Американские боги

           ThesecondtimeIthoughthewasamajorfuckupandIgavehimthemoneytokillhimself.HeshowedmeacointrickIdon’trememberhowtodo,gavemesomebruises,andclaimedhewasaleprechaun.Restinpeace,MadSweeney."Hesippedthewhiskey,lettingthesmokytasteevaporateinhismouth.Theothertwodrank,toastingtheemptychairalongwithhim.

           Mr.Ibisreachedintoaninsidepocketandpulledoutanotebook,whichheflippedthroughuntilhefoundtheappropriatepage,andhereadoutasummarizedversionofMadSweeney’slife.

           AccordingtoMr.Ibis,MadSweeneyhadstartedhislifeastheguardianofasacredrockinasmallIrishglade,overthreethousandyearsago.Mr.IbistoldthemofMadSweeney’sloveaffairs,hisenmities,themadnessthatgavehimhispower("alaterversionofthetaleisstilltold,althoughthesacrednature,andtheantiquity,ofmuchoftheversehaslongbeenforgotten"),theworshipandadorationinhisownlandthatslowlytransmutedintoaguardedrespectandthen,finally,intoamusement;hetoldthemthestoryofthegirlfromBantrywhocametotheNewWorld,andwhobroughtherbeliefinMadSweeneytheleprechaunwithher,forhadn’tsheseenhimofanight,downbythepool,andhadn’thesmiledatherandcalledherbyherowntruename?Shehadbecomearefugee,intheholdofashipofpeoplewhohadwatchedtheirpotatoesturntoblacksludgeintheground,whohadwatchedfriendsandloversdieofhunger,whodreamedofalandoffullstomachs.