Американские боги

           HelayonthebaremattressandthoughtaboutLaura,butwhateverhethoughtabout—LauraplayingFrisbee,Lauraeatingaroot-beerfloatwithoutaspoon,Lauragiggling,showingofftheexoticunderwearshehadboughtwhensheattendedatravelagents’conventioninAnaheim—alwaysmorphed,inhismind,intoLaurasuckingRobbie’scockasatruckslammedthemofftheroadandintooblivion.Andthenheheardherwords,andtheyhurteverytime.

           You’renotdead,saidLaurainherquietvoice,inhishead.ButI’mnotsurethatyou’realive,either.

           Therewasaknock.Shadowgotupandopenedthedoor.Itwasthefatkid."Thosehamburgers,"hesaid."Theywerejusticky.Canyoubelieveit?FiftymilesfromMcDonald’s.Ididn’tthinktherewasanywhereintheworldthatwasfiftymilesfromMcDonald’s."

           "ThisplaceisturningintoGrandCentralStation,"saidShadow."Okay,soIguessyou’reheretooffermethefreedomoftheInternetifIcomeovertoyoursideofthefence.Right?"

           Thefatkidwasshivering."No.You’realreadydeadmeat,"hesaid."You-you’reafuckingilluminatedgothicblack-lettermanuscript.Youcouldn’tbehypertextifyoutried.I’m…I’msynaptic,while,whileyou’resynoptic…"Hesmelledstrange,Shadowrealized.Therewasaguyinthecellacrosstheway,whosenameShadowhadneverknown.