Американские боги
Chapter 9
Now,I’myoungerandfeistierbackthenthanIamnow,andthoughithadstartedsnowingbeforeHalloweenthatyear,nowitwasThanksgivingandtherewascleansnowontheground,freshasanything,andIcouldseethebuck’sfootprints.Itlookedtomelikethebigfellowwasheadingforthelakeinapanic.
"Well,onlyadamnfooltriestorundownabuck,butthereamI,adamnfool,runningafterhim,andthereheis,standinginthelake,inoh,eight,nineinchesofwater,andhe’sjustlookingatme.Thatverymoment,thesungoesbehindacloud,andthefreezecomes—temperaturemusthavefallenthirtydegreesintenminutes,notawordofalie.Andthatoldstag,hegetsreadytorun,andhecan’tmove.He’sfrozenintotheice.
"Me,Ijustwalkovertohimslowly.Youcanseehewantstorun,buthe’sicedinanditjustisn’tgoingtohappen.Butthere’snowayIcanbringmyselftoshootadefenselesscritterwhenhecan’tgetaway—whatkindofmanwouldIbeifIdonethat,heh?SoItakesmyshotgunandIfiresoffoneshell,straightupintotheair.
"Wellthenoiseandtheshockisenoughtomakethatbuckjustaboutjumpoutofhisskin,andseein’thathislegsareicedin,that’sjustwhatheproceedstodo.Heleaveshishideandhisantlersstucktotheice,whilehechargesbackintothewoods,pinkasanewbornmouseandshiveringfittobust.
