Американские боги

           Shesmiledwhenshesawhim,andlookeddown,asifmomentarilyembarrassed."Hello,"shesaid.

           "Hi,"saidShadow.

           "Howareyou?"

           "Idon’tknow,"hesaid."Ithinkthisismaybeanotherstrangedreamonthetree.I’vebeenhavingcrazydreamssinceIgotoutofprison."

           Herfacewassilveredbythemoonlight(butnomoonhunginthatplum-blacksky,andnow,atthefootofthesteps,eventhesinglestarwaslosttoview)andshelookedbothsolemnandvulnerable.Shesaid,"Allyourquestionscanbeanswered,ifthatiswhatyouwant.Butonceyoulearnyouranswers,youcanneverunlearnthem.Youhavetounderstandthat."

           "Igotit,"hesaid.

           Beyondher,thepathforked.Hewouldhavetodecidewhichpathtotake,heknewthat.Buttherewasonethinghehadtodofirst.Hereachedintothepocketofhisjeansandwasrelievedwhenhefeltthefamiliarweightofthecoinatthebottomofthepocket.Heeaseditout,helditbetweenfingerandthumb:a1922Libertydollar."Thisisyours,"hesaid.

           Herememberedthenthathisclotheswerereallyatthefootofthetree.Thewomenhadplacedhisclothesinthecanvassackfromwhichtheyhadtakentheropes,andtiedtheendofthesack,andthebiggestofthewomenhadplacedaheavyrockonittostopitfromblowingaway.Andsoheknewthat,inreality,theLibertydollarwasinapocketinthatsack,beneaththerock.