Американские боги

           SamtoldthemhowalltheaboriginalnativesofTasmaniahadbeenwipedoutbytheBritish,andaboutthehumanchaintheymadeacrosstheislandtocatchthemwhichtrappedonlyanoldmanandasickboy.ShetoldhimhowtheTasmaniantigers,thethylacines,hadbeenkilledbyfarmers,scaredfortheirsheep,howthepoliticiansinthe1930snoticedthatthethylacinesshouldbeprotectedonlyafterthelastofthemwasdead.Shefinishedhersecondglassofwine,pouredherthird.

           "So,Mike,"saidSam,suddenly,hercheeksreddening,"tellusaboutyourfamily.WhataretheAinselslike?"Shewassmiling,andtherewasmischiefinthatsmile.

           "We’rerealdull,"saidShadow."NoneofusevergotasfarasTasmania.Soyou’reatschoolinMadison.What’sthatlike?"

           "Youknow,"shesaid."I’mstudyingarthistory,women’sstudies,andcastingmyownbronzes."

           "WhenIgrowup,"saidLeon,"I’mgoingtodomagic.Poof.Willyouteachme,MikeAinsel?"

           "Sure,"saidShadow."Ifyourmomdoesn’tmind."

           Margueriteshrugged.

           Samsaid,"Afterwe’veeaten,whileyou’reputtingLeontobed,Mags,IthinkI’mgoingtogetMiketotakemetotheBuckStopsHereforanhourorso."

           Margueritedidnotshrug.Herheadmoved,aneyebrowraisedslightly.

           "Ithinkhe’sinteresting,"saidSam."Andwehavelotstotalkabout.