Американские боги

           Hewaslookingathimselfinprisonblues,inthewarden’soffice,asthewardentoldhimthatLaurahaddiedinacarcrash.Hesawtheexpressiononhisownface—helookedlikeamanwhohadbeenabandonedbytheworld.Ithurthimtoseeit,thenakednessandthefear.Hehurriedon,pushedthroughthewarden’sgrayoffice,andfoundhimselflookingattheVCRrepairstoreontheoutskirtsofEaglePoint.Threeyearsago.Yes.

           Insidethestore,heknew,hewasbeatingthelivingcrapoutofLarryPowersandB.J.West,bruisinghisknucklesintheprocess:prettysoonhewouldwalkoutofthere,carryingabrownsupermarketbagfilledwithtwenty-dollarbills.Themoneytheycouldneverprovehehadtaken:hisshareoftheproceeds,andalittlemore,fortheyshouldn’thavetriedtoriphimandLauraofflikethat.Hewasonlythedriver,buthehaddonehispart,doneeverythingthatshehadaskedofhim…

           Atthetrial,nobodymentionedthebankrobbery,althoughhewascertaineverybodywantedto.Theycouldn’tproveathing,aslongasnobodywastalking.Andnobodywas.TheprosecutorwasforcedinsteadtosticktothebodilydamagethatShadowhadinflictedonPowersandWest.Heshowedphotographsofthetwomenontheirarrivalinthelocalhospital.Shadowbarelydefendedhimselfincourt;itwaseasierthatway.NeitherPowersnorWestseemedabletorememberwhatthefighthadbeenabout,buttheyeachadmittedthatShadowhadbeentheirassailant.