Американские боги

           Hewipedatitwithhishand,lickinghisfingerstogetthemclean."Thatstuffburns!"hesaid."Thosepiesareaclassactionsuitwaitingtofuckinghappen."Shadowrealizedhewantedtohitthekid.He’dwantedtohithimsincethekidhadhisgoonshurthiminthelimo,afterLaura’sfuneral.Heknewitwasnotawisethingtobethinking,nothere,notnow."Can’twejusttakeWednesday’sbodyandgetoutofhere?"heasked.

           "Midnight,"saidMr.Nancyandthefatkid,atthesametime.

           "Thesethingsmustbedoneaccordingtotherules,"saidCzernobog."Allthingshaverules."

           "Yeah,"saidShadow."Butnobodytellsmewhattheyare.Youkeeptalkingaboutthegoddamnrules,Idon’tevenknowwhatgameyoupeopleareplaying."

           "It’slikebreakingthestreetdate,"saidMedia,brightly."Youknow.Whenthingsareallowedtobeonsale."

           Townsaid,"Ithinkthewholething’sacrockofshit.Butiftheirrulesmakethemhappy,thenmyagencyishappyandeverybody’shappy."HeslurpedhisCoke."Rollonmidnight.Youtakethebody,yougoaway.We’realllovey-fucking-doveyandwewaveyougoodbye.Andthenwecangetonwithhuntingyoudownliketheratsyouare."

           "Hey,"saidthefatkidtoShadow."Remindsme.Itoldyoutotellyourbosshewashistory.Didyouevertellhim?"

           "Itoldhim,"saidShadow.