Американские боги
Chapter 9
Hecould,somehow,seeher.
ShewasinEaglePoint,inthebackyardoutsidehermother’sbighouse.
Shestoodinthecold,whichshedidnotfeelanymore,orwhichshefeltallthetime,shestoodoutsidethehousethathermotherhadboughtin1989withtheinsurancemoneyafterLaura’sfather,HarveyMcCabe,hadpassedon,aheartattackwhilestrainingonthecan,andshewasstaringin,hercoldhandspressedagainsttheglass,herbreathnotfoggingit,notatall,watchinghermother,andhersisterandhersister’schildrenandhusbandinfromTexas,homeforChristmas.Outinthedarkness,thatwaswhereLaurawas,unablenottolook.
TearsprickledinShadow’seyes,andherolledoverinhisbed.
Wednesday,hethought,andwithjustathoughtawindowopenedandhewaswatchingfromacorneroftheroomintheMotel6,watchingtwofiguresthrustingandrollinginthesemi-darkness.
HefeltlikeaPeepingTom,turnedhisthoughtsaway,willedthemtocomebacktohim.Hecouldimaginehugeblackwingspoundingthroughthenighttowardhim,hecouldseethelakespreadoutbelowhimasthewindblewdownfromtheArctic,breatheditscoldontheland,forcinganyremainingliquidstobecomesolid,pryingjack-frostfingersahundredtimescolderthanthefingersofanycorpse.
Shadow’sbreathcameshallowlynow,andhewasnolongercold.
