Американские боги

           "Andyouknowwhathesaidtome?Hesaidtotellthelittlesnot,ifeverIsawhimagain,torememberthattoday’sfutureistomorrow’syesterday."Wednesdayhadneversaidanysuchthing,butShadowdelivereditasWednesdaywouldhavedone.Thesepeopleseemedtolikeclichés.Theblacksunglassesreflectedtheflickeringcandle-flamesbackathim,likeeyes.

           Thefatkidsaid,"Thisplaceissuchafuckingdump.Nopower.Outofwirelessrange.Imean,whenyougottobewired,you’realreadybackintheStoneAge."HesuckedthelastofhisCokethroughthestraw,droppedthecuponthetableandwalkedawaydownthecorridor.

           Shadowreachedoverandplacedthefatkid’sgarbagebackintothepapersack."I’mgoingtoseethecenterofAmerica,"heannounced.Hegotupandwalkedoutside,intothenight.Mr.Nancyfollowedhim.Theystrolledtogether,acrossthelittlepark,sayingnothinguntiltheyreachedthestonemonument.Thewindgustedatthem,fitfully,firstfromonedirection,thenfromanother."So,"hesaid."Nowwhat?"

           Thehalf-moonhungpaleinthedarksky.

           "Now,"saidNancy,"youshouldgobacktoyourroom.Lockthedoor.Youtrytogetsomemoresleep.Atmidnighttheygiveusthebody.Andthenwegetthehelloutofhere.Thecenterisnotastableplaceforanybody."

           "Ifyousayso."

           Mr.Nancyinhaledonhiscigarillo."Thisshouldneverhavehappened,"hesaid.