Американские боги

           "Furnacesdon’tgoonuntilDecemberthefirst.ThentheygooffMarchthefirst.Idon’tmaketherules."Heranhisforefingerdownthesheetofpaperstapledtotheinsideleftofthefolder."You’rethirty-twoyearsold?"

           "Yes,sir."

           "Youlookyounger."

           "Cleanliving."

           "Sayshereyou’vebeenamodelinmate."

           "Ilearnedmylesson,sir."

           "Didyoureally?"HelookedatShadowintently,thebirthmarkonhisforeheadlowering.Shadowthoughtabouttellingthemansomeofhistheoriesaboutprison,buthesaidnothing.Henoddedinstead,andconcentratedonappearingproperlyremorseful.

           "Sayshereyou’vegotawife,Shadow."

           "Hername’sLaura."

           "How’severythingthere?"

           "Prettygood.She’scomedowntoseemeasmuchasshecould-it’salongwaytotravel.WewriteandIcallherwhenIcan."

           "Whatdoesyourwifedo?"

           "She’satravelagent.Sendspeopleallovertheworld."

           "How’dyoumeether?"

           Shadowcouldnotdecidewhythemanwasasking.Heconsideredtellinghimitwasnoneofhisbusiness,thensaid,"Shewasmybestbuddy’swife’sbestfriend.Theysetusuponablinddate.Wehititoff."

           "Andyou’vegotajobwaitingforyou?"

           "Yessir.Mybuddy,Robbie,theoneIjusttoldyouabout,heownstheMuscleFarm,theplaceIusedtotrain.Hesaysmyoldjobiswaitingforme."

           Aneyebrowraised."Really?"

           "SayshefiguresI’llbeabigdraw.Bringbacksomeold-timers,andpullinthetoughcrowdwhowanttobetougher."

           Themanseemedsatisfied.Hechewedtheendofhisballpointpen,thenturnedoverthesheetofpaper.