Американские боги

           "

           Heputdownthetelephone,camebacktothetable.

           "Whowasit?"askedShadow.

           "Didn’tsay."

           "Whatdidtheywant?"

           "Theywereofferin’usatruce,whiletheyhandoverthebody."

           "Theylie,"saidCzernobog."Theywanttolureusin,andthentheywillkillus.WhattheydidtoWednesday.IswhatIalwaysusedtodo,"headded,withgloomypride."Promisethemanything,butdowhatyouwill."

           "It’sonneutralterritory,"saidNancy."Trulyneutral."

           Czernobogchuckled.Itsoundedlikeametalballrattlinginadryskull."Iusedtosaythatalso.Cometoaneutralplace,Iwouldsay,andtheninthenightwewouldriseupandkillthemall.Thosewerethegooddays."

           Mr.Nancyshrugged.Hecruncheddownonhisdarkbrownfrenchfries,grinnedhisapproval."Mm-mm.Thesearefinefries,"hesaid.

           "Wecan’ttrustthosepeople,"saidShadow.

           "Listen,I’molderthanyouandI’msmarterthanyouandI’mbetterlookin’thanyou,"saidMr.Nancy,thumpingthebottomoftheketchupbottle,blobbingketchupoverhisburntfries."Icangetmorepussyinanafternoonthanyou’llgetinayear.