Американские боги

           "Athirteenth:ifIsprinklewateronachild’shead,thatchildwillnotfallinbattle.

           "Afourteenth:Iknowthenamesofallthegods.Everydamnedoneofthem.

           "Afifteenth:Ihaveadreamofpower,ofglory,andofwisdom,andIcanmakepeoplebelievemydreams."

           HisvoicewassolownowthatShadowhadtostraintohearitovertheplane’senginenoise.

           "AsixteenthcharmIknow:ifIneedloveIcanturnthemindandheartofanywoman.

           "Aseventeenth,thatnowomanIwantwilleverwantanother.

           "AndIknowaneighteenthcharm,andthatcharmisthegreatestofall,andthatcharmIcantelltonoman,forasecretthatnooneknowsbutyouisthemostpowerfulsecrettherecaneverbe."

           Hesighed,andthenstoppedtalking.

           Shadowcouldfeelhisskincrawl.Itwasasifhehadjustseenadooropentoanotherplace,somewhereworldsawaywherehangedmenblewinthewindateverycrossroads,wherewitchesshriekedoverheadinthenight.

           "Laura,"wasallhesaid.

           Wednesdayturnedhishead,staredintoShadow’spalegrayeyeswithhisown."Ican’tmakeherliveagain,"hesaid."Idon’tevenknowwhysheisn’tasdeadassheoughttobe."

           "IthinkIdidit,"saidShadow."Itwasmyfault."

           Wednesdayraisedabushyeyebrow.