Американские боги

           "Youshouldn’ttrusthim,"hesaid,reproachfully.

           "Who?"

           "Wednesday.Youmustn’ttrusthim."

           "Idon’thavetotrusthim.Iworkforhim."

           "Doyourememberhowtodoit?"

           "What?"Shadowfelthewashavingaconversationwithhalfadozendifferentpeople.Theself-styledleprechaunsputteredandjumpedfrompersonatopersona,fromthemetotheme,asiftheremainingclustersofbraincellswereigniting,flaming,andthengoingoutforgood.

           "Thecoins,man.Thecoins.Ishowedyou,remember?"Heraisedtwofingerstohisface,staredatthem,thenpulledagoldcoinfromhismouth.HetossedthecointoShadow,whostretchedoutahandtocatchit,butnocoinreachedhim.

           "Iwasdrunk,"saidShadow."Idon’tremember."

           Sweeneystumbledacrosstheroad.Itwaslightnowandtheworldwaswhiteandgray.Shadowfollowedhim.Sweeneywalkedinalong,lopingstride,asifhewerealwaysfalling,buthislegsweretheretostophim,topropelhimintoanotherstumble.Whentheyreachedthebridge,heheldontothebrickswithonehand,andturnedandsaid,"Yougotafewbucks?Idon’tneedmuch.Justenoughforaticketoutofthisplace.Twentybuckswilldomefine.Yougotatwenty?Justalousytwenty?"

           "Wherecanyougoonatwenty-dollarbus-ticket?"askedShadow.

           "Icangetoutofhere,"saidSweeney.