Американские боги

           Kalanucameoutoftheskullandwaitedwiththerestofthem.

           Gugweiputonthemammoth-hidecloakandputhisheadinsidetheskull."Itisnotafamineasyouknowit,"saidNunyunnini,throughGugwei’smouth,"althoughafaminewillfollow.""Thenwhatisit?"askedYanu."Iamnotafraid.Iwillstandagainstit.Wehavespears,andwehavethrowingrocks.Letahundredmightywarriorscomeagainstus,stillweshallprevail.Weshallleadthemintothemarshes,andsplittheirskullswithourrocks."

           "Itisnotamanthing,"saidNunyunnini,inGugwei’soldvoice."Itwillcomefromtheskies,andnoneofyourspearsoryourrockswillprotectyou."

           "Howcanweprotectourselves?"askedAtsula."Ihaveseenflamesintheskies.Ihaveheardanoiselouderthantenthunderbolts.Ihaveseenforestsflattenedandriversboil."

           "Ai…,"saidNunyunnini,buthesaidnomore.Gugweicameoutoftheskull,bendingstiffly,forhewasanoldman,andhisknuckleswereswollenandknotted.

           Therewassilence.Atsulathrewmoreleavesonthefire,andthesmokemadetheireyestear.

           ThenYanustrodetothemammoth-head,putthecloakabouthisbroadshoulders,puthisheadinsidetheskull.Hisvoiceboomed."Youmustjourney,"saidNunyunnini."Youmusttraveltosun-ward.Wherethesunrises,thereyouwillfindanewland,whereyouwillbesafe.