Американские боги

           Thedogwasstillalive:everyfewsecondsitwouldkickspasmodically,anditwasmakingastrainedwhimperingnoise,asitdangledfromtherope.

           Themanhewasfollowingtookhislongstick,whichShadowrealizednow,asitmoved,wasactuallyaspear,andheslashedatthedog’sstomachwithit,inoneknife-likecutdownward.Steamingentrailstumbledontothesnow."IdedicatethisdeathtoOdin,"saidtheman,formally.

           "Itisonlyagesture,"hesaid,turningbacktoShadow."Butgesturesmeaneverything.Thedeathofonedogsymbolizesthedeathofalldogs.Ninementheygavetome,buttheystoodforallthemen,alltheblood,allthepower.Itjustwasn’tenough.Oneday,thebloodstoppedflowing.Beliefwithoutbloodonlytakesussofar.Thebloodmustflow."

           "Isawyoudie,"saidShadow.

           "Inthegodbusiness,"saidthefigure—andnowShadowwascertainitwasWednesday,nobodyelsehadthatrasp,thatdeepcynicaljoyinwords,"it’snotthedeaththatmatters.It’stheopportunityforresurrection.Andwhenthebloodflows…"Hegesturedattheanimals,atthepeople,hangingfromthetrees.

           Shadowcouldnotdecidewhetherthedeadhumanstheywalkedpastweremoreorlesshorrifyingthantheanimals:atleastthehumanshadknownthefatetheyweregoingto.