Американские боги

           "

           Wednesdaytouchedthebackofherhand,fleetingly,withthetipsofhisfingers,leavingcrumbsofsaltonherskin.Shemadenoattempttowipethemoff."Tous,"hesaid,hisvoiceanalmostinaudiblerumble,"itshallbeapleasure-palace."

           Thewaitresslookedathim.Shebitherthinlips,hesitated,thennoddedandfledforthekitchen.

           "C’mon,"saidShadow."Shelooksbarelylegal."

           "I’veneverbeenoverlyconcernedaboutlegality,"Wednesdaytoldhim."NotaslongasIgetwhatIwant.Sometimesthenightsarelongandcold.AndIneedher,notasanendinherself,buttowakemeupalittle.EvenKingDavidknewthatthereisoneeasyprescriptiontogetwarmbloodflowingthroughanoldframe:takeonevirgin,callmeinthemorning."

           ShadowcaughthimselfwonderingifthegirlonnightdutyinthehotelbackinEaglePointhadbeenavirgin."Don’tyoueverworryaboutdisease?"heasked."Whatifyouknockherup?Whatifshe’sgotabrother?"

           "No,"saidWednesday."Idon’tworryaboutdiseases.Idon’tcatchthem.Peoplelikemeavoidthem.Unfortunately,forthemostpartpeoplelikemefireblanks,sothere’snotagreatdealofinterbreeding.Itusedtohappenintheolddays.Nowadays,it’spossible,butsounlikelyastobealmostunimaginable.Sonoworriesthere.Andmanygirlshavebrothers,andfathers.Someevenhavehusbands.It’snotmyproblem.