Американские боги
Chapter 2
HewroteSHADOWandthedateinhisprecisehandwriting,then,slowly,hewrote(PUPPY)besideit,puttingoffwalkingtowardtheendoftheroomwherethepeoplewere,andthecasket,andthethinginthecreamcasketthatwasnolongerLaura.
Asmallwomanwalkedinthroughthedoor,andhesitated.Herhairwasacopperyred,andherclotheswereexpensiveandveryblack.Widow’sweeds,thoughtShadow,whoknewherwell.AudreyBurton,Robbie’swife.
Audreywasholdingasprigofviolets,wrappedatthebasewithsilverfoil.ItwasthekindofthingachildwouldmakeinJune,thoughtShadow.Butvioletswereoutofseason.
Shewalkedacrosstheroom,toLaura’scasket.Shadowfollowedher.
Lauralaywithhereyesclosed,andherarmsfoldedacrossherchest.Sheworeaconservativebluesuithedidnotrecognize.Herlongbrownhairwasoutofhereyes.ItwashisLauraanditwasnot:herrepose,herealized,waswhatwasunnatural.Laurawasalwayssucharestlesssleeper.
AudreyplacedhersprigofsummervioletsonLaura’schest.Thensheworkedhermouthforamomentandspat,hard,ontoLaura’sdeadface.
ThespitcaughtLauraonthecheek,andbegantodripdowntowardherear.
Audreywasalreadywalkingtowardthedoor.Shadowhurriedafterher.
"Audrey?"hesaid.
"Shadow?Didyouescape?Ordidtheyletyouout?"
Hewonderedifsheweretakingtranquilizers.Hervoicewasdistantanddetached.
"Letmeoutyesterday.I’mafreeman,"saidShadow."Whatthehellwasthatallabout?"
Shestoppedinthedarkcorridor.
