Американские боги

           Shewasnotobviouslydozing,butshewasbynomeansawake,soshedidnotnoticewhenthegangatCheersstoppedtalkingandgettingoffone-linersandjuststartedstaringoutofthescreenatShadow.

           Diane,theblondebarmaidwhofanciedherselfanintellectual,wasthefirsttotalk."Shadow,"shesaid."Weweresoworriedaboutyou.You’dfallenofftheworld.It’ssogoodtoseeyouagain—albeitinbondageandorangecouture."

           "WhatIfigure,is,thethingtodo,"pontificatedbar-boreCliff,"istoescapeinhuntingseason,wheneverybody’swearingorangeanyway."

           Shadowsaidnothing.

           "Ah,catgotyourtongue,Isee,"saidDiane."Well,you’veledusamerrychase!"

           Shadowlookedaway.OfficerLizhadbegun,gently,tosnore.Carla,thelittlewaitress,snapped,"Hey,jerk-wad!Weinterruptthisbroadcasttoshowyousomethingthat’sgoingtomakeyoupissinyourfriggin’pants.Youready?"

           Thescreenflickeredandwentblack.Thewords"LIVEFEED"pulsatedinwhiteatthebottomleftofthescreen.Asubduedfemalevoicesaid,invoice-over,"It’scertainlynottoolatetochangetothewinningside.Butyouknow,youalsohavethefreedomtostayjustwhereyouare.That’swhatitmeanstobeanAmerican.That’sthemiracleofAmerica.Freedomtobelievemeansthefreedomtobelievethewrongthing,afterall.Justasfreedomofspeechgivesyoutherighttostaysilent.