Американские боги

           Hecouldhearthedriver’svoicesayingthattheywereinPinewood,anyonewhoneedsacigaretteorwantstostretchtheirlegs,we’llbestoppingherefortenminutesthenwe’llbebackontheroad.

           Shadowstumbledoffthebus.Theywereparkedoutsideanotherruralgasstation,almostidenticaltotheonetheyhadleft.Thedriverwashelpingacoupleofteenagegirlsontothebus,puttingtheirsuitcasesawayintheluggagecompartment.

           "Hey,"thedriversaid,whenshesawShadow."You’regettingoffatLakeside,right?"

           Shadowagreed,sleepily,thathewas.

           "Heck,that’sagoodtown,"saidthebus-driver."IthinksometimesthatifIwerejustgoingtopackitallin,I’dmovetoLakeside.PrettiesttownI’veeverseen.You’velivedtherelong?"

           "Myfirstvisit."

           "YouhaveapastyatMabel’sforme,youhear?"

           Shadowdecidednottoaskforclarification."Tellme,"saidShadow,"wasItalkinginmysleep?"

           "Ifyouwere,Ididn’thearyou."Shelookedatherwatch."Backonthebus.I’llcallyouwhenwegettoLakeside."

           Thetwogirls—hedoubtedthateitherofthemwasmuchmorethanfourteenyearsold—whohadgotoninPinewoodwerenowintheseatinfrontofhim.Theywerefriends,Shadowdecided,eavesdroppingwithoutmeaningto,notsisters.