Американские боги

           Theythrowcornintoadeerenclosure,crossahangingbridgeandpeeroutthrougha-quarter-a-throwbinocularsataviewthatpromisesthemsevenstatesontheraresunnydayswhentheairisperfectlyclear.Andfromthere,likeadropintosomestrangehell,thepathtakesthevisitors,millionsuponmillionsofthemeveryyear,downintocaverns,wheretheystareatblack-litdollsarrangedintonursery-rhymeandfairy-taledioramas.Whentheyleave,theyleavebemused,uncertainofwhytheycame,ofwhattheyhaveseen,ofwhethertheyhadagoodtimeornot.

           TheycametoLookoutMountainfromallacrosstheUnitedStates.Theywerenottourists.Theycamebycarandtheycamebyplaneandbybusandbyrailroadandonfoot.Someofthemflew—theyflewlow,andtheyflewonlyinthedarkofthenight,butstill,theyflew.Severalofthemtraveledtheirownwaysbeneaththeearth.Manyofthemhitchhiked,cadgingridesfromnervousmotoristsorfromtruckdrivers.Thosewhohadcarsortruckswouldseetheoneswhohadnotwalkingbesidetheroadsoratreststationsandindinersontheway,and,recognizingthemforwhattheywere,wouldofferthemrides.

           Theyarriveddust-stainedandwearyatthefootofLookoutMountain.Lookinguptotheheightsofthetree-coveredslopetheycouldsee,orimaginethattheycouldsee,thepathsandgardensandstreamsofRockCity.

           Theystartedarrivingearlyinthemorning.Asecondwaveofthemarrivedatdusk.Andforseveraldaystheysimplykeptcoming.