Американские боги

           Butanotherflareoflightningtoldhimdifferently:theyhadholesforeyes,andtheyhadteeth,whichgrinnedwithouthumor.

           Somewherebirdswerecalling.Rainspatteredhisface.

           Hewashundredsoffeetabovetheground,clingingtothesideofthetowerofskulls,whileflashesoflightningburnedinthewingsoftheshadowybirdswhocircledthespire—enormousblack,condor-likebirds,eachwitharuffofwhiteatitsneck.Theywerehuge,graceful,awfulbirds,andthebeatsoftheirwingscrashedlikethunderonthenightair.

           Theywerecirclingthespire.

           Theymustbefifteen,twentyfeetfromwingtiptowingtip,thoughtShadow.

           Thenthefirstbirdswungoutofitsglidetowardhim,bluelightningcracklinginitswings.Hepushedhimselfintoacreviceofskulls,holloweye-holesstaredathim,aclutterofivoryteethsmiledathim,buthekeptclimbing,pullinghimselfupthemountainofskulls,everysharpedgecuttingintohisskin,feelingrevulsionandterrorandawe.

           Anotherbirdcameathim,andonehand-sizedtalonsankintohisarm.

           Hereachedoutandtriedtograspafeatherfromitswing.Ifhereturnedtohistribewithoutathunderbird’sfeatherhewouldbedisgraced,hewouldneverbeaman,butthebirdpulledup,sothathecouldnotgraspevenonefeather.Thethunderbirdlooseneditsgripandswungbackontothewind.Shadowcontinuedtoclimb.

           Theremustbeathousandskulls,thoughtShadow.