Американские боги

           JennyKerton,DanielleSteel,allthat."ThemanwasreadingAgathaChristie’sTheMurderofRogerAckroyd."Everythingonthetablesisfiftycentsabook,oryoucantakethreeforadollar."

           Shadowthankedhimandcontinuedtobrowse.HefoundacopyofHerodotus’sHistoriesboundinpeelingbrownleather.Itmadehimthinkofthepaperbackcopyhehadleftbehindinprison.TherewasabookcalledPerplexingParlourIllusions,whichlookedlikeitmighthavesomecoineffects.Hecarriedboththebooksovertothemanwiththecashbox.

           "Buyonemore,it’sstilladollar,"saidtheman."Andifyoutakeanotherbookaway,you’llbedoingusafavor.Weneedtheshelf-space."

           Shadowwalkedbacktotheoldleather-boundbooks.Hedecidedtoliberatethebookthatwasleastlikelytobeboughtbyanyoneelse,andfoundhimselfunabletodecidebetweenCommonDiseasesoftheUrinaryTractwithIllustrationsbyaMedicalDoctorandMinutesoftheLakesideCityCouncil1872–1884.Helookedattheillustrationsinthemedicalbookanddecidedthatsomewhereinthetowntherewasateenageboywhocouldusethebooktogrossouthisfriends.HetooktheMinutestothemanonthedoor,whotookhisdollarandputallthebooksintoaDave’sFinestFoodbrownpapersack.

           Shadowleftthelibrary.Hehadaclearviewofthelake,allthewaytothenortheasterncorner.Hecouldevenseehisapartmentbuilding,asmallbrownboxonthebankuppastthebridge.