Американские боги

           Ithoughtyouweregoingtosleepforever."

           "MadSweeney’sdead,"saidShadow.

           "SoIheard,"saidWednesday."Agreatpity.Ofcourseitwillcometoallofus,intheend."Hetuggedonanimaginaryrope,somewhereonthelevelofhisear,andthenjerkedhisnecktooneside,tongueprotruding,eyesbulging.Asquickpantomimeswent,itwasdisturbing.Andthenheletgooftheropeandsmiledhisfamiliargrin."Wouldyoulikesomepotatosalad?"

           "Iwouldnot."Shadowdartedalookaroundthekitchenandoutintothehall."DoyouknowwhereIbisandJacquelare?"

           "IndeedIdo.TheyareburyingMrs.LilaGoodchild—somethingthattheywouldprobablyhavelikedyourhelpindoing,butIaskedthemnottowakeyou.Youhavealongdriveaheadofyou."

           "We’releaving?"

           "Withinthehour."

           "Ishouldsaygoodbye."

           "Goodbyesareoverrated.You’llseethemagain,Ihavenodoubt,beforethisaffairisdonewith."

           Forthefirsttimesincethatfirstnight,Shadowobserved,thesmallbrowncatwascurledupinherbasket.Sheopenedherincuriousambereyesandwatchedhimgo.

           SoShadowleftthehouseofthedead.Icesheathedthewinter-blackbushesandtreesasifthey’dbeeninsulated,madeintodreams.Thepathwasslippery.

           WednesdayledthewaytoShadow’swhiteChevyNova,parkedoutontheroad