Американские боги
Shehadachainofblueforget-me-notstattooedaroundherleftwrist,andsherubbedthem,absently,withherrightthumb.
Anothernighthadcomeandgone,andnothing.Thefolkwerestillcoming,byonesandtwos.Thelastnighthadbroughtseveralcreaturesfromthesouthwest,includingtwoyoungboyseachthesizeofanappletree,andsomethingwhichshehadonlyglimpsed,butwhichhadlookedlikeadisembodiedheadthesizeofaVWBug.Theyhaddisappearedintothetreesatthebaseofthemountain.Nobodybotheredthem.Nobodyfromtheoutsideworldevenseemedtohavenoticedtheywerethere:sheimaginedthetouristsatRockCitystaringdownatthemthroughtheirinsert-a-quarterbinoculars,staringstraightataramshackleencampmentofthingsandpeopleatthefootofthemountain,andseeingnothingbuttreesandbushesandrocks.
Shecouldsmellthesmokefromacookingfire,asmellofburningbacononthechillydawnwind.Someoneatthefarendoftheencampmentbegantoplaytheharmonica,whichmadeher,involuntarily,smileandshiver.Shehadapaperbackbookinherbackpack,andshewaitedfortheskytobecomelightenoughforhertoread.
Thereweretwodotsinthesky,immediatelybelowtheclouds:asmalloneandalargerone.Aspatterofrainbrushedherfaceinthemorningwind.
Abarefootgirlcameoutfromtheencampment,walkingtowardher.Shestoppedbesideatree,hitchedupherskirts,andsquatted.Whenshehadfinished,Easterhailedher.