Американские боги

           "Everythingthatis,castsashadow."Thenhesaid,"Theywillfightsoon.Iwaswatchingthemastheystartedtoarrive.Iwashighinthesky,andnoneofthemsawme,althoughsomeofthemhavekeeneyes."

           Andthenthemadmansaid,"Youaredying.Aren’tyou?"

           ButShadowcouldnolongerspeak.Everythingwasveryfaraway.Ahawktookwing,andcircledslowlyupward,ridingtheupdraftsintothemorning.

           Moonlight.

           AcoughshookShadow’sframe,arackingpainfulcoughthatstabbedhischestandhisthroat.Hegaggedforbreath.

           "Hey,puppy,"calledavoicethatheknew.

           Helookeddown.

           Themoonlightburnedwhitelythroughthebranchesofthetree,brightasday,andtherewasawomanstandinginthemoonlightonthegroundbelowhim,herfaceapaleoval.Thewindrattledinthebranchesofthetree.

           "Hi,puppy,"shesaid.

           Hetriedtospeak,buthecoughedinstead,deepinhischest,foralongtime.

           "Youknow,"shesaid,helpfully,"thatdoesn’tsoundgood."

           Hecroaked,"Hello,Laura."

           Shelookedupathimwithdeadeyes,andshesmiled.

           "Howdidyoufindme?"heasked.

           Shewassilent,forawhile,inthemoonlight.Thenshesaid,"YouarethenearestthingIhavetolife.YouaretheonlythingIhaveleft,theonlythingthatisn’tbleakandflatandgray.