Американские боги

           Itwascarvedofwood,anditcrawledwithwoodencreaturesandwoodenfaces—dragons,gryphons,trollsandboars—allofthemdancingintheflickeringlightofthefire.

           Thebonfirewassohigh,andburningsohard,thatShadowcouldbarelyapproachit.Thewolfseemedunfazed,anditpaddedaroundthecracklingfire.

           Hewaitedforittoreturn,butinplaceofthewolfamanwalkedbackaroundthefire.Hewasleaningonatallstick.

           "YouareinUppsala,inSweden,"saidtheman,inafamiliar,gravellyvoice."Aboutathousandyearsago."

           "Wednesday?"saidShadow.

           ThemanwhomighthavebeenWednesdaycontinuedtotalk,asifShadowwasnotthere."Firsteveryyear,then,later,whentherotsetin,andtheybecamelax,everynineyears,theywouldsacrificehere.Asacrificeofnines.Eachday,forninedays,theywouldhangnineanimalsfromtreesinthegrove.Oneofthoseanimalswasalwaysaman."

           Hestrodeawayfromthefirelight,towardthetrees,andShadowfollowedhim.Asheapproachedthetreestheshapesthathungfromthemresolved:legsandeyesandtonguesandheads.Shadowshookhishead:therewassomethingaboutseeingabullhangingbyitsneckfromatreethatwasdarklysad,andatthesametimesurrealenoughalmosttobefunny.Shadowpassedahangingstag,awolfhound,abrownbear,andachestnuthorsewithawhitemane,littlebiggerthanapony.