforcedtoholditwithbothhands.
HeextendedthebaseballcapfilledwithgoldtoShadow."Here,"hesaid."Takethem,man.JustgivemebackthecoinIgavetoyou."Shadowlookeddownatthecap,wonderedhowmuchitscontentswouldbeworth.
"WhereamIgoingtospendthosecoins,MadSweeney?"Shadowasked.
