Американские боги

           Henolongerneededtourinate;thatwassomeoneelse.Hewasstandingunderthestarsonaglassyrockplain,andthebonewasdownonthegroundbesidetheotherbones.Wednesdaymadethesignalforsilenceagain.Thenhebegantowalk,andShadowfollowed.

           Therewasacreakfromthemechanicalspider,andWednesdayfroze.Shadowstoppedandwaitedwithhim.Greenlightsflickeredandranupandalongitssideinclusters.Shadowtriednottobreathetooloudly.

           Hethoughtaboutwhathadjusthappened.Ithadbeenlikelookingthroughawindowintosomeoneelse’smind.Andthenhethought,Mr.World.Itwasmewhothoughthisvoicesoundedfamiliar.Thatwasmythought,notTown’s.Thatwaswhythatseemedsostrange.Hetriedtoidentifythevoiceinhismind,toputitintothecategoryinwhichitbelonged,butiteludedhim.

           It’llcometome,thoughtShadow.Soonerorlater,it’llcometome.

           Thegreenlightswentblue,thenred,thenfadedtoadullred,andthespidersettleddownonitsmetallichaunches.Wednesdaybegantowalkforward,alonelyfigurebeneaththestars,inabroad-brimmedhat,hisfrayeddarkcloakgustingrandomlyinthenowherewind,hisstafftappingontheglassyrockfloor.

           Whenthemetallicspiderwasonlyadistantglintinthestarlight,farbackontheplain,Wednesdaysaid,"Itshouldbesafetospeak,now."

           "Wherearewe?"

           "Behindthescenes,"saidWednesday.