Американские боги

           Thepain,onthatlastawfulcontraction,wasimpossibletobelieveashefelthimselfbeingsqueezed,crushedandpushedthroughthatunyieldingrockgap,hisbonesshattering,hisfleshbecomingsomethingshapelessandsnakelike,andashismouthandruinedheadclearedtheholehebegantoscream,infearandpain.

           Hewondered,ashescreamed,whether,backinthewakingworld,hewasalsoscreaming—ifhewerescreaminginhissleepbackonthedarkenedbus.

           AndasthatfinalspasmendedShadowwasontheground,hisfingersclutchingtheredearth,gratefulonlythatthepainwasoverandhecouldbreatheoncemore,deeplungfulsofwarm,eveningair.

           Hepulledhimselfintoasittingposition,wipedtheearthfromhisfacewithhishandandlookedupatthesky.Itwastwilight,along,purpletwilight,andthestarswerecomingout,onebyone,starssomuchbrighterandmorevividthananystarshehadeverseenorimagined.

           "Soon,"saidthecracklingvoiceoftheflame,comingfrombehindhim,"theywillfall.Soontheywillfallandthestarpeoplewillmeettheearthpeople.Therewillbeheroesamongthem,andmenwhowillslaymonstersandbringknowledge,butnoneofthemwillbegods.Thisisapoorplaceforgods."

           Ablastofair,shockinginitscoldness,touchedhisface.Itwaslikebeingdousedinicewater.