Американские боги

           Shehadbrownhairandbrownskinandhereyeswerethedeepgolden-amberofgoodhoney.Herpupilswereverticalslits."DoIknowyou?"heasked,puzzled.

           "Intimately,"shesaid,andshesmiled."Iusedtosleeponyourbed.Andmypeoplehavebeenkeepingtheireyesonyou,forme."Sheturnedtothepathaheadofhim,pointedtothethreewayshecouldgo."Okay,"shesaid."Onewaywillmakeyouwise.Onewaywillmakeyouwhole.Andonewaywillkillyou."

           "I’malreadydead,Ithink,"saidShadow."Idiedonthetree."

           Shemadeamoue."There’sdead,"shesaid,"andthere’sdead,andthere’sdead.It’sarelativething."Thenshesmiledagain."Icouldmakeajokeaboutthat,youknow.Somethingaboutdeadrelatives."

           "No,"saidShadow."It’sokay."

           "So,"shesaid."Whichwaydoyouwanttogo?"

           "Idon’tknow,"headmitted.

           Shetippedherheadononeside,aperfectlyfelinegesture.Suddenly,Shadowknewexactlywhoshewas,andwhereheknewherfrom.Hefelthimselfbeginningtoblush."Ifyoutrustme,"saidBast,"Icanchooseforyou."

           "Itrustyou,"hesaid,withouthesitation.

           "Doyouwanttoknowwhatit’sgoingtocostyou?"

           "I’vealreadylostmyname,"hetoldher.

           "Namescomeandnamesgo.