Американские боги
Chapter 8
"ShadowrememberedthewhisperingthumpthecoinhadmadeasitlandedinLaura’scasket.
"Sorryornot,I’mdamnedandI’mdoomed."Thetearswereflowingoncemore,andclearsnotbegantorunfromtheman’snose.Hiswordsdissolved,then,intosyllableswhichneverquitecongealedtogetherintowords."Bah-bah-bah-bah-bah,"hesaid."Muh-muh-muh-muh-muh."Hewipedhisnoseandhiseyesonhissleeves,muddyinghisfaceintostrangepatterns,wipingthesnotalloverhisbeardandmoustache.
ShadowsqueezedMadSweeney’supperarminanawkwardmalegesture.I’mhere,itsaid.
"’TwerebetterIhadneverbeenconceived,"saidMadSweeney,atlength.Thenhelookedup."Thefellowyougaveitto.Wouldhegiveitback?"
"It’sawoman.AndIdon’tknowwheresheis.Butno,Idon’tbelieveshewould."
Sweeneysighed,mournfully."WhenIwasbutayoungpup,"hesaid,"therewasawomanImet,underthestars,wholetmeplaywithherbubbies,andshetoldmemyfortune.ShetoldmethatIwouldbeundoneandabandonedwestofthesunrise,andthatadeadwoman’sbaublewouldsealmyfate.AndIlaughedandpouredmorebarleywineandplayedwithherbubbiessomemore,andIkissedherfullonherprettylips.Thosewerethegooddays—thefirstofthegraymonkshadnotyetcometoourland,norhadtheyriddenthegreenseatowestward.Andnow."Hestopped,mid-sentence.HisheadturnedandhefocusedonShadow.
