Американские боги

           "

           ShadowwantedtopointouttoMadSweeneythatthatwasakindofbitterphilosophy,buthesuspecteditwasthebeingdeadthatmadeyoubitter.

           Hewentupstairstothemainhouse,whereanumberofmiddle-agedwomenwereputtingSaranwraponcasseroledishes,poppingtheTupperwaretopsontoplasticpotsofcoolingfriedpotatoesandmacaroniandcheese.

           Mr.Goodchild,thehusbandofthedeceased,hadMr.Ibisagainstawall,andwastellinghimhowheknewnoneofhischildrenwouldcomeouttopaytheirrespectstotheirmother.Theappledon’tfallfarfromthetree,hetoldanyonewhowouldlistentohim.Theappledon’tfallfarfromthetree.

           ThateveningShadowlaidanextraplaceatthetable.Heputaglassateachplace,andanewbottleofJamesonGoldinthemiddleofthetable.ItwasthemostexpensiveIrishwhiskeytheysoldattheliquorstore.Aftertheyate(alargeplatterofleftoversleftforthembythemiddle-agedwomen)Shadowpouredageneroustotintoeachglass—his,Ibis’s,Jacquel’sandMadSweeney’s.

           "Sowhatifhe’ssittingonagurneyinthecellar,"saidShadow,ashepoured,"onhiswaytoapauper’sgrave?Tonightwe’lltoasthim,andgivehimthewakehewanted."

           Shadowraisedhisglasstotheemptyplaceatthetable."IonlymetMadSweeneytwice,alive,"hesaid."ThefirsttimeIthoughthewasaworld-classjerkwiththedevilinhim.