Американские боги
Chapter 2
ButIdon’thurtpeopleforfunorforprofit.Iwon’tgobacktoprison.Oncewasenough."
"Youwon’thaveto,"saidWednesday.
"No,"saidShadow."Iwon’t."Hefinishedthelastofthemead.Hewondered,suddenly,somewhereinthebackofhishead,whetherthemeadwasresponsibleforlooseninghistongue.Butthewordswerecomingoutofhimlikethewatersprayingfromabrokenfirehydrantinsummer,andhecouldnothavestoppedthemifhehadtried."Idon’tlikeyou,MisterWednesday,orwhateveryourrealnamemaybe.Wearenotfriends.Idon’tknowhowyougotoffthatplanewithoutmeseeingyou,orhowyoutrailedmehere.ButI’matalooseendrightnow.Whenwe’redone,I’llbegone.Andifyoupissmeoff,I’llbegonetoo.Untilthen,I’llworkforyou."
"Verygood,"saidWednesday."Thenwehaveacompact.Andweareagreed."
"Whatthehell,"saidShadow.Acrosstheroom,MadSweeneywasfeedingquartersintothejukebox.Wednesdayspatinhishandandextendedit.Shadowshrugged.Hespatinhisownpalm.Theyclaspedhands.Wednesdaybegantosqueeze.Shadowsqueezedback.Afterafewsecondshishandbegantohurt.Wednesdayheldthegripalittlelonger,andthenheletgo.
"Good,"hesaid."Good.Verygood.So,onelastglassofevil,vilef**kingmeadtosealourdeal,andthenwearedone."
"It’llbeaSouthernComfortandCokeforme,"saidSweeney,lurchingbackfromthejukebox.
ThejukeboxbegantoplaytheVelvetUnderground’s"WhoLovestheSun?"Shadowthoughtitastrangesongtofindonajukebox.
