Американские боги
Chapter 10
Hewishedhecouldseeitinthespring,orthesummer,orthefall:itwouldbeverybeautiful,hehadnodoubtofthat.
Intenminuteshewashome.
Heparkedthecaroutonthestreetandwalkeduptheoutsidestepstohiscoldapartment.Heunpackedhisshopping,putthefoodintothecupboardsandthefridge,andthenheopenedtheenvelopeMissyGuntherhadgivenhim.
Itcontainedapassport.Blue,laminatedcoverand,inside,aproclamationthatMichaelAinsel(hisnamehandwritteninMissyGunther’sprecisehandwriting)wasacitizenofLakeside.Therewasamapofthetownonthenextpage.Therestofitwasfilledwithdiscountcouponsforvariouslocalstores.
"IthinkImaylikeithere,"saidShadow,aloud.Helookedoutoftheicywindowatthefrozenlake."Ifiteverwarmsup."
Therewasabangatthefrontdoorataround2:00P.M.ShadowhadbeenpracticingtheSuckerVanishwithaquarter,tossingitfromonehandtotheotherundetectably.Hishandswerecoldenoughandclumsyenoughthathekeptdroppingthecoinontothetable,andtheknockatthedoormadehimdropitagain.
Hewenttothedoorandopenedit.
Amomentofpurefear:themanatthedoorworeablackmaskwhichcoveredthelowerhalfofhisface.ItwasthekindofmaskthatabankrobbermightwearonTV,oraserialkillerfromacheapmoviemightweartoscarehisvictims.Thetopoftheman’sheadwascoveredbyablackknitcap.
