Американские боги

           Therewerestilltracesofsnowintheshadowsofthetrees,andthegrasswasthecolorofdirt.

           "Waithere,"saidCzernobog.

           Hewalked,alone,tothecenterofthemeadow.Hestoodthere,inthewindsoftheendofFebruary,forsometime.Atfirsthehunghishead,thenhebegangesticulating.

           "Helookslikehe’stalkingtosomeone,"saidShadow.

           "Ghosts,"saidMr.Nancy."Theyworshipedhimhere,overahundredyearsago.Theymadeblood-sacrificetohim,libationsspilledwiththehammer.Afteratime,thetownsfolkfiguredoutwhysomanyofthestrangerswhopassedthroughthetowndidn’tevercomeback.Thiswaswheretheyhidsomeofthebodies."

           Czernobogcamebackfromthemiddleofthefield.Hismoustacheseemeddarkernow,andtherewerestreaksofblackinhisgrayhair.Hesmiled,showinghisirontooth."Ifeelgood,now.Ahh.Somethingslinger,andbloodlingerslongest."

           TheywalkedbackacrossthemeadowtowheretheyhadparkedtheVWbus.Czernoboglitacigarette,butdidnotcough."Theydiditwiththehammer,"hesaid."Grimnir,hewouldtalkofthegallowsandthespear,butforme,itisonething…"Hereachedoutanicotine-coloredfingerandtappedit,hard,inthecenterofShadow’sforehead.

           "Pleasedon’tdothat,"saidShadow,politely.

           "Pleasedon’tdothat,"mimickedCzernobog.