Американские боги

           "

           Shadowtookofftheshoeshehadnotbeenawarehewaswearing,andsteppedoutintothewater.Itcamehalfwayuphiscalves,andwas,aftertheinitialshockofwetness,surprisinglywarm.Hereachedtheboat,andthepilotputdownahand,andpulledhimaboard.Thereedboatrockedalittle,andwatersplashedoverthelowsidesofit,andthenitsteadied.

           Thepilotpoledoffawayfromtheshore.Shadowstoodthereandwatched,hispants-legsdripping.

           "Iknowyou,"hesaidtothecreatureattheprow.

           "Youdoindeed,"saidtheboatman.Theoillampwhichhungatthefrontoftheboatburnedmorefitfully,andthesmokefromthelampmadeShadowcough."Youworkedforme.I’mafraidwehadtointerLilaGoodchildwithoutyou."Thevoicewasfussyandprecise.

           ThesmokestungShadow’seyes.Hewipedthetearsawaywithhishand,and,throughthesmoke,hethoughthesawatallman,inasuit,withgold-rimmedspectacles.Thesmokeclearedandtheboatmanwasoncemoreahalf-humancreaturewiththeheadofariver-bird.

           "MisterIbis?"

           "Goodtoseeyou,Shadow,"saidthecreature,withMr.Ibis’svoice."Doyouknowwhatapsychopompis?"

           Shadowthoughtheknewtheword,butithadbeenalongtime.Heshookhishead.

           "It’safancytermforanescort,"saidMr.Ibis."Weallhavesomanyfunctions,somanywaysofexisting.