Американские боги

           embassies,wewentfromcitytocityalloverNorthernEurope.ThenshegotsickandhadtotakeearlyretirementandwecamebacktotheStates.Ineverknewwhattosaytotheotherkids,soI’djustfindadultsandfollowthemaround,notsayinganything.Ijustneededthecompany,Iguess.Idon’tknow.Iwasasmallkid."

           "Yougrew,"shesaid.

           "Yes,"saidShadow."Igrew."

           SheturnedbacktoWednesday,whowasspooningdownabowlofwhatlookedlikecoldgumbo."Isthistheboywho’sgoteverybodysoupset?"

           "Youheard?"

           "Ikeepmyearsprickedup,"shesaid.ThentoShadow,"Youkeepoutoftheirway.Therearetoomanysecretsocietiesoutthere,andtheyhavenoloyaltiesandnolove.Commercial,independent,government,they’reallinthesameboat.Theyrangefromthebarelycompetenttothedeeplydangerous.Hey,oldwolf,Iheardajokeyou’dliketheotherday.HowdoyouknowtheCIAwasn’tinvolvedintheKennedyassassination?"

           "I’veheardit,"saidWednesday.

           "Pity."SheturnedherattentionbacktoShadow."Butthespookshow,theonesyoumet,they’resomethingelse.Theyexistbecauseeveryoneknowstheymustexist."Shedrainedapapercupofsomethingthatlookedlikewhitewine,andthenshegottoherfeet."Shadow’sagoodname,"shesaid."Iwantamochaccino.Comeon."

           Shebegantowalkaway.