Американские боги

           Wasitworthit?"

           "Yes.Maybe.Itwasn’teasy.Asrevelationsgo,itwaskindofpersonal."

           "Allrevelationsarepersonal,"shesaid."That’swhyallrevelationsaresuspect."

           "Idon’tunderstand."

           "No,"shesaid,"youdon’t.I’lltakeyourheart.We’llneeditlater,"andshereachedherhanddeepinsidehischest,andshepulleditoutwithsomethingrubyandpulsingheldbetweenhersharpfingernails.Itwasthecolorofpigeon’sblood,anditwasmadeofpurelight.Rhythmicallyitexpandedandcontracted.

           Sheclosedherhand,anditwasgone.

           "Takethemiddleway,"shesaid.

           Shadowhesitated."Areyoureallyhere?"heasked.

           Shetippedherheadononeside,regardedhimgravely,saidnothingatall.

           "Whatareyou?"heasked."Whatareyoupeople?"

           Sheyawned,showingaperfect,dark-pinktongue."Thinkofusassymbols—we’rethedreamthathumanitycreatestomakesenseoftheshadowsonthecavewall.Nowgoon,keepmoving.Yourbodyisalreadygrowingcold.Thefoolsaregatheringonthemountain.Theclockisticking."

           Shadownodded,andwalkedon.

           Thepathwasbecomingslipperynow.Therewasiceontherock.Shadowstumbledandskiddedashewalkeddowntherockpath,towardtheplacewhereitdivided,scrapinghisknucklesonajutofrockatchestheight.