Американские боги

           SheandhersistersunwrappedWednesday’sbody.Helookedworsebydaylightthanhehadbycandlelightinthemotelroom,andafteronequickglanceShadowlookedaway.Thewomenarrangedhisclothes,tidiedhissuit,thenplacedhimatthecornerofthesheet,andwounditaroundhimoncemore.

           ThenthewomencameovertoShadow.

           —Youaretheone?thebiggestofthemasked.

           —Theonewhowillmourntheall-father?askedthemiddle-sizedone.

           —Youhavechosentotakethevigil?askedthesmallest.

           Shadownodded.Afterward,hewasunabletorememberwhetherhehadactuallyheardtheirvoices.Perhapshehadsimplyunderstoodwhattheyhadmeantfromtheirlooksandtheireyes.

           Mr.Nancy,whohadgonebacktothehousetousethebathroom,camewalkingbacktothetree.Hewassmokingacigarillo.Helookedthoughtful.

           "Shadow,"hecalled."Youreallydon’thavetodothis.Wecanfindsomebodymoresuited.Youain’treadyforthis."

           "I’mdoingit,"saidShadow,simply.

           "Youdon’thaveto,"saidMr.Nancy."Youdon’tknowwhatyou’relettin’yourselfinfor."

           "Itdoesn’tmatter,"saidShadow.

           "Andifyoudie?"askedMr.Nancy."Ifitkillsyou?"

           "Then,"saidShadow,"itkillsme."

           Mr.Nancyflickedhiscigarillointothemeadow,angrily.