Американские боги

           "

           "BacktoTexas?"

           "Somewherewarm.Idon’tcare."

           "Ihavetowaithere,"saidShadow."Untilmybossneedsme."

           "That’snotliving,"saidLaura.Shesighed;andthenshesmiled,thesamesmilethathadbeenabletotugathisheartnomatterhowmanytimeshesawit.Everytimeshesmiledathimhadbeenthefirsttimealloveragain.

           "WillIseeyouagain?"

           Shelookedupathimandshestoppedsmiling."Iguessso,"shesaid."Intheend.Nothing’sfinished,yet,isit?"

           "No,"hesaid."It’snot."

           Hewenttoputhisarmaroundher,butsheshookherheadandpulledoutofhisreach.Shesatdownontheedgeofasnow-coveredpicnictable,andshewatchedhimdriveaway.

           INTERLUDE

           Thewarhadbegunandnobodysawit.Thestormwasloweringandnobodyknewit.

           Warsarebeingfoughtallthetime,withtheworldoutsidenomorethewiser:thewaroncrime,thewaronpoverty,thewarondrugs.Thiswarwassmallerthanthose,andhuger,andmoreselective,butitwasasrealasany.

           AfallinggirderinManhattanclosedastreetfortwodays.Itkilledtwopedestrians,anArabictaxi-driverandthetaxi-driver’spassenger.

           AtruckerinDenverwasfounddeadinhishome.Themurderinstrument,arubber-grippedclaw-headedhammer,hadbeenleftonthefloorbesidehiscorpse.