Американские боги

           Mostofhisworkinglifehadbeenspentinabranchofgovernmentwhichwentonlybyitsinitials,andwhetherornothehadlefthisgovernmentjobadozenyearsagoforemploymentbytheprivatesectorwasamatterofopinion:somedayshethoughtoneway,somedaysanother.Anyway,itwasonlywhenyougotdowntothejoesonthestreetthatanyoneseemedtoassumetherewasadifference.

           Hewasonthevergeofgivinguponthefarmwhenhedroveupahillandsawthesign,handpainted,onthegate.Itsaidsimply,ashehadbeentolditwould,ASH.HepulleduptheFordExplorer,climbedoutanduntwistedthewirethatheldthegateclosed.Hegotbackinthecaranddrovethrough.

           Itwaslikecookingafrog,hethought.Youputthefroginthewater,andthenyouturnontheheat.Andbythetimethefrognoticesthatthere’sanythingwrong,it’salreadybeencooked.Theworldinwhichheworkedwasalltooweird.Therewasnosolidgroundbeneathhisfeet;thewaterinthepotwasbubblingfiercely.

           Whenhe’dbeentransferredtotheAgencyithadallseemedsosimple.Nowitwasallso—notcomplex,hedecided;merelybizarre.HehadbeensittinginMr.World’sofficeattwothatmorning,andhehadbeentoldwhathewastodo."Yougotit?"saidMr.World,handinghimtheknifeinitsdarkleathersheath."Cutmeastick.Itdoesn’thavetobelongerthanacoupleoffeet."

           "Affirmative,"hesaid.