Американские боги

           "Easy,"saidShadow.Thecatstalkedawayacrosstheroad,andvanishedintoafieldofoldunharvestedcorn.

           AroundthenextbendintheroadShadowcameuponatinygraveyard.Theheadstoneswereweathered,althoughseveralofthemhadspraysoffreshflowersrestingagainstthem.Therewasnowallaboutthegraveyard,andnofence,onlylowmulberrytrees,plantedatthemargins,bentoverwithiceandage.Shadowsteppedoverthepiled-upiceandslushatthesideoftheroad.Thereweretwostonegatepostsmarkingtheentrytothegraveyard,althoughtherewasnogatebetweenthem.Hewalkedintothegraveyardbetweenthetwoposts.

           Hewanderedaroundthegraveyard,lookingattheheadstones.Therewerenoinscriptionslaterthan1969.Hebrushedthesnowfromasolid-lookinggraniteangel,andheleanedagainstit.

           Hetookthepaperbagfromhispocket,andremovedthepastyfromit.Hebrokeoffthetop:itbreathedafaintwispofsteamintothewintryair.Itsmelledreallygood,too.Hebitintoit.

           Somethingrustledbehindhim.Hethoughtforamomentitwasthecat,butthenhesmelledperfume,andundertheperfume,thescentofsomethingrotten.

           "Pleasedon’tlookatme,"shesaid,frombehindhim.

           "Hello,Laura,"saidShadow.

           Hervoicewashesitant,perhaps,hethought,evenalittlescared.Shesaid,"Hello,puppy."

           Hebrokeoffsomepasty.