Американские боги

           "Listen.Foxwasherefirst,andhisbrotherwasthewolf.Foxsaid,peoplewillliveforever.Iftheydietheywillnotdieforlong.Wolfsaid,no,peoplewilldie,peoplemustdie,allthingsthatlivemustdie,ortheywillspreadandcovertheworld,andeatallthesalmonandthecaribouandthebuffalo,eatallthesquashandallthecorn.NowonedayWolfdied,andhesaidtothefox,quick,bringmebacktolife.AndFoxsaid,No,thedeadmuststaydead.Youconvincedme.Andheweptashesaidthis.Buthesaidit,anditwasfinal.NowWolfrulestheworldofthedeadandFoxlivesalwaysunderthesunandthemoon,andhestillmournshisbrother."

           Wednesdaysaid,"Ifyouwon’tplay,youwon’tplay.We’llbemovingon."

           WhiskeyJack’sfacewasimpassive."I’mtalkingtothisyoungman,"hesaid."Youarebeyondhelp.Heisnot."HeturnedbacktoShadow."Youknow,youcannotcometomehereunlessIwishit."

           Shadowrealizedthathedidknowthis."Yes."

           "Tellmeyourdream,"saidWhiskeyJack.

           Shadowsaid,"Iwasclimbingatowerofskulls.Therewerehugebirdsflyingaroundit.Theyhadlightningintheirwings.Theywereattackingme.Thetowerfell."

           "Everybodydreams,"saidWednesday."Canwehittheroad?"

           "NoteverybodydreamsoftheWakinyau,thethunderbirds,"saidWhiskeyJack."Wefelttheechoesofithere.