Американские боги

           "Don’tf**kwithme."

           "Okay,"saidShadow."Iwon’t.CanyoudropmeoffattheMotelAmerica,upbytheinterstate?"

           "Hithim,"saidtheyoungmantothepersononShadow’sleft.ApunchwasdeliveredtoShadow’ssolarplexus,knockingthebreathfromhim,doublinghimover.Hestraightenedup,slowly.

           "Isaiddon’tf**kwithme.Thatwasf**kingwithme.KeepyouranswersshortandtothepointorI’llf**kingkillyou.OrmaybeIwon’tkillyou.MaybeI’llhavethechildrenbreakeveryboneinyourf**kingbody.Therearetwohundredandsixofthem.Sodon’tf**kwithme."

           "Gotit,"saidShadow.

           Theceilinglightsinthelimochangedcolorfromviolettoblue,thentogreenandtoyellow.

           "You’reworkingforWednesday,"saidtheyoungman.

           "Yes,"saidShadow.

           "Whatthef**kisheafter?Imean,what’shedoinghere?Hemusthaveaplan.What’sthegameplan?"

           "IstartedworkingforMisterWednesdaythismorning,"saidShadow."I’manerrandboy."

           "You’resayingyoudon’tknow?"

           "I’msayingIdon’tknow,"

           Theboyopenedhisjacketandtookoutasilvercigarettecasefromaninsidepocket.Heopenedit,andofferedacigarettetoShadow."Smoke?"

           Shadowthoughtaboutaskingforhishandstobeuntied,outdecidedagainstit."No,thankyou,"hesaid.

           Thecigaretteappearedtohavebeenhand-rolled,andwhentheboylitit,withamatteblackZippolighter,itsmelledalittlelikeburningelectricalparts.

           Theboyinhaleddeeply,thenheldhisbreath.Heletthesmoketrickleoutfromhismouth,pulleditbackintohisnostrils.