Американские боги

           "Tellthem…tellthemIsaidtogiveyouwater…"

           Thewhitefacestaredupathim."Ishouldgo,"shetoldhim.Thenshehacked,andmadeaface,andspatamassofsomethingwhiteontothegrass.Itbrokeupwhenithitthegroundandwriggledaway.

           Itwasalmostimpossibletobreathe.Hischestfeltheavy,andhisheadwasswaying.

           "Stay,"hesaid,inabreaththatwasalmostawhisper,unsurewhetherornotshecouldhearhim."Pleasedon’tgo."Hestartedtocough."Staythenight."

           "I’llstopawhile,"shesaid.Andthen,likeamothertoachildshesaid,"Nothing’sgonnahurtyouwhenI’mhere.Youknowthat?"

           Shadowcoughedoncemore.Heclosedhiseyes—onlyforamoment,hethought,butwhenheopenedthemagainthemoonhadsetandhewasalone.

           Acrashingandapoundinginhishead,beyondthepainofmigraine,beyondallpain.Everythingdissolvedintotinybutterflieswhichcircledhimlikeamulticoloredduststormandthenevaporatedintothenight.

           Thewhitesheetwrappedaboutthebodyatthebaseofthetreeflappednoisilyinthemorningwind.

           Thepoundingeased.Everythingslowed.Therewasnothinglefttomakehimkeepbreathing.Hisheartceasedtobeatinhischest.

           Thedarknessthatheenteredthistimewasdeep,andlitbyasinglestar,anditwasfinal.