Американские боги

           Shallwegooutontothestreet,Eastermydear,andrepeattheexercise?Findouthowmanypassers-byknowthattheirEasterfestivaltakesitsnamefromEostreoftheDawn?Let’ssee—Ihaveit.Weshallaskahundredpeople.Foreveryonethatknowsthetruth,youmaycutoffoneofmyfingers,andwhenIrunoutofthem,toes;foreverytwentywhodon’tknowyouspendanightmakinglovetome.Andtheoddsarecertainlyinyourfavorhere—thisisSanFrancisco,afterall.ThereareheathensandpagansandWiccansaplentyontheseprecipitousstreets."

           HergreeneyeslookedatWednesday.Theywere,Shadowdecided,theexactsamecolorasaleafinspringwiththesunshiningthroughit.Shesaidnothing.

           "Wecouldtryit,"continuedWednesday."ButIwouldendupwithtenfingers,tentoes,andfivenightsinyourbed.Sodon’ttellmetheyworshipyouandkeepyourfestivalday.Theymouthyourname,butithasnomeaningtothem.Nothingatall."

           Tearsstoodoutinhereyes."Iknowthat,"shesaid,quietly."I’mnotafool."

           "No,"saidWednesday."You’renot."

           He’spushedhertoofar,thoughtShadow.

           Wednesdaylookeddown,ashamed."I’msorry,"hesaid.Shadowcouldheartherealsincerityinhisvoice."Weneedyou.Weneedyourenergy.Weneedyourpower.Willyoufightbesideuswhenthestormcomes?"

           Shehesitated.