Американские боги

           "

           "Andnowyou’readriver?"

           "Idootherstufftoo."

           "Drivingfortheopposition."

           "Ifyouwanttocallthemthat.Itdependswhereyou’restanding.ThewayIfigureit,I’mdrivingforthewinningteam."

           "ButyouandWednesday,youwerefromthesame,you’reboth—"

           "Norsepantheon.We’rebothfromtheNorsepantheon.Isthatwhatyou’retryingtosay?"

           "Yeah."

           "So?"

           Shadowhesitated."Youmusthavebeenfriends.Once."

           "No.Wewereneverfriends.I’mnotsorryhe’sdead.Hewasjustholdingtherestofusback.Withhimgone,therestofthemaregoingtohavetofaceuptothefacts:it’schangeordie,evolveorperish.I’mallforevolution—it’stheoldchange-or-diegame.He’sdead.War’sover."

           Shadowlookedathim,puzzled."Youaren’tthatstupid,"hesaid."Youwerealwayssosharp.Wednesday’sdeathisn’tgoingtoendanything.It’sjustpushedalloftheoneswhowereonthefenceovertheedge."

           "Mixingmetaphors,Shadow.Badhabit."

           "Whatever,"saidShadow."It’sstilltrue.Jesus.Hisdeathdidinaninstantwhathe’dspentthelastfewmonthstryingtodo.Itunitedthem.Itgavethemsomethingtobelievein."

           "Perhaps."Lokishrugged.