Американские боги

           Evenatthistimeofthemorningpeoplestoodinfrontofthem,feedingthemcoins.Shadowwonderediftherewerethosewhoneverlefttheairport,whogotofftheirplanes,walkedalongtheJetwayintotheairportbuildingandstoppedthere,trappedbythespinningimagesandtheflashinglights;peoplewhowouldstayintheairportuntiltheyhadfedtheirlastquartertothemachines,andthenwouldturnaroundandgetontotheplanebackhome.

           Heguesseditmusthavehappened.Hesuspectedthattherewasn’tmuchthathadn’thappenedinLasVegasatsomepointorother.AndAmericawassodamnbigthatwithsomanypeopletherewasalwaysboundtobesomebody.

           AndthenherealizedthathehadzonedoutjustasWednesdayhadbeentellinghimwhothemaninthedarksuittheyhadfollowedinthetaxihadbeen,andhehadmissedit.

           "Sohe’sin,"saidWednesday."It’llcostmeabottleofSoma,though."

           "What’sSoma?"

           "It’sadrink."Theywalkedontothecharterplane,emptybutforthemandatrioofcorporatebigspenderswhoneededtobebackinChicagobythestartofthenextbusinessday.

           Wednesdaygotcomfortable,orderedhimselfaJackDaniel’s."Mykindofpeopleseeyourkindofpeople…"Hehesitated."It’slikebeesandhoney.Eachbeemakesonlyatiny,tinydropofhoney.Ittakesthousandsofthem,millionsperhaps,allworkingtogethertomakethepotofhoneyyouhaveonyourbreakfasttable.