Американские боги

           Hewishedhe’dthoughtofthelibraryhimself.Hegotintothepurple4RunneranddrovesouthonMainStreet,followingthelakearoundtothesouthernmostpoint,untilhereachedthecastle-likebuildingwhichhousedthecitylibrary.Hewalkedinside.Asignpointedtothebasement:LIBRARYSALE,itsaid.Thelibraryproperwasonthegroundfloor,andhestampedthesnowoffhisbootsandwentin.

           Aforbiddingwomanwithpursed,crimson-coloredlipsaskedhimpointedlyifshecouldhelphim.

           "IsupposeIneedalibrarycard,"hesaid."AndIwanttoknowallaboutthunderbirds."

           Thewomanhadhimfilloutaform,thenshetoldhimitwouldtakeaweekuntilhecouldbeissuedwithhiscard.ShadowwonderediftheyspenttheweeksendingoutinquiriestoensurethathewasnotwantedinanyotherlibrariesacrossAmericaforfailuretoreturnlibrarybooks.

           Hehadknownamaninprisonwhohadbeenimprisonedforstealinglibrarybooks.

           "Soundskindofrough,"saidShadow,whenthemantoldhimwhyhewasinside.

           "Halfamilliondollars’worthofbooks,"saidtheman,proudly.HisnamewasGaryMcGuire."Mostlyrareandantiquebooksfromlibrariesanduniversities.Theyfoundawholestoragelockerfilledwithbooksfromfloortoceiling.Openandshutcase."

           "Whydidyoutakethem?"askedShadow.

           "Iwantedthem,"saidGary.

           "Jesus.