Американские боги

           Nunyunninihadpromisedthemtruly:theylostnoonefromthetribeonthejourney,saveforawomaninchildbirth,andwomeninchildbirthbelongtothemoon,nottoNunyunnini.

           Theycrossedtheland-bridge.

           Kalanuhadleftthematfirstlighttoscouttheway.Nowtheskywasdark,andKalanuhadnotreturned,butthenightskywasalivewithlights,knottingandflickeringandwinding,fluxandpulse,whiteandgreenandvioletandred.Atsulaandherpeoplehadseenthenorthernlightsbefore,buttheywerestillfrightenedbythem,andthiswasadisplayliketheyhadneverseenbefore.

           Kalanureturnedtothem,asthelightsintheskyformedandflowed.

           "Sometimes,"shesaidtoAtsula,"IfeelthatIcouldsimplyspreadmyarmsandfallintothesky."

           "Thatisbecauseyouareascout,"saidAtsula,thepriestess."Whenyoudie,youshallfallintotheskyandbecomeastar,toguideusasyouguideusinlife."

           "Therearecliffsoficetotheeast,highcliffs,"saidKalanu,herraven-blackhairwornlong,asamanwouldwearit."Wecanclimbthem,butitwilltakemanydays."

           "Youshallleadussafely,"saidAtsula."Ishalldieatthefootofthecliff,andthatshallbethesacrificethattakesyouintothenewlands.