Американские боги

           Hehadtakenoffallhisclothesinthemiddleofthedayandtoldeveryonethathehadbeensenttotakethemaway,thetrulygoodones,likehim,inasilverspaceshiptoaperfectplace.ThathadbeenthelasttimeShadowhadseenhim.Thefatkidsmelledlikethatguy."Areyouhereforareason?"

           "Justwantedtotalk,"saidthefatkid.Therewasawhineinhisvoice."It’screepyinmyroom.That’sall.It’screepyinthere.FiftymilestoaMcDonald’s,canyoubelievethat?MaybeIcouldstayinherewithyou."

           "Whataboutyourfriendsfromthelimo?Theoneswhohitme?Shouldn’tyouaskthemtostaywithyou?"

           "Thechildrenwouldn’toperateouthere.We’reinadeadzone."

           Shadowsaid,"It’sawhileuntilmidnight,andit’slongertodawn.Ithinkmaybeyouneedrest.IknowIdo."

           Thefatkidsaidnothingforamoment,thenhenodded,andwalkedoutoftheroom.

           Shadowclosedhisdoor,andlockeditwiththekey.Helaybackonthemattress.

           Afterafewmomentsthenoisebegan.Ittookhimafewmomentstofigureoutwhatithadtobe,thenheunlockedhisdoorandwalkedoutintothehallway.Itwasthefatkid,nowbackinhisownroom.Itsoundedlikehewasthrowingsomethinghugeagainstthewallsoftheroom.Fromthesounds,Shadowguessedthatwhathewasthrowingwashimself."It’sjustme!"hewassobbing.Orperhaps,"It’sjustmeat."Shadowcouldnottell.