Американские боги

           HeputaguninhismouthandblewhisheadoffinPhiladelphiain1932.Whatkindofawayisthatforagodtodie?"

           "I’msorry."

           "Youdon’tgivetwofuckingcents,son.Hewasawholelotlikeyou.Biganddumb."Wednesdaystoppedtalking.Hecoughed.

           "What’swrong?"saidShadow,forthesecondtime.

           "Theygotintouch."

           "Whodid?"

           "Theopposition."

           "And?"

           "Theywanttodiscussatruce.Peacetalks.Liveandletfuckinglive."

           "Sowhathappensnow?"

           "NowIgoanddrinkbadcoffeewiththemodernassholesinaKansasCityMasonichall."

           "Okay.Yougoingtopickmeup,orshallImeetyousomewhere?"

           "Youstaythereandyoukeepyourheaddown.Don’tgetintoanytrouble.Youhearme?"

           "But—"

           Therewasaclick,andthelinewentdeadandstayeddead.Therewasnodialtone,butthen,thereneverwas.

           Nothingbuttimetokill.TheconversationwithWednesdayhadleftShadowwithasenseofdisquiet.Hegotup,intendingtogoforawalk,butalreadythelightwasfading,andhesatbackdownagain.

           ShadowpickeduptheMinutesoftheLakesideCityCouncil1872–1884andturnedthepages,hiseyesscanningthetinyprint,notactuallyreadingit,occasionallyscanningsomethingthatcaughthiseye.