Американские боги

           He’dhaulthemtoatrenchthey’dalreadydugandfilledwithstraw,andhe’dstack’emdownthere,onebyone,likesomuchcordwoodinthetrench,andhe’dpackstrawaroundthem,thenhe’dcoverthetopofthetrenchwithtwo-b’-fourstokeepthecrittersout—inthosedaystherewerewolvesandbearsandallsortsyouneverseeanymorearoundhere,nohodagsthough,that’sjustastoryaboutthehodagsandIwouldn’teverstretchyourcredulitybytellingyounostories,no,sir,—he’dcoverthetrenchwithtwo-b’-foursandthenextsnowfallwouldcoveritupcompletely,savefortheflaghe’dplantedtoshowhimwherethetrenchwas.

           "Thenmygrampawwouldridethroughthewinterincomfortandneverhavetoworryaboutrunningoutoffoodoroutoffuel.Andwhenhesawthatthetruespringwascominghe’dgototheflag,andhe’ddighiswaydownthroughthesnow,andhe’dmovethetwo-b’-fours,andhe’dcarrytheminonebyoneandsetthefamilyinfrontofthefiretothaw.Nobodyevermindedexceptoneofthehiredmenwholosthalfaneartoafamilyofmicewhonibbleditoffonetimemygrampawdidn’tpushthosetwo-b’-foursallthewayclosed.Ofcourse,inthosedayswehadrealwinters.Youcoulddothatbackthen.Thesepussywinterswegetnowadaysitdon’thardlygetcoldenough.""No?"askedShadow.Hewasplayingstraight-man,andenjoyingitenormously.

           "Notsincethewinterof’49andyou’dbetooyoungtorememberthatone.Thatwasawinter.