Американские боги

           HecamestaggeringoutofaNewYorkadagencyin1910andfilledthenation’smythstomachwithemptycalories.""IlikePaulBunyan,"saidWhiskeyJack."IwentonhisrideattheMallofAmerica,fewyearsback.YouseebigoldPaulBunyanatthetopthenyoucomecrashingdown.Splash.He’sokaybyme.Idon’tmindthatheneverexisted,meanshenevercutdownanytrees.Notasgoodasplantingtreesthough.That’sbetter."

           "Yousaidamouthful,"saidJohnnyChapman.

           Wednesdayblewasmokering.IthungintheairlikesomethingfromaWarnerBros.cartoon,dissipatingslowlyinwispsandcurls."Damnit,WhiskeyJack,that’snotthepointandyouknowit."

           "I’mnotgoingtohelpyou,"saidWhiskeyJack."Whenyougetyourasskicked,youcancomebackhereandifI’mstillhereI’llfeedyouagain.Yougetthebestfoodinthefall."

           Wednesdaysaid,"Allthealternativesareworse."

           "Youhavenoideawhatthealternativesare,"saidWhiskeyJack.ThenhelookedatShadow."Youarehunting,"hesaid.Hisvoicewascigarette-roughened,anditresonatedinthatspace,smokywithleakingwoodsmokeandcigarettes.

           "I’mworking,"saidShadow.

           WhiskeyJackshookhishead."Youarealsohuntingsomething,"hesaid."Thereisadebtthatyouwishtopay."

           ShadowthoughtofLaura’sbluelipsandthebloodonherhands,andhenodded.