Американские боги

           Andthensheadded,withacertaingrimsatisfaction,"MerryChristmas."Thebuswasalmostempty."WhenwillwegetintoLakeside?"askedShadow.

           "Twohours.Maybeabitmore,"saidthedriver."Theysaythere’sacoldsnapcoming."Shethumbedaswitchandthedoorsclosedwithahissandathump.

           Shadowwalkedhalfwaydownthebus,puttheseatbackasfarasitwouldgo,andhestartedtothink.Themotionofthebusandthewarmthcombinedtolullhim,andbeforehewasawarethathewasbecomingsleepy,hewasasleep.

           Intheearth,andundertheearth.Themarksonthewallweretheredofwetclay:handprints,finger-marksand,hereandthere,cruderepresentationsofanimalsandpeopleandbirds.

           Thefirestillburnedandthebuffalomanstillsatontheothersideofthefire,staringatShadowwithhugeeyes,eyeslikepoolsofdarkmud.Thebuffalolips,fringedwithmattedbrownhair,didnotmoveasthebuffalovoicesaid,"Well,Shadow?Doyoubelieveyet?"

           "Idon’tknow,"saidShadow.Hismouthhadnotmovedeither,heobserved.Whateverwordswerepassingbetweenthetwoofthemwerenotbeingspoken,notinanywaythatShadowunderstoodspeech."Areyoureal?"

           "Believe,"saidthebuffaloman.

           "Areyou…"Shadowhesitated,andthenheasked,"Areyouagodtoo?"

           Thebuffalomanreachedonehandintotheflamesofthefireandhepulledoutaburningbrand.