Американские боги

           TheoldmanshookShadow’shandwithonered-knuckledhand.Itfeltashardandascallusedasanoakbranch."Now,youwatchthepathasyougoupthere,it’sgoingtobeslippery.Icanseeyourdoorfromhere,atthesidethere,seeit?I’lljustwaitinthecardownhereuntilyou’resafelyinside.Youjustgivemethethumbs-upwhenyou’reinokay,andI’lldriveoff."

           HekepttheWendtidlinguntilShadowwassafelyupthewoodenstepsonthesideofthehouse,andhadopenedtheapartmentdoorwithhiskey.Thedoortotheapartmentswungopen.Shadowmadeathumbs-upsignandtheoldmanintheWendt—Tessie,thoughtShadow,andthethoughtofacarwithanamemadehimsmileonemoretime—HinzelmannandTessieswungaroundandmadetheirwaybackacrossthebridge.

           Shadowshutthefrontdoor.Theroomwasfreezing.Itsmelledofpeoplewhohadgoneawaytoliveotherlives,andofalltheyhadeatenanddreamed.Hefoundthethermostatandcrankeditupto70degrees.Hewentintothetinykitchen,checkedthedrawers,openedtheavocado-coloredrefrigerator,butitwasempty.Nosurprisethere.Atleastthefridgesmelledcleaninside,notmusty.

           Therewasasmallbedroomwithabaremattressinit,besidethekitchen,nexttoaneventinierbathroomthatwasmostlyshowerstall.Anagedcigarettebuttfloatedinthetoiletbowl,stainingthewaterbrown.Shadowflusheditaway.

           Hefoundsheetsandblanketsinacloset,andmadethebed.