Американские боги

           Therewasaflashoflightningsobrightitfeltlikeablowtohiseyes,transformingtheworldintoanintensepanoramaofimageandafter-image.Thenthethunder,acrackandaboomandarumble,and,asthethunderechoed,therainredoubled.Intherainandthenighttheshiveringabated;theknife-bladeswereputaway.Shadownolongerfeltthecold,orrather,hefeltonlythecold,butthecoldhadnowbecomepartofhimself,itbelongedtohimandhebelongedtoit.

           Shadowhungfromthetreewhilethelightningflickeredandforkedacrossthesky,andthethundersubsidedintoanomnipresentrumbling,withoccasionalbangsandroarslikedistantbombsexplodinginthenight,andthewindtuggedatShadow,tryingtopullhimfromthetree,flayinghisskin,cuttingtothebone;andattheheightofthestorm—andShadowknewinhissoulthattherealstormhadtrulybegun,thetruestorm,andthatnowitwasheretherewasnothinganyofthemcoulddobutrideitout:noneofthem,oldgodsornew,spirits,powers,womenormen…

           AstrangejoyrosewithinShadowthen,andhestartedlaughing,astherainwashedhisnakedskinandthelightningflashedandthunderrumbledsoloudlythathecouldbarelyhearhimself.Helaughedandexulted.

           Hewasalive.Hehadneverfeltlikethis.Ever.

           Ifhediddie,hethought,ifhediedrightnow,hereonthetree,itwouldbeworthittohavehadthisone,perfect,madmoment.

           "Hey!"heshouted,atthestorm.