Американские боги

           Adeeplyexistentialquestionatthebestoftimes.Haveyouseenme?Pulloffatthenextexit."

           Shadowthoughtheheardahelicopterpassoverhead,butthecloudsweretoolowtoseeanything.

           "WhydidyoupickLakeside?"askedShadow.

           "Itoldyou.It’sanicequietplacetohideyouaway.You’reofftheboardthere,undertheradar."

           "Why?"

           "Becausethat’sthewayitis.Nowhangaleft,"saidWednesday.

           Shadowturnedleft.

           "There’ssomethingwrong,"saidWednesday."Fuck.JesusfuckingChristonabicycle.Slowdown,butdon’tstop."

           "Caretoelaborate?"

           "Trouble.Doyouknowanyalternativeroutes?"

           "Notreally.ThisismyfirsttimeinSouthDakota,"saidShadow."AlsoIdon’tknowwherewe’regoing."

           Ontheothersideofthehillsomethingflashedredly,smudgedbythemist.

           "Roadblock,"saidWednesday.Hepushedhishanddeeplyintofirstonepocketofhissuitthenanother,searchingforsomething.

           "Icanstopandturnaround.IfwehadajeepI’dgooff-road,buttheWinnebago’sjustgoingtotipifItryanddriveheracrossthatditch."

           "Wecan’tturn.They’rebehindusaswell,"saidWednesday."Takeyourspeeddowntoten,fifteenmilesperhour."

           Shadowglancedintothemirror.