Американские боги

           Athousandthousand.Andnotallofthemarehuman.Hestoodatlastonthetopofthespire,thegreatbirds,thethunderbirds,circlinghimslowly,navigatingthegustsofthestormwithtinyflicksoftheirwings.

           Heheardavoice,thevoiceofthebuffaloman,callingtohimonthewind,tellinghimwhotheskullsbelongedto…

           Thetowerbegantotumble,andthebiggestbird,itseyestheblindingblue-whiteofforkedlightning,plummeteddowntowardhiminarushofthunder,andShadowwasfalling,tumblingdownthetowerofskulls…

           Thetelephoneshrilled.Shadowhadnotevenknownthatitwasconnected.Groggy,shaken,hepickeditup.

           "Whatthefuck,"shoutedWednesday,angrierthanShadowhadeverheardhim."Whatthealmightyflyingfuckdoyouthinkyouareplayingat?"

           "Iwasasleep,"saidShadowintothereceiver,stupidly.

           "WhatdoyouthinkisthefuckingpointofstashingyouinahidingplacelikeLakeside,ifyou’regoingtoraisesucharuckusthatnotevenadeadmancouldmissit?"

           "Idreamedofthunderbirds…,"saidShadow."Andatower.Skulls…"Itseemedtohimveryimportanttorecounthisdream.

           "Iknowwhatyouweredreaming.Everybodydamnwellknowswhatyouweredreaming.Christalmighty.What’sthepointinhidingyou,ifyou’regoingtostarttofuckingadvertise?"

           Shadowsaidnothing.