Американские боги
Chapter 10
Thiswasnotsimplycold:thiswassciencefiction.ThiswasastorysetonthedarksideofMercury,backwhentheythoughtMercuryhadadarkside.ThiswassomewhereoutonrockyPluto,wherethesunisjustanotherstar,shiningonlyalittlemorebrightlyinthedarkness.This,thoughtShadow,isjustahairawayfromtheplaceswhereaircomesinbucketsandpoursjustlikebeer.
Theoccasionalcarsthatroaredpasthimseemedunreal:spaceships,littlefreeze-driedpackagesofmetalandglass,inhabitedbypeopledressedmorewarmlythanhewas.Anoldsonghismotherhadloved,"WinterWonderland,"begantorunthroughhishead,andhehummeditthroughclosedlips,keptpacetoitashewalked.
Hehadlostallsensationinhisfeet.Helookeddownathisblackleathershoes,atthethincottonsocks,andbegan,seriously,toworryaboutfrostbite.
Thiswasbeyondajoke.Thishadmovedbeyondfoolishness,slippedoverthelineintogenuinetwenty-four-karatJesus-Christ-I-fucked-up-big-timeterritory.Hisclothesmightaswellhavebeennettingorlace:thewindblewthroughhim,frozehisbonesandthemarrowinhisbones,frozethelashesofhiseyes,frozethewarmplaceunderhisballs,whichwereretreatingintohispelviccavity.
Keepwalking,hetoldhimself.Keepwalking.IcanstopanddrinkapailofairwhenIgethome.ABeatlessongstartedinhishead,andheadjustedhispacetomatchit.
