Американские боги

           I’vebeenherebefore,hethought.

           No,sheremindsmeofsomeone.

           "Anyway,that’showyouheatupyourapartment,"shesaid.

           "Thankyou,"saidShadow."Whenit’swarmyouandyourlittleonemustcomeover."

           "Hisname’sLeon,"shesaid."Goodmeetingyou,Mister…I’msorry…"

           "Ainsel,"saidShadow."MikeAinsel."

           "AndwhatsortofanameisAinsel?"sheasked.

           Shadowhadnoidea."Myname,"hesaid."I’mafraidIwasneververyinterestedinfamilyhistory."

           "Norwegian,maybe?"shesaid.

           "Wewereneverclose,"hesaid.ThenherememberedUncleEmersonBorson,andadded,"Onthatside,anyway."

           BythetimethatMr.Wednesdayarrived,Shadowhadputclearplasticsheetingacrossallthewindowsandhadonespaceheaterrunninginthemainroomandoneinthebedroomattheback.Itwaspracticallycozy.

           "Whatthehellisthatpurplepieceofshityou’redriving?"askedWednesday,bywayofgreeting.

           "Well,"saidShadow,"youdroveoffwithmywhitepieceofshit.Whereisit,bytheway?"

           "ItradeditininDuluth,"saidWednesday."Youcan’tbetoocareful.Don’tworry—you’llgetyoursharewhenallthisisdone."

           "WhatamIdoinghere?"askedShadow."InLakeside,Imean.Notintheworld.