Американские боги
Chapter 2
Abovehimtheskywasirongray,featurelessandflatasamirror.Itcontinuedtosnow,erratically,inghostliketumblingflakes.
TherewassomethinghewantedtosaytoLaura,andhewaspreparedtowaituntilheknewwhatitwas.Theworldslowlybegantoloselightandcolor.Shadow’sfeetweregoingnumb,whilehishandsandfacehurtfromthecold.Heburrowedhishandsintohispocketsforwarmth,andhisfingersclosedaboutthegoldcoin.
Hewalkedovertothegrave.
"Thisisforyou,"hesaid.
Severalshovelsofearthhadbeenemptiedontothecasket,buttheholewasfarfromfull.HethrewthegoldcoinintothegravewithLaura,thenhepushedmoreearthintothehole,tohidethecoinfromacquisitivegravediggers.Hebrushedtheearthfromhishandsandsaid,"Goodnight,Laura."Thenhesaid,"I’msorry."Heturnedhisfacetowardthelightsofthetown,andbegantowalkbackintoEaglePoint.
Hismotelwasagoodtwomilesaway,butafterspendingthreeyearsinprisonhewasrelishingtheideathathecouldsimplywalkandwalk,foreverifneedbe.Hecouldkeepwalkingnorth,andwindupinAlaska,orheadsouth,toMexicoandbeyond.HecouldwalktoPatagonia,ortoTierradelFuego.
Acardrewupbesidehim.Thewindowhummeddown.
"Youwantalift,Shadow?"askedAudreyBurton.
"No,"hesaid."Andnotfromyou."
Hecontinuedtowalk.Audreydrovebesidehimatthreemilesanhour.Snowflakesdancedinthebeamsofherheadlights.
"Ithoughtshewasmybestfriend,"saidAudrey."We’dtalkeveryday.
