Американские боги

           "Itispossibletheywilleatus,"saidtheman."ThatiswhatIhavebeentold.Thatiswhytheyneedsomanyslaves.Itisbecausetheyarealwayshungry."

           Wututubegantocryasshewalked.Agasusaid,"Donotcry,mysister.Theywillnoteatyou.Ishallprotectyou.Ourgodswillprotectyou."

           ButWututucontinuedtocry,walkingwithaheavyheart,feelingpainandangerandfearasonlyachildcanfeelit:rawandoverwhelming.ShewasunabletotellAgasuthatshewasnotworriedaboutthewhitedevilseatingher.Shewouldsurvive,shewascertainofit.Shecriedbecauseshewasscaredthattheywouldeatherbrother,andshewasnotcertainthatshecouldprotecthim.

           Theyreachedatradingpost,andtheywerekepttherefortendays.Inthemorningofthetenthdaytheyweretakenfromthehutinwhichtheyhadbeenimprisoned(ithadbecomeverycrowdedinthefinaldays,asmenarrivedfromfaraway,someofthemfromhundredsofmiles,bringingtheirownstringsandskeinsofslaves).Theyweremarchedtotheharbor,andWututusawtheshipthatwastotakethemaway.

           Herfirstthoughtwashowbigashipitwas,hersecondthatitwastoosmallforallofthemtofitinside.Itsatlightlyonthewater.Theship’sboatcamebackandforth,ferryingthecaptivestotheshipwheretheyweremanacledandarrangedinlowdecksbysailors,someofwhomwerebrick-redortanskinned,withstrangepointynosesandbeardsthatmadethemlooklikebeasts.