Американские боги

           "Giveittome,"saidThoth,theibis-headedgod,andhetooktheheartinhishands,whichwerenothumanhands,andheglidedforward.

           Anubisplacedapairofgoldenscalesinfrontofhim.

           "SoisthiswherewefindoutwhatIget?"whisperedShadowtoBast."Heaven?Hell?Purgatory?"

           "Ifthefeatherbalances,"shesaid,"yougettochooseyourowndestination."

           "Andifnot?"

           Sheshrugged,asifthesubjectmadeheruncomfortable.Thenshesaid,"ThenwefeedyourheartandyoursoultoAmmet,theEaterofSouls…"

           "Maybe,"hesaid."MaybeIcangetsomekindofahappyending."

           "Notonlyaretherenohappyendings,"shetoldhim."Therearen’tevenanyendings."

           Ononeofthepansofthescales,carefully,reverently,Anubisplacedafeather.

           AnubisputShadow’sheartontheotherpanofthescales.Somethingmovedintheshadowsunderthescale,somethingitmadeShadowuncomfortabletoexaminetooclosely.

           Itwasaheavyfeather,butShadowhadaheavyheart,andthescalestippedandswungworryingly.

           Buttheybalanced,intheend,andthecreatureintheshadowsskulkedaway,unsatisfied.

           "Sothat’sthat,"saidBast,wistfully."Justanotherskullforthepile.It’sapity.Ihadhopedthatyouwoulddosomegood,inthecurrenttroubles