Американские боги

           "Hey!It’sme!I’mhere!"

           Hetrappedsomewaterbetweenhisbareshoulderandthetrunkofthetree,andhetwistedhisheadoveranddrankthetrappedrainwater,suckingandslurpingatit,andhedrankmoreandhelaughed,laughedwithjoyanddelight,notmadness,untilhecouldlaughnomore,untilhehungthere,tooexhaustedtomove.

           Atthefootofthetree,ontheground,therainhadmadethesheetpartlytransparent,andhadlifteditandpusheditforwardsothatShadowcouldseeWednesday’sdeadhand,waxyandpale,andtheshapeofhishead,andhethoughtoftheshroudofTurinandherememberedtheopengirlonJacquel’sslabinCairo,andthen,asiftospitethecold,heobservedthathewasfeelingwarmandcomfortable,andthebarkofthetreefeltsoft,andhesleptoncemore,andifhedreamedanydreamsinthedarknessthistimehecouldnotrememberthem.

           Bythefollowingmorningthepainwasomnipresent.Itwasnolongerlocal,notconfinedtotheplaceswheretheropescutintohisflesh,orwherethebarkscrapedhisskin.Nowthepainwaseverywhere.

           Andhewashungry,withemptypangsdowninthepitofhim.Hisheadwaspounding.Sometimesheimaginedthathehadstoppedbreathing,thathishearthadceasedtobeat.Thenhewouldholdhisbreathuntilhecouldhearhisheartpoundinganoceaninhisearsandhewasforcedtosuckairlikeadiversurfacingfromthedepths.