Американские боги

           "

           "Sinceshecamebackfromthedead?"

           "SinceIlearnedshewasscrewingRobbie.Thatonehurt.Everythingelsejustsitsonthesurface.Wherearewegoingnow?"

           Wednesdaypointed,andtheybegantowalk.Thegroundbeneaththeirfeetwasrockofsomekind,slickandvolcanic,occasionallyglassy.Theairwaschilly,butnotwinter-cold.Theysidesteppedtheirwayawkwardlydownahill.Therewasaroughpath,andtheyfollowedit.Shadowlookeddowntothebottomofthehill,andrealizedthatwhathewaslookingatwasimpossible.

           "Whatthehellisthat?"askedShadow,butWednesdaytouchedhisfingertohislips,shookhisheadsharply.Silence.

           Itlookedlikeamechanicalspider,bluemetal,glitteringLEDlights,anditwasthesizeofatractor.Itsquattedatthebottomofthehill.Beyonditwereanassortmentofbones,eachwithaflamebesideitlittlebiggerthanacandle-flame,flickering.

           WednesdaygesturedforShadowtokeephisdistancefromtheseobjects.Shadowtookanextrasteptotheside,whichwasamistakeonthatglassypath,ashisankletwistedandhetumbleddowntheslopeasifhehadbeendropped,rollingandslippingandbouncing.Hegrabbedatarockashewentpast,andtheobsidiansnagrippedhisleathergloveasifitwerepaper.

           Hecametorestatthebottomofthehill,betweenthemechanicalspiderandthebones.