Американские боги

           Sheputherheadononesideandsaid,"Idid.Suddenly,Idid.Ithoughtyouwerecallingme,butitwasn’tyou,wasit?"

           "No."

           "Youdidn’twanttoseeme."

           "Itwasn’tthat."Hehesitated."No.Ididn’twanttoseeyou.Ithurtstoomuch."

           Thesnowcrunchedbeneaththeirfeetanditglittereddiamondsasthesunlightcaughtit.

           "Itmustbehard,"saidLaura,"notbeingalive."

           "Youmeanit’shardforyoutobedead?Look,I’mstillgoingtofigureouthowtobringyouback,properly.IthinkI’montherighttrack—"

           "No,"shesaid."Imean,I’mgrateful.AndIhopeyoureallycandoit.Ididalotofbadstuff…"Sheshookherhead."ButIwastalkingaboutyou."

           "I’malive,"saidShadow."I’mnotdead.Remember?"

           "You’renotdead,"shesaid."ButI’mnotsurethatyou’realive,either.Notreally."

           Thisisn’tthewaythisconversationgoes,thoughtShadow.Thisisn’tthewayanythinggoes.

           "Iloveyou,"shesaid,dispassionately."You’remypuppy.Butwhenyou’rereallydeadyougettoseethingsclearer.It’slikethereisn’tanyonethere.Youknow?You’relikethisbig,solid,man-shapedholeintheworld."Shefrowned."Evenwhenweweretogether.Ilovedbeingwithyoubecauseyouadoredme,andyouwoulddoanythingforme.