Американские боги

           Shepulledherselfup,withawriggleandashiver,andwasseatedbesidehersistersonceagain.

           "Thankyou."Laurawalkedovertothetable,lookedaroundforacuporaglass,buttherewasnothinglikethattobeseen.Shepickedupthejug.Itwasheavierthanitlooked.Thewaterinitwasperfectlyclear.

           Sheraisedthejugtoherlipsandbegantodrink.

           Thewaterwascolderthanshehadeverimaginedliquidwatercouldbe.Itfrozehertongueandherteethandhergullet.Still,shedrank,unabletostopdrinking,feelingthewaterfreezingitswayintoherstomach,herbowels,herheart,herveins.

           Thewaterflowedintoher.Itwaslikedrinkingliquidice.

           Sherealizedthatthejugwasemptyand,surprised,sheputitdownonthetable.

           Thewomenwereobservingher,dispassionately.Sinceherdeath,Laurahadnotthoughtinmetaphors:thingswere,ortheywerenot.Butnow,asshelookedatthewomenonthesofa,shefoundherselfthinkingofjuries,ofscientistsobservingalaboratoryanimal.

           Sheshook,suddenlyandconvulsively.Shereachedoutahandtothetabletosteadyherself,butthetablewasslippingandlurching,anditalmostavoidedhergrasp.Assheputherhandonthetableshebegantovomit.Shebroughtupbileandformalin,centipedes,andmaggots.Andthenshefeltherselfstartingtovoid,andtopiss:stuffwasbeingpushedviolently,wetly,fromherbody.