Американские боги

           "Greeks,"saidtheIceman,withdisgust."Anditain’ttruewhattheysayaboutthem,neither.Itriedgivingittomygirlfriendintheass,shealmostclawedmyeyesout."

           Lyesmithwastransferredoneday,withoutwarning.HeleftShadowhiscopyofHerodotus.Therewasanickelhiddeninthepages.Coinswerecontraband:youcansharpentheedgesagainstastone,sliceopensomeone’sfaceinafight.Shadowdidn’twantaweapon;Shadowjustwantedsomethingtodowithhishands.

           Shadowwasnotsuperstitious.Hedidnotbelieveinanythinghecouldnotsee.Still,hecouldfeeldisasterhoveringabovetheprisoninthosefinalweeks,justashehadfeltitinthedaysbeforetherobbery.Therewasahollownessinthepitofhisstomachthathetoldhimselfwassimplyafearofgoingbacktotheworldontheoutside.Buthecouldnotbesure.Hewasmoreparanoidthanusual,andinprisonusualisvery,andisasurvivalskill.Shadowbecamemorequiet,moreshadowy,thanever.Hefoundhimselfwatchingthebodylanguageoftheguards,oftheotherinmates,searchingforacluetothebadthingthatwasgoingtohappen,ashewascertainthatitwould.

           Amonthbeforehewasduetobereleased.Shadowsatinachillyoffice,facingashortmanwithaport-winebirthmarkonhisforehead.Theysatacrossadeskfromeachother;themanhadShadow’sfileopeninfrontofhim,andwasholdingaballpointpen.Theendofthepenwasbadlychewed.

           "Youcold,Shadow?"

           "Yes,"saidShadow."Alittle."

           Themanshrugged."That’sthesystem,"hesaid.