Американские боги

           "

           Wednesdaylookedathimsharply.Heseemedtobeabouttosaysomething,andthenheslumpedbackinhisseat,andlookeddownatthemenuandsaid,"So?"

           "It’sagoodthingtobeagod,"saidShadow.

           "Isit?"askedWednesday,andthistimeitwasShadowwholookedaway.

           Inagasstationtwenty-fivemilesoutsideLakeside,onthewallbytherestrooms,Shadowsawahomemadephotocopiednotice:ablackandwhitephotoofAlisonMcGovernandthehandwrittenquestionHaveYouSeenMe?aboveit.Sameyearbookphotograph:smilingconfidently,agirlwithrubber-bandbracesonhertopteethwhowantstoworkwithanimalswhenshegrowsup.Haveyouseenme?

           ShadowboughtaSnickersbar,abottleofwater,andacopyoftheLakesideNews.Theabove-the-foldstory,writtenbyMargueriteOlsen,ourLakesideReporter,showedaphotographofaboyandanolderman,outonthefrozenlake,standingbyanouthouse-likeice-fishingshack,andbetweenthemtheywereholdingabigfish.Theyweresmiling.FatherandSonCatchRecordNorthernPike.Fullstoryinside.

           Wednesdaywasdriving.Hesaid,"Readmeanythinginterestingyoufindinthepaper."

           Shadowlookedcarefully,andheturnedthepagesslowly,buthecouldn’tfindanything.

           Wednesdaydroppedhimoffinthedrivewayoutsidehisapartment.Asmoke-coloredcatstaredathimfromthedriveway,thenfledwhenhebenttostrokeit.