Американские боги

           Heflippedthroughthebook,lookingatthereproductionsofthephotographsoftheperiod,attheseveralincarnationsoftheLakesidecitycounciltherein:longside-whiskersandclaypipesandbatteredhatsandshinyhats,wornwithfaceswhichwere,manyofthem,peculiarlyfamiliar.Hewasunsurprisedtoseethattheportlysecretaryofthe1882citycouncilwasaPatrickMulligan:shavehim,makehimlosetwentypoundsandhe’dbeadeadringerforChadMulligan,his—what,great-great-grandson?HewonderedifHinzelmann’spioneergrandfatherwasinthephotographs,butitdidnotappearthathehadbeencitycouncilmaterial.ShadowthoughthehadseenareferencetoaHinzelmanninthetext,whileflippingfromphotographtophotograph,butiteludedhimwhenheleafedbackforit,andthetinytypemadeShadow’seyesache.

           Heputthebookdownonhischestandrealizedhisheadwasnodding.Itwouldbefoolishtofallasleeponthecouch,hedecided,soberly.Thebedroomwasonlyafewfeetaway.Ontheotherhand,thebedroomandthebedwouldstillbethereinfiveminutes,andanyway,hewasnotgoingtogotosleep,onlytoclosehiseyesforamoment…

           Darknessroared.

           Hestoodonanopenplain.Besidehimwastheplacefromwhichhehadonceemerged,fromwhichtheearthhadsqueezedhim.Starswerestillfallingfromtheskyandeachstarthattouchedtheredearthbecameamanorawoman.Themenhadlongblackhairandhighcheekbones.ThewomenalllookedlikeMargueriteOlsen.