Американские боги

           IcouldbeblindfoldedanddroppedintothedeepestoceanandIwouldknowwheretofindyou.IcouldbeburiedahundredmilesundergroundandIwouldknowwhereyouare."

           Helookeddownatthewomaninthemoonlight,andhiseyesstungwithtears.

           "I’llcutyoudown,"shesaid,afterawhile."Ispendtoomuchtimerescuingyou,don’tI?"

           Hecoughedagain.Then,"No,leaveme.Ihavetodothis."

           Shelookedupathim,andshookherhead."You’recrazy,"shesaid."You’redyingupthere.Oryou’llbecrippled,ifyouaren’talready."

           "Maybe,"hesaid."ButI’malive."

           "Yes,"shesaid,afteramoment."Iguessyouare."

           "Youtoldme,"hesaid."Inthegraveyard."

           "Itseemslikesuchalongtimeago,puppy,"shesaid.Thenshesaid,"Ifeelbetter,here.Itdoesn’thurtasmuch.YouknowwhatImean?ButI’msodry."

           Thewindletup,andhecouldsmellhernow:astinkofrottenmeatandsicknessanddecay,pervasiveandunpleasant.

           "Ilostmyjob,"shesaid."Itwasanightjob,buttheysaidpeoplehadcomplained.ItoldthemIwassick,andtheysaidtheydidn’tcare.I’msothirsty.""Thewomen,"hetoldher."Theyhavewater.Thehouse."

           "Puppy…"Shesoundedscared