Американские боги

           Heturned,slowly,andstaredintothegray-brownfaceandpointedearsofasquirrel.

           Inclose-up,helearned,asquirrellooksalotlesscutethanitdoesfromadistance.Thecreaturewasrat-like,anddangerous,notsweetorcharming.Anditsteethlookedsharp.Hehopedthatitwouldnotperceivehimasathreat,orasafoodsource.Hedidnotthinkthatsquirrelswerecarnivorous…butthen,somanythingshehadnotthoughthadturnedouttobeso…

           Heslept.

           Thepainwokehimseveraltimesinthenextfewhours.Itpulledhimfromadarkdreaminwhichdeadchildrenroseandcametohim,theireyespeeling,swollenpearls,andtheyreproachedhimforfailingthemanditpulledhimfromanotherdream,inwhichhewasstaringupatamammoth,hairyanddark,asitlumberedtowardhimfromthemist,but—awakeforamoment,aspideredgingacrosshisface,andheshookhishead,dislodgingorfrighteningit—nowthemammothwasanelephant-headedman,pot-bellied,onetuskbroken,andhewasridingtowardShadowonthebackofahugemouse.Theelephant-headedmancurledhistrunktowardsShadowandsaid,"Ifyouhadinvokedmebeforeyoubeganthisjourney,perhapssomeofyourtroublesmighthavebeenavoided.