Американские боги

           Whenshewoke,shepickedthelumpsoficeoutfromthewoodencup,ashermotherhadtaughther,leavingadarker,moreconcentratedliquidbehind.

           Itwasthisliquidshepassedaroundtheskintent,firsttoGugwei,thentoYanuandtoKalanu.Eachofthemtookalargegulpoftheliquid,thenAtsulatookthefinaldraught.Sheswallowedit,andpouredwhatwasleftonthegroundinfrontoftheirgod,alibationtoNunyunnini.

           Theysatinthesmokytent,waitingfortheirgodtospeak.Outside,inthedarkness,thewindwailedandbreathed.

           Kalanu,thescout,wasawomanwhodressedandwalkedasaman:shehadeventakenDalani,afourteen-year-oldmaiden,tobeherwife.Kalanublinkedhereyestightly,thenshegotupandwalkedovertothemammoth-skull.Shepulledthemammoth-hidecloakoverherself,andstoodsoherheadwasinsidethemammoth-skull.

           "Thereisevilintheland,"saidNunyunnini."Evil,suchthatifyoustayhere,inthelandofyourmothersandyourmother’smothers,youshallallperish."

           Thethreelistenersgrunted.

           "Isittheslavers?Orthegreatwolves?"askedGugwei,whosehairwaslongandwhite,andwhosefacewasaswrinkledasthegrayskinofathorntree.

           "Itisnottheslavers,"saidNunyunnini,oldstone-hide."Itisnotthegreatwolves."

           "Isitafamine?Isafaminecoming?"askedGugwei.

           Nunyunniniwassilent.