Американские боги

           Itwasasifhewerelisteningtoasalesman,agoodsalesman,whobelievedinhisproduct,butstillwantedtomakesureyouwenthomewithallthebrushesorthefullsetofencyclopedias.Perhapsshecouldseeitinhisface.Shesaid,"I’msorry.Whenyoulovesomethingyoujustdon’twanttostoptalkingaboutit.Whatdoyoudo,MisterAinsel?"

           "Heavylifting,"saidShadow."Myunclebuysandsellsantiquesalloverthecountry.Heusesmetomovebig,heavythings.Withoutbreakingthemtoobadly.It’sagoodjob,butnotsteadywork."Ablackcat,thebarmascot,woundbetweenShadow’slegs,rubbingitsforeheadonhisboot.Itleaptupbesidehimontothebenchandwenttosleep.

           "Atleastyougettotravel,"saidBrogan."Youdoanythingelse?"

           "Yougoteightquartersonyou?"askedShadow.Broganfumbledforhischange.Hefoundfivequarters,pushedthemacrossthetabletoShadow.CallieKnopfproducedanotherthreequarters.

           Helaidoutthecoins,fourineachrow.Then,withscarcelyafumble,hedidtheCoinsThroughtheTable,appearingtodrophalfthecoinsthroughthewoodofthetable,fromhislefthandintohisright.

           Afterthat,hetookalleightcoinsinhisrighthand,anemptywaterglassinhisleft,coveredtheglasswithanapkinandappearedtomakethecoinsvanishonebyonefromhisrighthandandlandintheglassbeneaththenapkinwithanaudibleclink.