Американские боги

           Shecouldsaythatsheteachesbecausesheisgratefultobealive,andsheis:shehasseentoomanydie.Shecouldsaythatshedreamsthatonedaytheslaveswillrise,astheyrose(andweredefeated)inLaPlace,butthatsheknowsinherheartthatwithoutthegodsofAfricatheywillneverovercometheirwhitecaptors,willneverreturntotheirhomelands.

           Whenshewokethatterriblenightalmosttwentyyearsearlier,andfeltthecoldsteelbetweenherribs,thatwaswhenMamaZouzou’slifehadended.Nowshewassomeonewhodidnotlive,whosimplyhated.Ifyouaskedheraboutthehateshewouldhavebeenunabletotellyouaboutatwelve-year-oldgirlonastinkingship:thathadscabbedoverinhermind—therehadbeentoomanywhippingsandbeatings,toomanynightsinmanacles,toomanypartings,toomuchpain.Shecouldhavetoldyouaboutherson,though,andhowhisthumbhadbeencutoffwhentheirmasterdiscoveredtheboywasabletoreadandtowrite.Shecouldhavetoldyouofherdaughter,twelveyearsoldandalreadyeightmonthspregnantbyanoverseer,andhowtheydugaholeintheredearthtotakeherdaughter’spregnantbelly,andthentheywhippedheruntilherbackhadbled.Despitethecarefullydughole,herdaughterhadlostherbabyandherlifeonaSundaymorning,whenallthewhitefolkswereinchurch…

           Toomuchpain.

           "Worshipthem,"MamaZouzoutoldtheyoungWidowParisinthebayou,onehouraftermidnight.