Американские боги

           Makesmoneyfornewbooks,cleansoutshelfspace,andit’sraisingmoneytoputincomputersforthechildren’ssection.Butthesoonerwegetawholenewlibrarybuilt,thebetter."

           "I’llmakeapointofgettingdownthere."

           "Headoutintothehallandthengodownstairs.Goodseeingyou,MisterAinsel."

           "CallmeMike,"hesaid.

           Shesaidnothing,justtookLeon’shandandwalkedtheboyovertothechildren’ssection.

           "But,Mom,"ShadowheardLeonsay,"itwasn’tpressedigitation.Itwasn’t.Isawitvanishandthenitfelloutofhisnose.Isawit."

           AnoilportraitofAbrahamLincolngazeddownfromthewallathim.Shadowwalkeddownthemarbleandoakstepstothelibrarybasement,throughadoorintoalargeroomfilledwithtables,eachtablecoveredwithbooksofallkinds,indiscriminatelyassortedandpromiscuouslyarranged:paperbacksandhardcovers,fictionandnon-fiction,periodicalsandencyclopediasallsidebysideuponthetables,spinesuporspinesout.

           Shadowwanderedtothebackoftheroomwheretherewasatablecoveredwithold-lookingleather-boundbooks,eachwithalibrarycatalognumberpaintedinwhiteonthespine."You’rethefirstpersonoverinthatcornerallday,"saidthemansittingbythestackofemptyboxesandbagsandthesmall,open,metalcashbox."Mostlyfolkjusttakethethrillersandthechildren’sbooksandtheHarlequinRomances.