Американские боги

           Therewasadeep,boozysmellaboutthementhatsuggestedthattheyhadbeenallowedtoanaesthetizethemselvesontheirwaytothegallows,whiletheanimalswouldsimplyhavebeenlynched,hauledupaliveandterrified.Thefacesofthemenlookedsoyoung:noneofthemwasolderthantwenty.

           "WhoamI?"askedShadow.

           "Youareadiversion,"saidtheman."Youwereanopportunity.YougavethewholeaffairanairofcredibilityIwouldhavebeenhardputtodeliversolo.Althoughbothofusarecommittedenoughtotheaffairtodieforit.Eh?"

           "Whoareyou?"askedShadow.

           "Thehardestpartissimplysurviving,"saidtheman.Thebonfire—andShadowrealizedwithastrangehorrorthatittrulywasabone-fire:ribcagesandfire-eyedskullsstaredandstuckandjuttedfromtheflames,sputteringtrace-elementcolorsintothenight,greensandyellowsandblues—wasflaringandcracklingandburninghotly."Threedaysonthetree,threedaysintheunderworld,threedaystofindmywayback."

           TheflamessputteredandflaredtoobrightlyforShadowtolookatdirectly.Helookeddownintothedarknessbeneaththetrees.

           Therewasnofire,nosnow.Therewerenotrees,nohangedbodies,nobloodyspear.

           Aknockonthedoor—andnowtherewasmoonlightcominginthewindow.Shadowsatupwithastart."Dinner’sserved,"saidMedia’svoice.