Американские боги

           Areyougoingtointroduceme,Chad?Isthisyoungmananewofficer?"

           "Notyet,"saidChadMulligan,withaflashofwhiteteeth."ThisisMikeAinsel.HemovedtoLakesidelastnight.Now,ifyou’llexcuseme."Hegotup,walkedtothebackoftheroom,throughthedoormarkedPOINTERS.ItwasnexttoadoormarkedSETTERS.

           "You’rethenewmanintheapartmentuponNorthridgeRoad.TheoldPilsenplace.Ohyes,"shesaid,happily,"Iknowjustwhoyouare.Hinzelmannwasbythismorningforhismorningpasty,hetoldmeallaboutyou.Youboysonlyhavinghotchocolateoryouwanttolookatthebreakfastmenu?"

           "Breakfastforme,"saidShadow."What’sgood?"

           "Everything’sgood,"saidMabel."Imakeit.Butthisisthefurthestsouthandeastoftheyoopieyoucangetpasties,andtheyareparticularlygood.Warmingandfillingtoo.Myspecialty."

           Shadowhadnoideawhatapastywas,buthesaidthatwouldbefine,andinafewmomentsMabelreturnedwithaplatewithwhatlookedlikeafolded-overpieonit.Thelowerhalfwaswrappedinapapernapkin.Shadowpickeditupwiththenapkinandbitintoit:itwaswarmandfilledwithmeat,potatoes,carrots,onions."FirstpastyI’veeverhad,"hesaid."It’srealgood."

           "They’reayoopiething,"shetoldhim."MostlyyouneedtobeatleastupIronwoodwaytogetone.TheCornishmenwhocameovertoworktheironminesbroughtthemover.