Американские боги

           Andthenhesaid,"WhydoIhavetodothis,sir?"

           "BecauseItellyouto,"saidMr.World,flatly."Findthetree.Dothejob.MeetmedowninChattanooga.Don’twasteanytime."

           "Andwhatabouttheasshole?"

           "Shadow?Ifyouseehim,justavoidhim.Don’ttouchhim.Don’tevenmesswithhim.Idon’twantyouturninghimintoamartyr.There’snoroomformartyrsinthecurrentgame-plan."Hesmiledthen,hisscarredsmile.Mr.Worldwaseasilyamused.Mr.Townhadnoticedthisonseveraloccasions.Ithadamusedhimtoplaychauffeur,inKansas,afterall.

           "Look—"

           "Nomartyrs,Town."

           AndTownhadnodded,andtakentheknifeinitssheath,andpushedtheragethatwelledupinsidehimdowndeepandaway.

           Mr.Town’shatredofShadowhadbecomeapartofhim.AshewasfallingasleephewouldseeShadow’ssolemnface,seethatsmilethatwasn’tasmile,thewayShadowhadofsmilingwithoutsmilingthatmadeTownwanttosinkhisfistintotheman’sgut,andevenashefellasleephecouldfeelhisjawssqueezetogether,histemplestense,hisgulletburn.

           HedrovetheFordExploreracrossthemeadow,pastanabandonedfarmhouse.Hecrestedaridgeandsawthetree.Heparkedthecaralittlewaypastit,andturnedofftheengine.Theclockonthedashboardsaiditwas6:38A.M.Heleftthekeysinthecar,andwalkedtowardthetree.