Американские боги

           Atthebottomofthehillwasagravelroad,andaredstationwagonbouncedalongitlikeachild’stoycar.AgustofwoodsmokestungShadow’sface,makinghiseyestear.Thesmokecamefromabuildingnearby,whichlookedasifsomeonehadpickedupamobilehomeanddroppeditonthesideofthehillthirtyyearsago.Itwasmuchrepaired,patched,and,inplaces,addedonto:Shadowwascertainthatthegalvanizedtinchimney,fromwhichthewoodsmokewascoming,wasnotpartoftheoriginalstructure.

           Astheyreachedthedooritopened,andamiddle-agedmanwithdarkskin,sharpeyesandamouthlikeaknife-slashlookeddownatthemandsaid,"Eyah,Iheardthatthereweretwowhitemenontheirwaytoseeme.TwowhitesinaWinnebago.AndIheardthattheygotlost,likewhitemenalwaysgetlostiftheydon’tputuptheirsignseverywhere.Andnowlookatthesetwosorrybeastsatthedoor.Youknowyou’reonLakotaland?"Hishairwasgray,andlong.

           "SincewhenwereyouLakota,youoldfraud?"saidWednesday.Hewaswearingacoatandaflap-earedcap,andalreadyitseemedtoShadowunlikelythatonlyafewmomentsagounderthestarshehadbeenwearingabroad-brimmedhatandatatteredcloak."So,WhiskeyJack.Yousadbastard.I’mstarving,andmyfriendherejustthrewuphisbreakfast.Areyougoingtoinviteusin?"

           WhiskeyJackscratchedanarmpit.Hewaswearingbluejeansandanundershirtthegrayofhishair.Heworemoccasins,andheseemednottonoticethecold.