Американские боги

           Nosnowhadfalleninthelastthirty-sixhours.Footprintsstoodoutintheglitteringcrustofthecrispsnow.

           Broganlookedlikearetiredarmycolonel,withhisslimmoustacheandwhitetemples.Hedrovethem,toldShadowhewasaretiredhighschoolprincipal."ItookearlyretirementwhenIsawIwasn’tgettinganyyounger.ThesedaysIstillteachalittle,dotheschoolplay—thatwasalwaysthehighpointoftheyearanyhow—andnowIhuntalittleandhaveacabindownonPikeLake,spendtoomuchtimethere."AstheysetoutBrogansaid,"Ontheonehand,Ihopewefindher.Ontheother,ifshe’sgoingtobefound,I’dbeverygratefulifitwassomeoneelsewhogottofindher,andnotus.YouknowwhatImean?"

           Shadowknewexactlywhathemeant.

           Thethreemendidnottalkmuch.Theywalked,lookingforaredsnowsuit,orgreengloves,orabluehat,orawhitebody.NowandagainBrogan,whohadthewalkie-talkie,wouldcheckinwithChadMulligan.

           Atlunchtimetheysatwiththerestofthesearchpartyonacommandeeredschoolbusandatehotdogsanddrankhotsoup.Someonepointedoutared-tailedhawkinabaretree,andsomeoneelsesaidthatitlookedmorelikeafalcon,butitflewawayandtheargumentwasabandoned.

           Hinzelmanntoldthemastoryabouthisgrandfather’strumpet,andhowhetriedplayingitduringacoldsnap,andtheweatherwassocoldoutsidebythebarn,wherehisgrandfatherhadgonetopractice,thatnomusiccameout.