Американские боги

           Shadowreachedouthishandandtouchedthemonument’sstones.Hedraggedhisbigfingersacrossthecoldbrassplate.Thenheturnedandwalkedovertothetinywhitechurch,walkedthroughtheopendoorway,intothedarkness.Hesatdowninthenearestpewandclosedhiseyesandloweredhishead,andthoughtaboutLaura,andaboutWednesday,andaboutbeingalive.

           Therewasaclickfrombehindhim,andascuffofshoeagainstearth.Shadowsatup,andturned.Someonestoodjustoutsidetheopendoorway,adarkshapeagainstthestars.Moonlightglintedfromsomethingmetal.

           "Yougoingtoshootme?"askedShadow.

           "Jesus—Iwish,"saidMr.Town."It’sonlyforself-defense.So,you’repraying?Havetheygotyouthinkingthatthey’regods?Theyaren’tgods."

           "Iwasn’tpraying,"saidShadow."Justthinking."

           "ThewayIfigureit,"saidTown,"they’remutations.Evolutionaryexperiments.Alittlehypnoticability,alittlehocus-pocus,andtheycanmakepeoplebelieveanything.Nothingtowritehomeabout.That’sall.Theydielikemen,afterall."

           "Theyalwaysdid,"saidShadow.Hegotup,andTowntookastepback.Shadowwalkedoutofthelittlechapel,andMr.Townkepthisdistance."Hey,"Shadowsaid."DoyouknowwhoLouiseBrookswas?"

           "Friendofyours?"

           "Nope.Shewasamoviestarfromsouthofhere."

           Townpaused.