Американские боги

           Shadowhadseenimmediatelythatthemanwasstillangry,andhadaskednoquestionswhentheblackLincolntowncarhadpulledupoutsidetheapartmentthatmorning.Theyhadnottalkedonthewaytotheairport.HehadbeenrelievedthatWednesdaywasinfirstclassandhewasbackincoach.Nowitwaslateintheafternoon.Shadow,whohadnotbeeninSanFranciscosincehewasaboy,whohadonlyseenitsincethenasabackgroundtomovies,wasastonishedathowfamiliaritwas,howcolorfulanduniquethewoodenhouses,howsteepthehills,howverymuchitdidn’tfeellikeanywhereelse.

           "It’salmosthardtobelievethatthisisinthesamecountryasLakeside,"hesaid.

           Wednesdayglaredathim.Thenhesaid,"It’snot.SanFranciscoisn’tinthesamecountryasLakesideanymorethanNewOrleansisinthesamecountryasNewYorkorMiamiisinthesamecountryasMinneapolis."

           "Isthatso?"saidShadow,mildly.

           "Indeeditis.Theymaysharecertainculturalsignifiers—money,afederalgovernment,entertainment;it’sthesameland,obviously—buttheonlythingsthatgiveittheillusionofbeingonecountryarethegreen-back,TheTonightShow,andMcDonald’s."Theywereapproachingaparkattheendoftheroad."Benicetotheladywearevisiting.Butnottoonice."

           "I’llbecool,"saidShadow.

           Theysteppedontothegrass.