Американские боги

           Therewasarainbowdecalintherearwindow.

           "It’safinevehicle.Andit’sthelastthingthatthey’llbeexpectingyoutobedriving.Thelastthingthey’llbelookingfor."

           Czernobogwalkedaroundthevehicle.Thenhestartedtocough,alung-rumbling,old-man,five-in-the-morning,smoker’scough.Hehawked,andspat,andputhishandtohischest,massagingawaythepain."Yes.Thelastcartheywillsuspect.Sowhathappenswhenthepolicepullusover,lookingforthehippies,andthedope?Eh?Wearenotheretoridethemagicbus.Wearetoblendin."

           Thebeardedmanunlockedthedoorofthebus."Sotheytakealookatyou,theyseeyouaren’thippies,theywaveyougoodbye.It’stheperfectdisguise.Andit’sallIcouldfindatnonotice."

           Czernobogseemedtobereadytoargueitfurther,butMr.Nancyintervenedsmoothly."Elvis,youcomethroughforus.Weareverygrateful.Now,thatcarneedstogetbacktoChicago."

           "We’llleaveitinBloomington,"saidthebeardedman."Thewolveswilltakecareofit.Don’tgiveitanotherthought."HeturnedbacktoShadow."Again,youhavemysympathyandIshareyourpain.Goodluck.Andifthevigilfallstoyou,myadmiration,andmysympathy."HesqueezedShadow’shandinsympathyandinfriendshipwithhisowncatcher’s-mittfist.Ithurt."Youtellhiscorpsewhenyouseeit.TellhimthatAlvisssonofVindalfwillkeepthefaith.