Американские боги

           "Tellme,Bilquis,howmuchjusttosuckmycock?"

           "Whatyoucallme?"

           "Bilquis,"hesays,again.Andthenhesings,inavoicenotmadeforsinging,"Youareanimmaterialgirllivinginamaterialworld."Thereissomethingrehearsedabouthiswords,asifhe’spracticedthisexchangeinfrontofamirror.

           Shestopssmiling,andherfacechanges,becomeswiser,sharper,harder."Whatdoyouwant?"

           "Itoldyou.Sweetloving."

           "I’llgiveyouwhateveryouwant,"shesays.Sheneedstogetoutofthelimo.It’smovingtoofastforhertothrowherselffromthecar,shefigures,butshe’lldoitifshecan’ttalkherwayoutofthis.Whatever’shappeninghere,shedoesn’tlikeit.

           "WhatIwant.Yes."Hepauses.Histonguerunsoverhislips."Iwantacleanworld.Iwanttoowntomorrow.Iwantevolution,devolution,andrevolution.Iwanttomoveourkindfromthefringesoftheslipstreamtothehighergroundofthemainstream.Youpeopleareunderground.That’swrong.Weneedtotakethespotlightandshine.Frontandcenter.Youpeoplehavebeensofarundergroundforsolongyou’velosttheuseofyoureyes."

           "Myname’sAyesha,"shesays."Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.There’sanothergirlonthatcorner,hernameBilquis.WecouldgobacktoSunset,youcouldhavebothofus…"

           "Oh,Bilquis,"hesays,andhesighs,theatrically.