Американские боги

           "

           MargueritelookedatShadow,whobusiedhimselfindabbinganimaginaryblobofredsaucefromhischinwithapapernapkin."Well,you’regrown-ups,"shesaid,inatoneofvoicethatdiditsbesttoimplythattheyweren’t,andthateveniftheyweretheyshouldn’tbe.

           AfterdinnerShadowhelpedSamwiththewashingup—hedried—andthenhedidatrickforLeon,countingpenniesintoLeon’spalm:eachtimeLeonopenedhishandandcountedthemtherewasonelesscointhanhehadcountedin.Andasforthefinalpenny—"Areyousqueezingit?Tightly?"—whenLeonopenedhishand,hefoundithadtransformedintoadime.Leon’splaintivecriesof"How’dyoudothat?Momma,how’dhedothat?"followedhimoutintothehall.

           Samhandedhimhiscoat."Comeon,"shesaid.Hercheekswereflushedfromthewine.

           Outsideitwascold.

           Shadowstoppedinhisapartment,tossedtheMinutesoftheLakesideCityCouncilintoaplasticgrocerybagandbroughtitalong.HinzelmannmightbedownattheBuck,andhewantedtoshowhimthementionofhisgrandfather.

           Theywalkeddownthedrivesidebyside.

           Heopenedthegaragedoor,andshestartedtolaugh."Omigod,"shesaid,whenshesawthe4Runner."PaulGunther’scar.YouboughtPaulGunther’scar.Omigod."

           Shadowopenedthedoorforher.Thenhewentaroundandgotin.