Американские боги

           Hewasstandingbesideastatueofawomanlikething:hernak*dbr**stshungflatandpendulousonherchest,aroundherwaistwasachainofseveredhands,bothofherownhandsheldsharpknives,and,insteadofahead,risingfromherneckthereweretwinserpents,theirbodiesarched,facingeachother,readytoattack.Therewassomethingprofoundlydisturbingaboutthestatue,adeepandviolentwrongness.Shadowbackedawayfromit.

           Hebegantowalkthroughthehall.Thecarvedeyesofthosestatuesthathadeyesseemedtofollowhiseverystep.

           Inhisdream,herealizedthateachstatuehadanameburningonthefloorinfrontofit.Themanwiththewhitehair,withanecklaceofteethabouthisneck,holdingadrum,wasLeucotios;thebroad-hippedwomanwithmonstersdroppingfromthevastgashbetweenherlegswasHubur;theram-headedmanholdingthegoldenballwasHershef.

           Aprecisevoice,fussyandexact,wasspeakingtohim,inhisdream,buthecouldseenoone.

           "Thesearegodswhohavebeenforgotten,andnowmightaswellbedead.Theycanbefoundonlyindryhistories.Theyaregone,allgone,buttheirnamesandtheirimagesremainwithus."

           Shadowturnedacorner,andknewhimselftobeinanotherroom,evenvasterthanthefirst.Itwentonfartherthantheeyecouldsee.Closetohimwastheskullofamammoth,polishedandbrown,andahairyochercloak,beingwornbyasmallwomanwithadeformedlefthand.