Американские боги

           Hewasseveralfeetinfrontofhiscompanion,whowastwicehisheightandwastheblankgraycolorofgoodPolishclay:thewordinscribedonhisforeheadmeanttruth.

           Theykeptcoming.Acabdrewupandseveralrakshasas,thedemonsoftheIndiansubcontinent,climbedoutandmilledaround,staringatthepeopleatthebottomofthehillwithoutspeaking,untiltheyfoundMama-ji,hereyesclosed,herlipsmovinginprayer.Shewastheonlythingherethatwasfamiliartothem,butstill,theyhesitatedtoapproachher,rememberingoldbattles.Herhandsrubbedthenecklaceofskullsaboutherneck.Herbrownskinbecameslowlyblack,theglassyblackofjet,ofobsidian:herlipscurledandherlongwhiteteethwereverysharp.Sheopenedallhereyes,andbeckonedtherakshasastoher,andgreetedthemasshewouldhavegreetedherownchildren.

           Thestormsofthelastfewdays,tothenorthandtheeast,haddonenothingtoeasethefeelingofpressureanddiscomfortintheair.Localweatherforecastershadbeguntowarnofcellsthatmightspawntornados,ofhigh-pressureareasthatdidnotmove.Itwaswarmbydaythere,butthenightswerecold.

           Theyclumpedtogetherininformalcompanies,bandingtogethersometimesbynationality,byrace,bytemperament,evenbyspecies.Theylookedapprehensive.Theylookedtired.

           Someofthemweretalking.Therewaslaughter,onoccasion,butitwasmutedandsporadic.Six-packsofbeerwerehandedaround.