Американские боги

           "

           "Well,notexactlynowhere,"saidMadSweeney."Butnowyou’regettingtheidea.Youtakethemfromthehoard."

           "Thehoard,"saidShadow,startingtoremember."Yes."

           "Youjusthavetoholditinyourmind,andit’syourstotakefrom.Thesun’streasure.It’sthereinthosemomentswhentheworldmakesarainbow.It’sthereinthemomentofeclipseandthemomentofthestorm."

           AndheshowedShadowhowtodothething.

           ThistimeShadowgotit.

           Shadow’sheadachedandpounded,andhistonguetastedandfeltlikeflypaper.Hesquintedattheglareofthedaylight.Hehadfallenasleepwithhisheadonthekitchentable.Hewasfullydressed,althoughhehadatsomepointtakenoffhisblacktie.

           Hewalkeddownstairs,tothemortuary,andwasrelievedbutunsurprisedtoseethatJohnDoewasstillontheembalmingtable.ShadowpriedtheemptybottleofJamesonGoldfromthecorpse’srigor-mortisedfingers,andthrewitaway.Hecouldhearsomeonemovingaboutinthehouseabove.

           Mr.WednesdaywassittingatthekitchentablewhenShadowwentupstairs.HewaseatingleftoverpotatosaladfromaTupperwarecontainerwithaplasticspoon.Heworeadarkgraysuit,awhiteshirtandadeepgraytie:themorningsunglitteredonthesilvertiepinintheshapeofatree.HesmiledatShadowwhenhesawhim.

           "Ah,Shadowm’boy,goodtoseeyou’reup.