Американские боги

           Ibelievethatlifeisagame,lifeisacrueljokeandthatlifeiswhathappenswhenyou’realiveandthatyoumightaswellliebackandenjoyit."Shestopped,outofbreath.Shadowalmosttookhishandsoffthewheeltoapplaud.Insteadhesaid,"Okay.SoifItellyouwhatI’velearnedyouwon’tthinkthatI’manut."

           "Maybe,"shesaid."Tryme."

           "Wouldyoubelievethatallthegodsthatpeoplehaveeverimaginedarestillwithustoday?"

           "…maybe."

           "Andthattherearenewgodsoutthere,godsofcomputersandtelephonesandwhatever,andthattheyallseemtothinkthereisn’troomforthembothintheworld.Andthatsomekindofwariskindoflikely."

           "Andthesegodskilledthosetwomen?"

           "No,mywifekilledthosetwomen."

           "Ithoughtyousaidyourwifewasdead."

           "Sheis."

           "Shekilledthembeforeshedied,then?"

           "After.Don’task."

           Shereachedupahandandflickedherhairfromherforehead.

           TheypulleduponMainStreet,outsidetheBuckStopsHere.Thesignoverthewindowshowedasurprised-lookingstagstandingonitshindlegsholdingaglassofbeer.Shadowgotout.Hegrabbedthebagwiththebookinit,andgotout.

           "Whywouldtheyhaveawar?"askedSam."Itseemskindofredundant.