Американские боги

           ShadowlookedaroundforHinzelmann,buttheoldmandidnotseemtobetherethisevening.Hespiedafreetableatthebackandstartedwalkingtowardit.

           Thensomebodybegantoscream.

           Itwasabadscream,afull-throated,seen-a-ghosthystericalscream,whichsilencedallconversation.Shadowlookedaround,certainsomebodywasbeingmurdered,andthenherealizedthatallthefacesinthebarwereturningtowardhim.Eventheblackcat,whosleptinthewindowduringtheday,wasstandingupontopofthejukeboxwithitstailhighanditsbackarchedandwasstaringatShadow.

           Timeslowed.

           "Gethim!"shoutedawoman’svoice,parkedonthevergeofhysteria."Ohforgod’ssake,somebodystophim!Don’tlethimgetaway!Please!"Itwasavoiceheknew.

           Nobodymoved.TheystaredatShadow.Hestaredbackatthem.

           ChadMulligansteppedforward,walkingthroughthepeople.Thesmallwomanwalkedbehindhimwarily,hereyeswide,asifshewaspreparingtostartscreamingoncemore.Shadowknewher.Ofcourseheknewher.

           Chadwasstillholdinghisbeer,whichheputdownonanearbytable.Hesaid,"Mike."

           Shadowsaid"Chad."

           AudreyBurtonwasastepbehindChadMulligan.Herfacewaswhite,andthereweretearsinhereyes.Shehadbeenscreaming."Shadow,"shesaid."Youbastard.Youmurderousevilbastard.