Американские боги

           "Sowhatareyou?Atwo-bitconartist?"

           Wednesdaynodded."Yes,"hesaid."IsupposeIam.Amongotherthings."

           Heswungoutintotheleftlanetopassatruck.Theskywasableakanduniformgray.

           "It’sgoingtosnow,"saidShadow.

           "Yes."

           "Sweeney.Didheactuallyshowmehowhedidthattrickwiththegoldcoins?"

           "Oh,yes."

           "Ican’tremember."

           "It’llcomeback.Itwasalongnight."

           Severalsmallsnowflakesbrushedthewindshield,meltinginseconds.

           "Yourwife’sbodyisondisplayatWendell’sFuneralParloratpresent,"saidWednesday."Thenafterlunchtheywilltakeherfromtheretothegraveyardfortheinterment."

           "Howdoyouknow?"

           "Icalledaheadwhileyouwereinthejohn.YouknowwhereWendell’sFuneralParloris?"

           Shadownodded.Thesnowflakeswhirledanddizziedinfrontofthem.

           "Thisisourexit,"saidShadow.ThecarstoleofftheinterstateandpasttheclusterofmotelstothenorthofEaglePoint.

           Threeyearshadpassed.Yes.Thereweremorestoplights,unfamiliarstorefronts.ShadowaskedWednesdaytoslowastheydrovepasttheMuscleFarm.CLOSEDINDEFINITELY,saidthehand-letteredsignonthedoor,DUETOBEREAVEMENT.

           LeftonMainStreet.PastanewtattooparlorandtheArmedForcesRecruitmentCenter,thentheBurgerKing,and,familiarandunchanged,Olsen’sDrugStore,finallytheyellow-brickfacadeofWendell’sFuneralParlor.AneonsigninthefrontwindowsaidHOUSEOFREST.Blanktombstonesstoodunchristenedanduncarvedinthewindowbeneaththesign.

           Wednesdaypulledupintheparkinglot.