Американские боги

           Heputahanddowntopushhimselftohisfeet,andfoundhimselftouchingwhatappearedtobeathighbonewiththepalmofhishand,andhewas…

           …standinginthedaylight,smokingacigarette,andlookingathiswatch.Therewerecarsallaroundhim,someempty,somenot.Hewaswishinghehadnothadthatlastcupofcoffee,forhedearlyneededapiss,anditwasstartingtobecomeuncomfortable.

           Oneofthelocallawenforcementpeoplecameovertohim,abigmanwithfrostinhiswalrusmoustache.Hehadalreadyforgottentheman’sname.

           "Idon’tknowhowwecouldhavelostthem,"saysLocalLawEnforcement,apologeticandpuzzled.

           "Itwasanopticalillusion,"hereplies."Yougettheminfreakweatherconditions.Themist.Itwasamirage.Theyweredrivingdownsomeotherroad.Wethoughttheywereonthisone."

           LocalLawEnforcementlooksdisappointed."Oh.IthoughtitwasmaybelikeanX-Fileskindathing,"hesays.

           "Nothingsoexciting,I’mafraid."Hesuffersfromoccasionalhemorrhoidsandhisasshasjuststarteditchinginthewaythatsignalsthataflare-upiscoming.HewantstobebackinsidetheBeltway.Hewishestherewasatreetogoandstandbehind:theurgetopissisgettingworse.Hedropsthecigaretteandstepsonit.

           LocalLawEnforcementwalksovertooneofthepolicecarsandsayssomethingtothedriver.Theybothshaketheirheads.