Американские боги

           "Hey,"hesaidtoWednesday."Don’tcomebackhere,you.Youarenotwelcome."

           Wednesdayextendedhismiddlefingerheavenward."Rotateonthis,"hesaidaffably.

           Theywalkeddownhillthroughthesnow,pushingtheirwaythroughthedrifts.Chapmanwalkedinfront,hisbarefeetredagainstthecrust-toppedsnow."Aren’tyoucold?"askedShadow.

           "MywifewasChoctaw,"saidChapman.

           "Andshetaughtyoumysticalwaystokeepoutthecold?"

           "Nope.ShethoughtIwascrazy,"saidChapman."Sheusedt’say,‘Johnny,whydon’tyoujes’putonboots?’"Theslopeofthehillbecamesteeper,andtheywereforcedtostoptalking.Thethreemenstumbledandslippedonthesnow,usingthetrunksofbirchtreesonthehillsidetosteadythemselves,andtostopthemselvesfromfalling.Whenthegroundbecameslightlymorelevel,Chapmansaid,"She’sdeadnow,a’course.WhenshediedIguessmaybeIwentamitecrazy.Itcouldhappentoanyone.Itcouldhappentoyou."HeclappedShadowonthearm."ByJesusandJehosophat,you’reabigman."

           "Sotheytellme,"saidShadow.

           Theytrudgeddownthathillforanotherhalfanhour,untiltheyreachedthegravelroadthatwoundaroundthebaseofit,andthethreemenbegantowalkalongit,towardtheclusterofbuildingstheyhadseenfromhighonthehill.

           Acarslowedandstopped.