Американские боги

           There’sametalguard-railatknee-heightonherright,tostopcarsfromtumblingoverthesideofthehill,andnowtherainisrunningdownthehill-roadturningitintoariver,andthesolesofherfeethavestartedtobleed.

           ThelightsofL.A.arespreadoutinfrontofher,atwinklingelectricalmapofanimaginarykingdom,theheavenslaidoutrighthereonearth,andsheknowsthatallsheneedstobesafeistogetofftheroad.

           Iamblackbutcomely,shemouthstothenightandtherain.IamtheroseofSharon,andthelilyofthevalleys.Staymewithflagons,comfortmewithapples:forIamsickoflove.

           Aforkoflightningburnsgreenlyacrossthenightsky.Shelosesherfooting,slidesseveralfeet,skinningherlegandelbow,andsheisgettingtoherfeetwhensheseesthelightsofthecardescendingthehilltowardher.It’scomingdowntoofastforsafetyandshewonderswhethertothrowherselftotheright,whereitcouldcrushheragainstthehillside,ortheleft,whereshemighttumbledownthegully,andsherunsacrosstheroad,intendingtopushherselfupthewetearth,toclimb,whenthewhitestretchlimocomesfishtailingdowntheslickhillsideroad,hellitmustbedoingeighty,maybeevenaquaplaningonthesurfaceoftheroad,andshe’spushingherhandsintoahandfulofweedsandearth,andshe’sgoingtogetupandaway,sheknows,whenthewetearthcrumblesandshetumblesbackdownontotheroad.