Американские боги

           Theinsideofthebuildingsmelledofolddamp.Shesqueezedpastthepiano,pushedopenadoorandfoundherselfinadilapidateddrawingroom,filledwithramshacklefurniture.Anoillampburnedonthemantelpiece.Therewasacoalfireburninginthefireplacebeneathit,althoughshehadneitherseennorsmelledsmokeoutsidethehouse.Thecoalfiredidnothingtoliftthechillshefeltinthatroom,although,Laurawaswillingtoconcede,thatmightnotbethefaultoftheroom.

           DeathhurtLaura,althoughthehurtconsistedmostlyofabsences,ofthingsthatwerenotthere:aparchingthirstthatdrainedeverycellofher,acoldinherbonesthatnoheatcouldlift.Sometimesshewouldcatchherselfwonderingwhetherthecrispandcracklingflamesofapyrewouldwarmher,orthesoftbrownblanketoftheearth;whetherthecoldseawouldquenchherthirst…

           Theroom,sherealized,wasnotempty.

           Threewomensatonanelderlycouch,asiftheyhadcomeasamatchedsetinsomeoutlandishartisticexhibition.Thecouchwasupholsteredinthreadbarevelvet,afadedbrownthatmight,once,ahundredyearsago,havebeenabrightcanaryyellow.Thewomenweredressedinidenticalfog-grayskirtsandsweaters.Theireyesweretoodeeplyset,theirskinthewhiteoffreshbone.Theoneontheleftofthesofawasagiantess,oralmost,theoneontherightwaslittlemorethanadwarf,and,betweenthem,wasawomanLaurawascertainwouldbeherownheight.