Американские боги

           Atsuladiedatthefootofthecliffswhenthespringsunwasatitszenith.ShedidnotlivetoseetheNewWorld,andthetribewalkedintothoselandswithnoholywoman.

           Theyscaledthecliffs,andtheywentsouthandwest,untiltheyfoundavalleywithfreshwater,andriversthatteemedwithsilverfish,anddeerthathadneverseenmanbefore,andweresotameitwasnecessarytospitandtoapologizetotheirspiritsbeforekillingthem.

           Dalanigavebirthtothreeboys,andsomesaidthatKalanuhadperformedthefinalmagicandcoulddotheman-thingwithherbride;whileotherssaidthatoldGugweiwasnottoooldtokeepayoungbridecompanywhenherhusbandwasaway;andcertainlyonceGugweidied,Dalanihadnomorechildren.

           Andtheicetimescameandtheicetimeswent,andthepeoplespreadoutacrosstheland,andformednewtribesandchosenewtotemsforthemselves:ravensandfoxesandgroundslothsandgreatcatsandbuffalo,eachataboobeastthatmarkedatribe’sidentity,eachbeastagod.

           Themammothsofthenewlandswerebigger,andslower,andmorefoolishthanthemammothsoftheSiberianplains,andthepunghmushrooms,withtheirsevenspots,werenottobefoundinthenewlands,andNunyunninididnotspeaktothetribeanylonger