Американские боги
Chapter 8
Gotthat?Doyouwantmetowriteitdownforyou?"
"No,"saidShadow."It’sfine.Icanremember."
Themanscowledfleetingly,thenpulledabusinesscardfromhiswallet,scribbledonit,andgaveittoShadow,saying,"GivethistoJacquel."Thenthemedicalexaminersaid"MerryChristmas"toeveryone,andwasonhisway.Thecopskepttheemptybottle.
ShadowsignedfortheJohnDoeandputitonthegurney.Thebodywasprettystiff,andShadowcouldn’tgetitoutofasittingposition.Hefiddledwiththegurney,andfoundoutthathecouldpropuponeend.HestrappedJohnDoe,sitting,tothegurneyandputhiminthebackofthehearse,facingforward.Mightaswellgivehimagoodride.Heclosedtherearcurtains.Thenhedrovebacktothefuneralhome.
Thehearsewasstoppedatatrafficlight—thesamelightshe’dfishtailedat,severalnightsearlier—whenShadowheardavoicecroak,"Andit’safinewakeI’llbewanting,withthebestofeverything,andbeautifulwomensheddingtearsandtheirclothesintheirdistress,andbravemenlamentingandtellingfinetalesofmeinmygreatdays."
"You’redead,MadSweeney,"saidShadow."Youtakewhatyou’regivenwhenyou’redead."
"Aye,thatIshall,"sighedthedeadmansittinginthebackofthehearse.
