Американские боги

           Themiddleway,thewaythecat-womanhadtoldhimtowalk,thatwashisway.Hemovedtowardit.

           Themoonabovehimwasbeginningtofade:theedgeofitwaspinkingandgoingintoeclipse.Thepathwasframedbyahugedoorway.

           Therewerenodealstomakeanymore,nomorebargains.Therewasnothingtodobutenter.SoShadowwalkedthroughthedoorway,indarkness.Theairwaswarm,anditsmelledofwetdust,likeacitystreetafterthesummer’sfirstrain.

           Hewasnotafraid.

           Notanymore.Fearhaddiedonthetree,asShadowhaddied.Therewasnofearleft,nohatred,nopain.Nothingleftbutessence.

           Somethingbigsplashed,quietly,inthedistance,andthesplashechoedintothevastness.Hesquinted,butcouldseenothing.Itwastoodark.Andthen,fromthedirectionofthesplashes,aghost-lightglimmeredandtheworldtookform:hewasinacavern,andinfrontofhim,mirror-smooth,waswater.

           Thesplashingnoisescamecloserandthelightbecamebrighter,andShadowwaitedontheshore.Soonenoughalow,flatboatcameintosight,aflickeringwhitelanternburningatitsraisedprow,anotherreflectedintheglassyblackwaterseveralfeetbelowit.Theboatwasbeingpoledbyatallfigure,andthesplashingnoiseShadowhadheardwasthesoundofthepolebeingliftedandmovedasitpushedthecraftacrossthewatersoftheundergroundlake."Hellothere!"calledShadow.