Американские боги

           MamaZouzouconsultedthebones,thenshookherhead."Heiswithawhitewoman,somewherenorthofhere,"shesaid."Awhitewomanwithgoldenhair.Heisalive."Thiswasnotmagic.ItwascommonknowledgeinNewOrleansjustwithwhomJacquesParishadrunoff,andthecolorofherhair.

           MamaZouzouwassurprisedtorealizethattheWidowParisdidnotalreadyknowthatJacqueswasstickinghisquadroonlittlepipiintoapink-skinnedgirlupinColfaxeverynight.Well,onthenightsthathewasnotsodrunkhecoulduseitfornothingbetterthanpissing.Perhapsshedidknow.Perhapsshehadanotherreasonforcoming.

           TheWidowPariscametoseetheoldslavewomanoneortwotimesaweek.Afteramonthshebroughtgiftsfortheoldwoman:hairribbons,andaseed-cake,andablackrooster.

           "MamaZouzou,"saidthegirl,"itistimeforyoutoteachmewhatyouknow."

           "Yes,"saidMamaZouzou,whoknewwhichwaythewindblew.Andbesides,theWidowParishadconfessedthatshehadbeenbornwithwebbedtoes,whichmeantthatshewasatwinandshehadkilledhertwininthewomb.WhatchoicedidMamaZouzouhave?

           Shetaughtthegirlthattwonutmegshunguponastringaroundtheneckuntilthestringbreakswillcureheartmurmurs,whileapigeonthathasneverflown,cutopenandlaidonthepatient’shead,willdrawafever.