Американские боги

           Thenhesaid,"Ilikeithere.Comein,whitemenwholosttheirWinnebago."

           Therewasmorewoodsmokeintheairinsidethetrailer,andtherewasanothermaninthere,sittingatatable.Themanworestainedbuckskins,andwasbarefoot.Hisskinwasthecolorofbark.

           Wednesdayseemeddelighted."Well,"hesaid,"itseemsourdelaywasfortuitous.WhiskeyJackandAppleJohnny.Twobirdswithonestone."

           Themanatthetable,AppleJohnny,staredatWednesday,thenhereacheddownahandtohiscrotch,cuppeditandsaid,"Wrongagain.Ijes’checkedandIgotbothofmystones,jes’wheretheyoughtabe."HelookedupatShadow,raisedhishand,palmout."I’mJohnChapman.Youdon’tmindanythingyourbosssaysaboutme.He’sanasshole.Alwayswasanasshole.Alwaysgoin’tobeanasshole.Somepeopleisjes’assholes,andthat’sanendofit."

           "MikeAinsel,"saidShadow.

           Chapmanrubbedhisstubblychin."Ainsel,"hesaid."That’snotaname.Butit’lldoatapinch.Whatdotheycallyou?"

           "Shadow."

           "I’llcallyouShadow,then.Hey,WhiskeyJack"—butitwasn’treallyWhiskeyJackhewassaying,Shadowrealized;toomanysyllables—"how’sthefoodlooking?"

           WhiskeyJacktookawoodenspoonandliftedthelidoffablackironpot,bubblingawayontherangeofthewood-burningstove."It’sreadyforeating,"hesaid.