Американские боги

           Nancy."Theykilledhim."

           TheyoungmanbangedseveralboxesofCap’nCrunchdownontheshelf."Theythinktheycancrushuslikecockroaches,"hesaid.Hehadaneruptionofacneacrossonecheekandoverhisforehead.Hehadasilverbracelethighononeforearm."Wedon’tcrushthateasy,dowe?"

           "No,"saidMr.Nancy."Wedon’t."

           "I’llbethere,sir,"saidtheyoungman,hispaleblueeyesblazing.

           "Iknowyouwill,Gwydion,"saidMr.Nancy.

           Mr.NancyboughtseverallargebottlesofRCCola,asix-packoftoiletpaper,apackofevil-lookingblackcigarillos,abunchofbananasandapackofDoublemintchewinggum."He’sagoodboy.Cameoverintheseventhcentury.Welsh."

           Thebusmeanderedfirsttothewestandthentothenorth.Springfadedbackintothedeadendofwinter.Kansaswasthecheerlessgrayoflonesomeclouds,emptywindowsandlosthearts.Shadowhadbecomeadeptathuntingforradiostations,negotiatingbetweenMr.Nancy,wholikedtalkradioanddancemusic,andCzernobog,whofavoredclassicalmusic,thegloomierthebetter,leavenedwiththemoreextremeevangelicalreligiousstations.Forhimself,Shadowlikedoldiesstations.

           Towardtheendoftheafternoontheystopped,atCzernobog’srequest,ontheoutskirtsofCherryvale,Kansas(pop.2,464).Czernobogledthemtoameadowoutsidethetown.