Американские боги

           "Noneofthisshouldhavehappened.Ourkindofpeople,weare…"hewavedthecigarilloabout,asifusingittohuntforaword,thenstabbingforwardwithit,"…exclusive.We’renotsocial.Notevenme.NotevenBacchus.Notforlong.Wewalkbyourselvesorwestayinourownlittlegroups.Wedonotplaywellwithothers.Weliketobeadoredandrespectedandworshiped—me,Ilikethemtobetellin’talesaboutme,talesshowingmycleverness.It’safault,Iknow,butit’sthewayIam.Weliketobebig.Now,intheseshabbydays,wearesmall.Thenewgodsriseandfallandriseagain.Butthisisnotacountrythattoleratesgodsforlong.Brahmacreates,Vishnupreserves,Shivadestroys,andthegroundisclearforBrahmatocreateoncemore."

           "Sowhatareyousaying?"askedShadow."Thefighting’sover,now?Thebattle’sdone?"

           Mr.Nancysnorted."Areyououtofyourmind?TheykilledWednesday.Theykilledhimandtheybraggedaboutit.Theyspreadtheword.They’veshoweditoneverychanneltothosewitheyestoseeit.No,Shadow.It’sonlyjustbegun."

           Hebentdownatthefootofthestonemonument,stubbedouthiscigarilloontheearth,andleftitthere,likeanoffering.

           "Youusedtomakejokes,"saidShadow."Youdon’tanymore."

           "It’shardtofindthejokesthesedays.Wednesday’sdead.Areyoucomin’inside?"

           "Soon."

           Nancywalkedaway,towardthemotel.