Американские боги

           Ninety-ninetimesoutofahundred,I’velefttownalready."

           "Sowe’restayinghereforthenight?"

           Wednesdayrubbedhischin."IshallstayintheMotel6,"hesaid.Thenheputhishandintohiscoatpocket.Hepulledoutafront-doorkey,bronze-colored,withacardtagattachedonwhichwastypedanaddress:502NORTHRIDGERD,APT#3."You,ontheotherhand,haveanapartmentwaitingforyou,inacityfarfromhere."Wednesdayclosedhiseyesforamoment.Thenheopenedthem,grayandgleamingandfractionallymismatched,andhesaid,"TheGreyhoundbuswillbecomingthroughtownintwentyminutes.Itstopsatthegasstation.Here’syourticket."Hepulledoutafoldedbusticket,passeditacrossthetable.Shadowpickeditupandlookedatit.

           "Who’sMikeAinsel?"heasked.Thatwasthenameontheticket.

           "Youare.HappyChristmas."

           "Andwhere’sLakeside?"

           "Yourhappyhomeinthemonthstocome.Andnow,becausegoodthingscomeinthrees…"Hetookasmall,gift-wrappedpackagefromhispocket,pusheditacrossthetable.Itsatbesidetheketchupbottlewiththeblacksmearsofdriedketchuponthetop.Shadowmadenomovetotakeit.

           "Well?"

           Reluctantly,Shadowtoreopentheredwrappingpaper,torevealafawn-coloredcalfskinwallet,shinyfromuse.Itwasobviouslysomebody’swallet.