Американские боги

           Intherefrigeratorwasaplasticbagfilledwithcrickets,andanotherfilledwiththecorpsesofbabymice.

           InarockclubinSeattleShadowwatchedWednesdayshouthisgreeting,overthenoiseoftheband,toayoungwomanwithshortredhairandblue-spiraltattoos.Thattalkmusthavegonewell,forWednesdaycameawayfromitgrinningdelightedly.

           FivedayslaterShadowwaswaitingintherentalwhenWednesdaywalked,scowling,fromthelobbyofanofficebuildinginDallas.Wednesdayslammedthecardoorwhenhegotin,andsatthereinsilence,hisfaceredwithrage.Hesaid,"Drive."Thenhesaid,"FuckingAlbanians.Likeanybodycares."

           ThreedaysafterthattheyflewtoBoulder,wheretheyhadapleasantlunchwithfiveyoungJapanesewomen.Itwasamealofpleasantriesandpoliteness,andShadowwalkedawayfromitunsureofwhetheranythinghadbeenagreedtoordecided.Wednesday,though,seemedhappyenough.

           ShadowhadbeguntolookforwardtoreturningtoLakeside.Therewasapeacethere,andawelcome,thatheappreciated.

           Eachmorning,whenhewasnotawayworkingforWednesday,hewoulddriveacrossthebridgetothetownsquare.HewouldbuytwopastiesatMabel’s;hewouldeatonepastythenandthere,anddrinkacoffee.Ifsomeonehadleftanewspaperouthewouldreadit,althoughhewasneverinterestedenoughinthenewstopurchaseanewspaperhimself.