Американские боги

           Heswayedbackandtwisted,tookablowonhisshoulderintendedforhisface.

           "ItoldyouhowIdiditwhenfirstwespoke,"gruntedSweeney."Butthere’snonesoblind-ow!Goodone!-asthosewhowillnotlisten."

           ShadowjabbedatSweeney,forcinghimbackintoatable;emptyglassesandashtrayscrashedtothefloor.Shadowcouldhavefinishedhimoffthen.

           ShadowglancedatWednesday,whonodded.ShadowlookeddownatMadSweeney."Arewedone?"heasked.MadSweeneyhesitated,thennodded.Shadowletgoofhim,andtookseveralstepsbackward.Sweeney,panting,pushedhimselfbackuptoastandingposition.

           "Notonyerass!"heshouted."Itain’tovertillIsayitis!"Thenhegrinned,andthrewhimselfforward,swingingatShadow.Hesteppedontoafallenicecube,andhisgrinturnedtoopenmoutheddismayashisfeetwentoutfromunderhim,andhefellbackward.Thebackofhisheadhitthebarroomfloorwithadefinitethud.

           ShadowputhiskneeintoMadSweeney’schest."Forthesecondtime,arewedonefighting?"heasked.

           "Wemayaswellbe,atthat,"saidSweeney,raisinghisheadfromthefloor,"forthejoy’sgoneoutofmenow,likethepeefromasmallboyinaswimmingpoolonahotday."Andhespatthebloodfromhismouthandclosedhiseyesandbegantosnore,indeepandmagnificentsnores.

           SomebodyclappedShadowontheback.Wednesdayputabottleofbeerintohishand.Ittastedbetterthanmead.

           Shadowwokeupstretchedoutinthebackofasedan.Themorningsunwasdazzling,andhisheadhurt.Hesatupawkwardly,rubbinghiseyes.