Американские боги

           Twomensatatatableatthefarendoftheroom.Oneofthemhadhisbacktothecamera.Thecamerazoomedintothemawkwardly,inaseriesofjaggedmovements.Foramomenttheywereoutoffocus,andthentheybecamesharponcemore.Themanfacingthecameragotupandbegantopace,likeabearonachain.ItwasWednesday.Helookedasif,onsomelevel,hewasenjoyingthis.Astheycameintofocusthesoundcameonwithapop.

           Themanwithhisbacktothescreenwassaying,"—weareofferingisthechancetoendthis,hereandnow,withnomorebloodshed,nomoreaggression,nomorepain,nomorelossoflife.Isn’tthatworthgivingupalittle?"

           Wednesdaystoppedpacingandturned.Hisnostrilsflared."First,"hegrowled,"youhavetounderstandthatyouareaskingmetospeakforallofus,foreachandeveryindividualinmypositionacrossthiscountry.Whichismanifestlynonsensical.Theywilldowhattheywilldo,andIhavenosayinit.Secondly,whatonearthmakesyouthinkthatIbelievethatyoupeoplearegoingtokeepyourword?"

           Themanwithhisbacktothecameramovedhishead."Youdoyourselfaninjustice,"hesaid."Obviouslyyoupeoplehavenoleaders.Butyou’retheonetheylistento.Theypayattentiontoyou,MisterCargo.Andasforkeepingmyword,well,thesepreliminarytalksarebeingfilmedandbroadcastlive,"andhegesturedbacktowardthecamera."Someofyourpeoplearewatchingaswespeak.Otherswillseevideotapes.