Американские боги

           "Icangetawaybeforethestormhits.Awayfromaworldinwhichopiateshavebecomethereligionofthemasses.Awayfrom."Hestopped,wipedhisnoseonthesideofhishand,thenwipedhishandonhissleeve.

           Shadowreachedintohisjeans,pulledoutatwentyandpassedittoSweeney."Here."

           Sweeneycrumpleditupandpusheditdeepintothebreastpocketofhisoil-staineddenimjacket,underthesew-onpatchshowingtwovulturesonadeadbranchand,barelylegiblebeneaththem,thewordsPATIENCEMYASS!I’MGOINGTOKILLSOMETHING!Henodded."That’llgetmewhereIneedtogo,"hesaid.

           Heleanedagainstthebrick,fumbledinhispocketsuntilhefoundtheunfinishedstubofcigarettehehadabandonedearlier.Helititcarefully,tryingnottoburnhisfingersorhisbeard."I’lltellyousomething,"hesaid,asifhehadsaidnothingthatday."You’rewalkingongallowsground,andthere’sahempenropearoundyourneckandaraven-birdoneachshoulder,waitingforyoureyes,andthegallowstreehasdeeproots,foritstretchesfromheaventohell,andourworldisonlythebranchfromwhichtheropeisswinging."Hestopped."I’llresthereaspell,"hesaid,crouchingdown,hisbackrestingagainsttheblackbrickwork.

           "Goodluck,"saidShadow.

           "Hell,I’mfucked,"saidMadSweeney."Whatever.Thanks."

           Shadowwalkedbacktowardthetown.Itwas8:00A.M.andCairowaswakinglikeatiredbeast.