Американские боги

           Nancy,lookingmorelikehimselfwitheachmoment,"whentheyreallyturnuptocollectyou.We’llpulloverbeforewegettoHighway53andgetyououtofthoseshacklesandbackintoyourownclothes."Czernobogheldupahandcuffkeyandsmiled.

           "Ilikethemoustache,"saidShadow."Suitsyou."

           Czernobogstrokeditwithayellowedfinger."Thankyou."

           "Wednesday,"saidShadow."Ishereallydead?Thisisn’tsomekindoftrickisit?"

           Herealizedthathehadbeenholdingontosomekindofhope,foolishthoughitwas.ButtheexpressiononNancy’sfacetoldhimallheneededtoknow,andthehopewasgone.

           ComingtoAmerica

           14,000B.C.

           Colditwas,anddark,whenthevisioncametoher,forinthefarnorthdaylightwasagraydimtimeinthemiddleofthedaythatcame,andwent,andcameagain:aninterludebetweendarknesses.

           Theywerenotalargetribeasthesethingswerecountedthen:nomadsoftheNorthernPlains.Theyhadagod,whowastheskullofamammoth,andthehideofamammothfashionedintoaroughcloak.Nunyunninitheycalledhim.Whentheywerenottraveling,herestedonawoodenframe,atmanheight.

           Shewastheholywomanofthetribe,thekeeperofitssecrets,andhernamewasAtsula,thefox.