Американские боги

           "Ijustthoughtitmightbeanappropriatetimetomakeyouanoffer."

           "Okay.Maketheoffer."

           "Relax,"shesaid.Therewasasmileinhervoice."Youhavesuchastickupyourbutt.Look,Wednesday’sdead.Youdon’toweanyoneanything.Throwinwithus.TimetoComeOvertotheWinningTeam."

           Shadowsaidnothing.

           "Wecanmakeyoufamous,Shadow.Wecangiveyoupoweroverwhatpeoplebelieveandsayandwearanddream.YouwanttobethenextCaryGrant?Wecanmakethathappen.WecanmakeyouthenextBeatles."

           "IthinkIpreferreditwhenyouwereofferingtoshowmeLucy’stits,"saidShadow."Ifthatwasyou."

           "Ah,"shesaid.

           "Ineedmyroomback.Goodnight."

           "Andthenofcourse,"shesaid,notmoving,asifhehadnotspoken,"wecanturnitallaround.Wecanmakeitbadforyou.Youcouldbeabadjokeforever,Shadow.Oryoucouldberememberedasamonster.Youcouldberememberedforever,butasaManson,aHitler…howwouldyoulikethat?"

           "I’msorry,ma’am,butI’mkindoftired,"saidShadow."I’dbegratefulifyou’dleavenow."

           "Iofferedyoutheworld,"shesaid."Whenyou’redyinginagutter,yourememberthat."

           "I’llmakeapointofit,"hesaid.

           Aftershehadgoneherperfumelingered.