Американские боги

           Atsulawalkedbeforethetwotribesmenwhocarriedtheirgodonlongpoles,drapedwithbearskins,thatitshouldnotbeseenbyprofaneeyes,norattimeswhenitwasnotholy.

           Theyroamedthetundra,withtheirtents.Thefinestofthetentswasmadeofcaribou-hide,anditwastheholytent,andtherewerefouroftheminsideit:Atsula,thepriestess,Gugwei,thetribalelder,Yanu,thewarleader,andKalanu,thescout.Shecalledthemthere,thedayaftershehadhervision.

           Atsulascrapedsomelichenintothefire,thenshethrewindriedleaveswithherwitheredlefthand:theysmoked,withaneye-stinginggraysmoke,andgaveoffanodorthatwassharpandstrange.Thenshetookawoodencupfromthewoodenplatform,andshepassedittoGugwei.Thecupwashalf-filledwithadarkyellowliquid.

           Atsulahadfoundthepunghmushrooms—eachwithsevenspots,onlyatrueholywomancouldfindaseven-spottedmushroom—andhadpickedthematthedarkofthemoon,anddriedthemonastringofdeer-cartilage.

           Yesterday,beforesheslept,shehadeatenthethreedriedmushroomcaps.Herdreamshadbeenconfusedandfearfulthings,ofbrightlightsmovingfast,ofrockmountainsfilledwithlightsspearingupwardlikeicicles.Inthenightshehadwoken,sweating,andneedingtomakewater.Shesquattedoverthewoodencupandfilleditwithherurine.Thensheplacedthecupoutsidethetent,inthesnow,andreturnedtosleep.