Американские боги

           Wednesdaywasdriving.Hewashummingtunelesslyashedrove.Hehadapapercupofcoffeeinthecupholder.Theywereheadingalonganinterstatehighway.Thepassengerseatwasempty.

           "Howareyoufeeling,thisfinemorning?"askedWednesday,withoutturningaround.

           "Whathappenedtomycar?"askedShadow."Itwasarental."

           "MadSweeneytookitbackforyou.Itwaspartofthedealthetwoofyoucutlastnight.Afterthefight."

           ConversationsfromthenightbeforebegantojostleuncomfortablyinShadow’shead."Yougotanymoreofthatcoffee?"

           Thebigmanreachedbeneaththepassengerseatandpassedbackanunopenedbottleofwater."Here.You’llbedehydrated.Thiswillhelpmorethancoffee,forthemoment.We’llstopatthenextgasstationandgetyousomebreakfast.You’llneedtocleanyourselfup,too.Youlooklikesomethingthegoatdraggedin."

           "Catdraggedin,"saidShadow.

           "Goat,"saidWednesday."Hugerankstinkinggoatwithbigteeth."

           Shadowunscrewedthetopofthewateranddrank.Somethingclinkedheavilyinhisjacketpocket.Heputhishandintothepocketandpulledoutacointhesizeofahalf-dollar.Itwasheavy,andadeepyellowincolor.

           InthegasstationShadowboughtaClean-U-UpKit,whichcontainedarazor,apacketofshavingcream,acomb,andadisposabletoothbrushpackedwithatinytubeoftoothpaste.Thenhewalkedintothemen’srestroomandlookedathimselfinthemirror.Hehadabruiseunderoneeye-whenheproddedit,experimentally,withonefinger,hefoundithurtdeeply-andaswollenlowerlip.