Американские боги

           "Who’sdriving?"heaskedWednesday.

           "Youare,"saidWednesday.Theywalkedoutofthehouse,downthewoodenstairsandtheicypathtowhereablackLincolntowncarwasparked.

           Shadowdrove.

           Enteringthecasinooneisbesetateverysidebyinvitation—invitationssuchthatitwouldtakeamanofstone,heartless,mindless,andcuriouslydevoidofavarice,todeclinethem.Listen:amachinegunrattleofsilvercoinsastheytumbleandspurtdownintoaslotmachinetrayandoverflowontomonogrammedcarpetsisreplacedbythesirenclangoroftheslots,thejangling,blippetingchorusswallowedbythehugeroom,mutedtoacomfortingbackgroundchatterbythetimeonereachesthecardtables,thedistantsoundsonlyloudenoughtokeeptheadrenalineflowingthroughthegamblers’veins.

           Thereisasecretthatthecasinospossess,asecrettheyholdandguardandprize,theholiestoftheirmysteries.Formostpeopledonotgambletowinmoney,afterall,althoughthatiswhatisadvertised,sold,claimedanddreamed.Butthatismerelytheeasyliethatallowsthegamblerstolietothemselves,thebigliethatgetsthemthroughtheenormous,ever-open,welcomingdoors.

           Thesecretisthis:peoplegambletolosemoney.Theycometothecasinosforthemomentinwhichtheyfeelalive,toridethespinningwheelandturnwiththecardsandlosethemselves,withthecoins,intheslots.Theywanttoknowtheymatter.