Американские боги

           "Youknowthecar?"

           "WhenIcameupheretwoorthreeyearsagotostaywithMags.Itwasmethatpersuadedhimtopaintitpurple."

           "Oh,"saidShadow."It’sgoodtohavesomeonetoblame."

           Hedrovethecaroutontothestreet.Gotoutandclosedthegaragedoor.Gotbackintothecar.Samwaslookingathimoddlyashegotin,asiftheconfidencehadbeguntoleakoutofher.Heputonhisseatbelt,andshesaid,"I’mscared.Thiswasastupidthingtodo,wasn’tit?Gettingintoacarwithapsycho-killer."

           "Igotyousafehomelasttime,"saidShadow.

           "Youkilledtwomen,"shesaid."You’rewantedbytheFeds.AndnowIfindoutyou’relivingunderanassumednamenextdoortomysister.UnlessMikeAinselisyourrealname?"

           "No,"saidShadow,andhesighed."It’snot."Hehatedsayingit.Itwasifhewaslettinggoofsomethingimportant,abandoningMikeAinselbydenyinghim,asifheweretakinghisleaveofafriend.

           "Didyoukillthosemen?"

           "No."

           "Theycametomyhouse,andsaidwe’dbeenseentogether.Andthisguyshowedmephotographsofyou.Whatwashisname—MisterHat?No.MisterTown.Thatwashim.ItwaslikeTheFugitive.ButIsaidIhadn’tseenyou."

           "Thankyou."

           "So,"shesaid."Tellmewhat’sgoingon.I’llkeepyoursecretsifyoukeepmine.