Американские боги

           "Wouldyoulikesome?"heasked.

           Shewasstandingimmediatelybehindhim,now."No,"shesaid."Youeatit.Idon’teatfoodanymore."

           Heatehispasty.Itwasgood."Iwanttolookatyou,"hesaid.

           "Youwon’tlikeit,"shetoldhim.

           "Please?"

           Shesteppedaroundthestoneangel.Shadowlookedather,inthedaylight.Somethingsweredifferentandsomethingswerethesame.Hereyeshadnotchanged,norhadthecrookedhopefulnessofhersmile.Andshewas,veryobviously,verydead.Shadowfinishedhispasty.Hestoodupandtippedthecrumbsoutofthepaperbag,thenfoldeditupandputitbackintohispocket.

           ThetimehehadspentinthefuneralhomeinCairomadeiteasiersomehowforhimtobeinherpresence.Hedidnotknowwhattosaytoher.

           Hercoldhandsoughthis,andhesqueezeditgently.Hecouldfeelhisheartbeatinginhischest.Hewasscared,andwhatscaredhimwasthenormalityofthemoment.Hefeltsocomfortablewithherathissidethathewouldhavebeenwillingtostandthereforever.

           "Imissyou,"headmitted.

           "I’mhere,"shesaid."That’swhenImissyoumost.Whenyou’rehere.Whenyouaren’there,whenyou’rejustaghostfromthepastoradreamfromanotherlife,it’seasierthen."

           Shesqueezedhisfingers.

           "So,"heasked.