Американские боги

           Italsolookedinstantlyfamiliar:hewonderedifhehaddreamedit,thenrealizedthatno,hehadseenitbefore,orarepresentationofit,manytimes.ItwasWednesday’ssilvertiepin.

           TheVWbusjoltedandbumpedacrossthemeadow,andcametoastopabouttwentyfeetfromthetrunkofthetree.

           Therewerethreewomenstandingbythetree.AtfirstglanceShadowthoughtthattheyweretheZorya,butherealizedinmomentsthathewasmistaken.Theywerethreewomenhedidnotknow.Theylookedtiredandbored,asiftheyhadbeenstandingthereforalongtime.Eachofthemheldawoodenladder.Thebiggestoneofthemalsocarriedabrownsack.TheylookedlikeasetofRussiandolls:atallone—shewasShadow’sheight,oreventaller—amiddle-sizedone,andawomansoshortandhunchedthatatfirstglanceShadowwronglysupposedhertobeachild.Still,theylookedsomuchalike—somethingintheforehead,ortheeyes,orthesetofthechin—thatShadowwascertainthatthewomenmustbesisters.

           Thesmallestofthewomendroppedtoacurtsywhenthebusdrewup.Theothertwojuststared.Theyweresharingacigarette,andtheysmokeditdowntothefilterbeforeoneofthemstubbeditoutagainstaroot.

           Czernobogopenedthebackofthebusandthebiggestofthewomenpushedpasthim,and,easilyasifitwereasackofflour,sheliftedWednesday’sbodyoutofthebackandcarriedittothetree.Shelaiditinfrontofthetree,putitdownabouttenfeetfromthetrunk.