Американские боги

           Whatistheretowin?"

           "Idon’tknow,"admittedShadow.

           "It’seasiertobelieveinaliensthaningods,"saidSam."MaybeMisterTownandMisterWhateverwereMeninBlack,onlythealienkind."

           "Maybetheywere,atthat,"saidShadow.

           TheywerestandingonthesidewalkoutsidetheBuckStopsHereandSamstopped.ShelookedupatShadow,andherbreathhungonthenightairlikeafaintcloud.Shesaid,"Justtellmeyou’reoneofthegoodguys."

           "Ican’t,"saidShadow."IwishIcould.ButI’mdoingmybest."

           Shelookedupathim,andbitherlowerlip.Thenshenodded."Goodenough,"shesaid."Iwon’tturnyouin.Youcanbuymeabeer."

           Shadowpushedthedooropenforher,andtheywerehitbyablastofheatandmusic,envelopedbyacloudofwarmththatsmelledofbeerandhamburgers.Theywentinside.

           Samwavedatsomefriends.Shadownoddedtoahandfulofpeoplewhosefaces—althoughnottheirnames—herememberedfromthedayhehadspentsearchingforAlisonMcGovern,orwhohehadmetinMabel’sinthemorning.ChadMulliganwasstandingatthebar,withhisarmaroundtheshouldersofasmallred-hairedwoman—thekissingcousin,Shadowfigured.Hewonderedwhatshelookedlike,butshehadherbacktohim.Chad’shandraisedinamocksalutewhenhesawShadow.Shadowgrinned,andwavedbackathim.