Американские боги

           "Somehow,Toto,"saidthefatkidShadowhadlastseensittinginalimo,"Idon’tbelievewe’reinKansasanymore."

           "We’reinKansas,"saidMr.Nancy."Ithinkwemusthavedriventhroughmostofittoday.Damnbutthiscountryisflat."

           "Thisplacehasnolights,nopower,andnohotwater,"saidthefatkid."And,nooffense,youpeoplereallyneedthehotwater.Youjustsmelllikeyou’vebeeninthatbusforaweek."

           "Idon’tthinkthere’sanyneedtogothere,"saidthewoman,smoothly."We’reallfriendshere.Comeonin.We’llshowyoutoyourrooms.Wetookthefirstfourrooms.Yourlatefriendisinthefifth.Alltheonesbeyondroomfiveareempty—youcantakeyourpick.I’mafraidit’snottheFourSeasons,butthen,whatis?"

           Sheopenedthedoortothemotellobbyforthem.Itsmelledofmildew,ofdampanddustandofdecay.

           Therewasamansittinginthelobby,intheneardarkness."Youpeoplehungry?"heasked.

           "Icanalwayseat,"saidMr.Nancy.

           "Driver’sgoneoutforasackofhamburgers,"saidtheman."He’llbebacksoon."Helookedup.Itwastoodarktoseefaces,buthesaid,"Bigguy.You’reShadow,huh?TheassholewhokilledWoodyandStone?"

           "No,"saidShadow."Thatwassomeoneelse.AndIknowwhoyouare."Hedid.Hehadbeeninsidetheman’shead."You’reTown.