Американские боги

           "ThenshewentupontiptoesandpulledShadowdowntoher,andkissedhimhardonthelips,pushinghermouthagainsthisforwhatfelttoShadowlikeseveralminutes,andmighthavebeenaslongasfivesecondsinreal,clock-tickingtime.

           Itwasastrangekiss,Shadowthought,asherlipspressedagainsthis:itwasn’tintendedforhim.Itwasfortheotherpeopleinthebar,toletthemknowthatshehadpickedsides.Itwasaflag-wavingkiss.Evenasshekissedhim,hebecamecertainthatshedidn’tevenlikehim—well,notlikethat.

           Still,therewasatalehehadreadonce,longago,asasmallboy:thestoryofatravelerwhohadslippeddownacliff,withman-eatingtigersabovehimandalethalfallbelowhim,whomanagedtostophisfallhalfwaydownthesideofthecliff,holdingonfordearlife.Therewasaclumpofstrawberriesbesidehim,andcertaindeathabovehimandbelow.Whatshouldhedo?wentthequestion.Andthereplywas,Eatthestrawberries.

           Thestoryhadnevermadeanysensetohimasaboy.Itdidnow.

           Soheclosedhiseyes,threwhimselfintothekissandexperiencednothingbutSam’slipsandthesoftnessofherskinagainsthis,sweetasawildstrawberry.

           "C’mon,Mike,"saidChadMulligan,firmly."Please.Let’stakeitoutside."

           Sampulledback.Shelickedherlips,andsmiled,asmilethatnearlyreachedhereyes."Notbad,"shesaid."Youkissgoodforaboy.Okay,goplayoutside.