Американские боги

           Thedreamwasstillfreshandvividinhismind’seye,buthecouldnotexplaintohimselfwhyithadscaredhimso.

           Thelightthatcameintotheroomfromoutsidewasnotbright,butShadow’seyeshadbecomeusedtothedark.Therewasawomansittingonthesideofhisbed.

           Heknewher.Hewouldhaveknownherinacrowdofathousand,orofahundredthousand.Shewasstillwearingthenavybluesuittheyhadburiedherin.

           Hervoicewasawhisper,butafamiliarline."Iguess,"saidLaura,"you’regoingtoaskwhatI’mdoinghere."

           Shadowsaidnothing.

           Hesatdownontheroom’sonlychairand,finally,asked,"Isthatyou?"

           "Yes,"shesaid."I’mcold,puppy."

           "You’redead,babe."

           "Yes,"shesaid."Yes.Iam."Shepattedthebednexttoher."Comeandsitbyme,"shesaid.

           "No,"saidShadow."IthinkI’llstayrightherefornow.Wehavesomeunresolvedissuestoaddress."

           "Likemebeingdead?"

           "Possibly,butIwasthinkingmoreofhowyoudied.YouandRobbie."

           "Oh,"shesaid."That."

           Shadowcouldsmell-orperhaps,hethought,hesimplyimaginedthathesmelled-anodorofrot,offlowersandpreservatives.Hiswife-hisex-wife...no,hecorrectedhimself,hislatewife-satonthebedandstaredathim,unblinking.

           "Puppy,"shesaid."Couldyou-doyouthinkyoucouldpossiblygetme-acigarette?"

           "Ithoughtyougavethemup."

           "Idid,"shesaid."ButI’mnolongerconcernedaboutthehealthrisks.AndIthinkitwouldcalmmynerves.There’samachineinthelobby."

           ShadowpulledonhisjeansandaT-shirtandwent,barefoot,intothelobby.