Американские боги

           Hewouldpocketthesecondpasty,wrappedinitspaperbag,andeatitforhislunch.

           HewasreadingUSATodayonemorningwhenMabelsaid,"Hey,Mike.Whereyougoingtoday?"

           Theskywaspaleblue.Themorningmisthadleftthetreescoveredwithhoarfrost."Idon’tknow,"saidShadow."MaybeI’llwalkthewildernesstrailagain."

           Sherefilledhiscoffee."YouevergoneeastonCountyQ?It’skindofprettyoutthataway.That’sthelittleroadthatstartsacrostfromthecarpetstoreonTwentiethAvenue."

           "No.Neverhave."

           "Well,"shesaid,"it’skindofpretty."

           Itwasextremelypretty.Shadowparkedhiscarattheedgeoftown,andwalkedalongthesideoftheroad,awinding,countryroadthatcurledaroundthehillstotheeastofthetown.Eachofthehillswascoveredwithleaflessmapletrees,andbone-whitebirches,anddarkfirsandpines.Therewasnofootpath,andShadowwalkedalongthemiddleoftheroad,makingforthesidewheneverheheardacar.

           Atonepointasmalldarkcatkeptpacewithhimbesidetheroad.Itwasthecolorofdirt,withwhiteforepaws.Hewalkedovertoit.Itdidnotrunaway.

           "Hey,cat,"saidShadow,unselfconsciously.

           Thecatputitsheadononeside,lookedupathimwithemeraldeyes.Thenithissed—notathim,butatsomethingoveronthesideoftheroad,somethinghecouldnotsee.