Американские боги

           "Whydoyoudothis?"sheaskedtheman."Whydoyouservethewhitedevils?"

           Hegrinnedatherasifherquestionwasthefunniestthingheeverhadheard.Thenheleanedover,sohislipswerealmostbrushingherears,sohishotbreathonherearmadehersuddenlyfeelsick."Ifyouwereolder,"hetoldher,"Iwouldmakeyouscreamwithhappinessfrommypenis.PerhapsIwilldoittonight.Ihaveseenhowwellyoudance."

           Shelookedathimwithhernut-browneyesandshesaid,unflinching,smilingeven,"IfyouputitinmedownthereIwillbiteitoffwithmyteethdownthere.Iamawitchgirl,andIhaveverysharpteethdownthere."Shetookpleasureinwatchinghisexpressionchange.Hesaidnothingandwalkedaway.

           Thewordshadcomeoutofhermouth,buttheyhadnotbeenherwords:shehadnotthoughtthemormadethem.No,sherealized,thosewerethewordsofElegbathetrickster.Mawuhadmadetheworldandthen,thankstoElegba’strickery,hadlostinterestinit.ItwasElegbaofthecleverwaysandtheiron-harderectionwhohadspokenthroughher,whohadriddenherforamoment,andthatnightbeforeshesleptshegavethankstoElegba.

           Severalofthecaptivesrefusedtoeat.Theywerewhippeduntiltheyputfoodintotheirmouthsandswallowed,althoughthewhippingwassevereenoughthattwomendiedofit.Still,nooneelseontheshiptriedtostarvethemselvestofreedom.