Американские боги

           "Thisiswhatyoudo.Firstyousealthewindows,youcanbuythestuffdownatHenning’s,it’sjustlikeSaranwrapbutforwindows.Tapeittothewindows,thenifyouwanttogetfancyyourunablow-dryeronit,itstaystherethewholewinter.Thatstopstheheatleavingthroughthewindows.Thenyoubuyaspaceheaterortwo.Thebuilding’sfurnaceisold,anditcan’tcopewiththerealcold.We’vehadsomeeasywintersrecently,Isupposeweshouldbegrateful."Thensheputoutherhand."MargueriteOlsen."

           "Goodtomeetyou,"saidShadow.Hepulledoffagloveandtheyshookhands."Youknow,ma’am,I’dalwaysthoughtofOlsensasbeingblonderthanyou."

           "Myex-husbandwasasblondastheycame.Pinkandblond.Couldn’ttanatgunpoint."

           "MissyGunthertoldmeyouwriteforthelocalpaper."

           "MissyGunthertellseverybodyeverything.Idon’tseewhyweneedalocalpaperwithMissyGuntheraround."Shenodded."Yes.Somenewsreportinghereandthere,butmyeditorwritesmostofthenews.Iwritethenaturecolumn,thegardeningcolumn,anopinioncolumneverySundayandthe‘NewsFromtheCommunity’columnwhichtells,inmind-numbingdetail,whowenttodinnerwithwhoforfifteenmilesaround.Oristhatwhom?"

           "Whom,"saidShadow,beforehecouldstophimself."It’stheobjectivecase."

           Shelookedathimwithherblackeyes,andShadowexperiencedamomentofpuredéjàvu.