Американские боги

           "Itlooksthatway,"saidShadow."Whatdoyoudo?"

           Thebeardedmanlithiscigarette."I’maleprechaun,"hesaid,withagrin.

           Shadowdidnotsmile."Really?"hesaid."Shouldn’tyoubedrinkingGuinness?"

           "Stereotypes.Youhavetolearntothinkoutsidethebox,"saidthebeardedman."There’salotmoretoIrelandthanGuinness."

           "Youdon’thaveanIrishaccent."

           "I’vebeenoverheretoofuckenlong."

           "SoyouareoriginallyfromIreland?"

           "Itoldyou.I’maleprechaun.Wedon’tcomefromfuckenMoscow."

           "Iguessnot."

           Wednesdayreturnedtothetable,threedrinksheldeasilyinhispawlikehands."SouthernComfortandCokeforyou,MadSweeneym’man,andaJackDaniel’sforme.Andthisisforyou,Shadow."

           "Whatisit?"

           "Tasteit."

           Thedrinkwasatawnygoldencolor.Shadowtookasip,tastinganoddblendofsourandsweetonhistongue.Hecouldtastethealcoholunderneath,andastrangeblendofflavors.Itremindedhimalittleofprisonhooch,brewedinagarbagebagfromrottenfruitandbreadandsugarandwater,butitwassweeter,andfarstranger.

           "Okay,"saidShadow."Itastedit.Whatwasit?"

           "Mead,"saidWednesday."Honeywine.Thedrinkofheroes.Thedrinkofthegods."

           Shadowtookanothertentativesip.Yes,hecouldtastethehoney,hedecided.Thatwasoneofthetastes."Tasteskindalikepicklejuice,"hesaid."Sweetpickle-juicewine."

           "Tasteslikeadrunkendiabetic’spiss,"agreedWednesday."Ihatethestuff."

           "Thenwhydidyoubringitforme?"askedShadow,reasonably.