Американские боги

           Ifhehadownedmorecattle,perhapshewouldhavegivenuponeofhiscattleinsteadofthechildren,buthedidnot.Hesoldthetwins.Enoughofhim:heshallnotenterfurtherintothisnarrative.Wefollowthetwins.

           Theyweremarched,withseveralotherslavestakenorsoldinthewar,foradozenmilestoasmalloutpost.Heretheyweretraded,andthetwins,alongwiththirteenothers,wereboughtbysixmenwithspearsandkniveswhomarchedthemtothewest,towardthesea,andthenformanymilesalongthecoast.Therewerefifteenslavesnowaltogether,theirhandslooselybound,tiednecktoneck.

           WututuaskedherbrotherAgasuwhatwouldhappentothem.

           "Idonotknow,"hesaid.Agasuwasaboywhosmiledoften:histeethwerewhiteandperfect,andheshowedthemashegrinned,hishappysmilesmakingWututuhappyinherturn.Hewasnotsmilingnow.Insteadhetriedtoshowbraveryforhissister,hisheadbackandshouldersspread,asproud,asmenacing,ascomicalasapuppywithitshacklesraised.

           ThemaninthelinebehindWututu,hischeeksscarred,said,"Theywillsellustothewhitedevils,whowilltakeustotheirhomeacrossthewater."

           "Andwhatwilltheydotousthere?"demandedWututu.

           Themansaidnothing.

           "Well?"askedWututu.Agasutriedtodartaglanceoverhisshoulder.Theywerenotallowedtotalkorsingastheywalked.