Американские боги

           "

           Theydrovearoundthesouthsideofthelake.Thetowncircledthelake,whichwasathirty-footdropbelowtheleveloftheroad.Shadowcouldseethepatchesofwhiteicedullingthesurfaceofthelakewith,hereandthere,ashinypatchofwaterreflectingthelightsofthetown.

           "Lookslikeit’sfreezingover,"hesaid.

           "It’sbeenfrozenoverforamonthnow,"saidHinzelmann."Thedullspotsaresnowdriftsandtheshinyspotsareice.ItfrozejustafterThanksgivinginonecoldnight,frozesmoothasglass.Youdomuchice-fishing,Mr.Ainsel?"

           "Never."

           "Bestthingamancando.It’snotthefishyoucatch,it’sthepeaceofmindthatyoutakehomeattheendoftheday."

           "I’llrememberthat."ShadowpeereddownatthelakethroughTessie’swindow."Canyouactuallywalkonitalready?"

           "Youcanwalkonit.Driveonittoo,butIwouldn’twanttoriskityet.It’sbeencolduphereforsixweeks,"saidHinzelmann."ButyoualsogottoallowthatthingsfreezeharderandfasteruphereinnorthernWisconsinthantheydomostanyplaceelsethereis.Iwasouthuntingonce—huntingfordeer,andthiswasoh,thirty,fortyyearsback,andIshotatabuck,missedhimandsenthimrunningoffthroughthewoods—thiswasoveracrostthenorthendofthelake,upnearwhereyou’llbeliving,Mike.NowhewasthefinestbuckIeverdidsee,twentypoint,bigasasmallhorse,nolie.