Американские боги

           "

           Thenakedmansaidnothing,justmovedfromonefoottoanotherasifhewereuncertainofhisweight,asifhewereusedtorestingontheairoronaswayingbranch,notonthesolidandunchangingearth.Thenhesaid,"Ifheisgoneforever,itisallover."

           "Butthebattle—"

           "Ifheislost,itwillnotmatterwhowins."Helookedlikeheneededablanket,andacupofsweetcoffee,andsomeonetotakehimsomewherehecouldshiverandbabbleuntilhegothismindback.Heheldhisarmsstifflyagainsthissides.

           "Whereisthis?Nearby?"

           Hestaredatthetulipplant,andshookhishead."Wayaway."

           "Well,"shesaid,"I’mneededhere.AndIcan’tjustleave.Howdoyouexpectmetogetthere?Ican’tfly,likeyou,youknow."

           "No,"saidHorus."Youcan’t."Thenhelookedup,gravely,andpointedtotheotherdotthatcircledthem,asitdroppedfromthedarkeningclouds,growinginsize."Hecan."

           Anotherseveralhours’pointlessdriving,andbynowTownhatedtheGPSalmostasmuchashehatedShadow.Therewasnopassioninthehate,though.Hehadthoughtfindinghiswaytothefarm,tothegreatsilverashtree,hadbeenhard;findinghiswayawayfromthefarmwasmuchharder.