Американские боги

           Shadowwasscanningtheminutesofwinter1878whenChadMulliganknockedandentered,lookingshamefaced,likeachildbringinghomeabadreportcard.

           "MisterAinsel,"hesaid."Mike.I’mtrulysorryaboutthis.Iappreciatehoweasyyou’vebeenaboutallthis.Personally,Ilikeyou.Butthatdon’tchangeanything,youknow?"

           Shadowsaidheknew.

           "Igotnochoiceinthematter,"saidChad,"buttoplaceyouunderarrestforviolatingyourparole."ThenPoliceChiefChadMulliganreadShadowhisrights.Hefilledoutsomepaperwork.HetookShadow’sprints.Hewalkedhimdownthehalltothecountyjail,ontheothersideofthebuilding.

           Therewasalongcounterandseveraldoorwaysononesideoftheroom,twoholdingcellsandadoorwayontheother.Oneofthecellswasoccupied—amansleptonacementbedunderathinblanket.Theotherwasempty.

           Therewasasleepy-lookingwomaninabrownuniformbehindthecounter,watchingJayLenoonasmallwhiteportabletelevision.ShetookthepapersfromChad,andsignedforShadow.Chadhungaround,filledinmorepapers.Thewomancamearoundthecounter,pattedShadowdown,tookallhispossessions—wallet,coins,frontdoorkey,book,watch—andputthemonthecounter,thengavehimaplasticbagwithorangeclothesinitandtoldhimtogointotheopencellandchangeintothem.Hecouldkeephisownunderwearandsocks.