Американские боги

           WednesdaystaredatShadowwithhismismatchedeyes.Oneofthem,Shadowdecided,wasaglasseye,buthecouldnotdecidewhichone."Ibroughtyoumeadtodrinkbecauseit’straditional.Andrightnowweneedallthetraditionwecanget.Itsealsourbargain."

           "Wehaven’tmadeabargain."

           "Surewehave.Youworkformenow.Youprotectme.Youtransportmefromplacetoplace.Yourunerrands.Inanemergency,butonlyinanemergency,youhurtpeoplewhoneedtobehurt.Intheunlikelyeventofmydeath,youwillholdmyvigil.AndinreturnIshallmakesurethatyourneedsareadequatelytakencareof."

           "He’shustlingyou,"saidMadSweeney,rubbinghisbristlygingerbeard."He’sahustler."

           "DamnstraightI’mahustler,"saidWednesday."That’swhyIneedsomeonetolookoutformybestinterests."

           Thesongonthejukeboxended,andforamoment,thebarfellquiet,everyconversationatalull.

           "Someoneoncetoldmethatyouonlygetthoseeverybody-shuts-up-at-oncemomentsattwentypastortwentytothehour,"saidShadow.

           Sweeneypointedtotheclockabovethebar,heldinthemassiveandindifferentjawsofastuffedalligatorhead.Thetimewas11:20.

           "There,"saidShadow."DamnedifIknowwhythathappens."

           "Iknowwhy,"saidWednesday."Drinkyourmead."

           Shadowknockedtherestofthemeadbackinonelonggulp."Itmightbebetteroverice,"hesaid.

           "Oritmightnot,"saidWednesday."It’sterriblestuff."

           "Thatitis,"agreedMadSweeney.