Американские боги

           Itseemedtohimthatthetreereachedfromhelltoheaven,andthathehadbeenhangingthereforever.Abrownhawkcircledthetree,landedonabrokenbranchneartohim,andthentooktothewing,flyingwest.

           Thestorm,whichhadabatedatdawn,begantoreturnasthedaypassed.Gray,roilingcloudsstretchedfromhorizontohorizon;aslowdrizzlebegantofall.Thebodyatthebaseofthetreeseemedtohavebecomeless,initsstainedmotelwindingsheet,crumblingintoitselflikeasugarcakeleftintherain.

           SometimesShadowburned,sometimeshefroze.

           Whenthethunderstartedoncemoreheimaginedthathehearddrumsbeating,kettledrumsinthethunderandthethumpofhisheart,insidehisheadoroutside,itdidnotmatter.

           Heperceivedthepainincolors:theredofaneonbar-sign,thegreenofatrafficlightonawetnight,theblueofanemptyvideoscreen.

           ThesquirreldroppedfromthebarkofthetrunkontoShadow’sshoulder,sharpclawsdiggingintohisskin."Ratatosk!"itchattered.Thetipofitsnosetouchedhislips."Ratatosk."Itsprangbackontothetree.Hisskinwasonfirewithpinsandneedles,aprickingcoveringhiswholebody.Thesensationwasintolerable.