Американские боги

           ChadMulligancamein,saidafewwordstothenewman,thenheunlockedthecelldoorandwalkedinside.

           "Itstinksinhere."

           "Tellmeaboutit."

           "Okay.Folkareheretopickyouup.Seemsyou’reamatterofnationalsecurity.Youknowthat?"

           "It’llmakeagreatfront-pagestoryfortheLakesideNews,"saidShadow.

           Chadlookedathimwithoutexpression."Thatadriftergotpickedupforparoleviolations?Notmuchofastory."

           "Sothat’sthewayitis?"

           "That’swhattheytellme,"saidChadMulligan.Shadowputhishandsinfrontofhimthistime,andChadcuffedhim.Chadlockedontheanklehobbles,andarodfromthecuffstothehobbles.

           Shadowthought,They’lltakemeoutside.MaybeIcanmakeabreakforit,somekindofbreakforit,inhobblesandcuffsandlightweightorangeclothes,outintothesnow,andevenashethoughtitheknewhowstupidandhopelessitwas.

           Chadwalkedhimoutintotheoffice.LizhadturnedtheTVoffnow.Theblackdeputylookedhimover."He’sabigguy,"hesaidtoChad.LizpassedthenewdeputythepaperbagwithShadow’spossessionsinit,andhesignedforit.

           ChadlookedatShadow,thenatthedeputy.Hesaidtothedeputy,quietly,butloudlyenoughforShadowtohear,"Look.Ijustwanttosay,I’mnotcomfortablewiththewaythisishappening."

           Thedeputynodded.