Американские боги

           "Quiet!"cameabellowfromCzernobog’sroom,downthehall.

           Shadowwalkeddowntothelobbyandoutofthemotel.Hewastired.

           ThedriverstillstoodbesidetheHumvee,adarkshapeinapeakedcap.

           "Couldn’tsleep,sir?"heasked.

           "No,"saidShadow.

           "Cigarette,sir?"

           "No,thankyou."

           "Youdon’tmindifIdo?"

           "Gorightahead."

           ThedriverusedaBicdisposablelighter,anditwasintheyellowlightoftheflamethatShadowsawtheman’sface,actuallysawitforthefirsttime,andrecognizedhim,andbegantounderstand.

           Shadowknewthatthinface.Heknewthattherewouldbeclose-croppedorangehairbeneaththeblackdriver’scap,cutclosetothescalpliketheembersofafire.Heknewthatwhentheman’slipssmiledtheywouldcreaseintoanetworkofroughscars.

           "You’relookinggood,bigguy,"saidthedriver.

           "LowKey?"Shadowstaredathisoldcellmatewarily.

           Prisonfriendshipsaregoodthings:theygetyouthroughbadplacesandthroughdarktimes.Butaprisonfriendshipendsattheprisongates,andaprisonfriendwhoreappearsinyourlifeisatbestamixedblessing.

           "Jesus.LowKeyLyesmith,"saidShadow,andthenheheardwhathewassayingandheunderstood."Loki,"hesaid."LokiLie-Smith.