Американские боги

           "

           LeontuggedatthelegofShadow’spants."Willyoushowmenow?"heasked,andheldouthisquarter.

           "Okay,"saidShadow."ButifIshowyou,youhavetorememberthatamastermagiciannevertellsanyonehowit’sdone."

           "Ipromise,"saidLeon,gravely.

           Shadowtookthecoininhislefthand,thenmovedLeon’srighthandin,cuppingitinhisownhand,hugebycomparison,showinghimhowtoappeartotakethecoininhisrighthandwhileactuallyleavingitinShadow’slefthand.ThenheputthecoinintoLeon’slefthandandmadehimrepeatthemovementsonhisown.

           Afterseveralattemptstheboymasteredthemove."Nowyouknowhalfofit,"saidShadow."Becausethemovesareonlyhalfofit.Theotherhalfisthis:putyourattentionontheplacewherethecoinoughttobe.Lookattheplaceit’smeanttobe.Followitwithyoureyes.Ifyouactlikeit’sinyourrighthand,noonewillevenlookatyourlefthand,nomatterhowclumsyyouare."Samwatchedallthiswithherheadtippedslightlyononeside,sayingnothing.

           "Dinner!"calledMarguerite,pushingherwayinfromthekitchenwithasteamingbowlofspaghettiinherhands."Leon,gowashyourhands."

           Thefoodwasgood:crustygarlicbread,thickredsauce,goodspicymeatballs.ShadowcomplimentedMargueriteonit.

           "Oldfamilyrecipe,"shetoldhim,"fromtheCorsicansideofthefamily.