Американские боги

           Thenightclerkwasamiddle-agedman,readingabookbyJohnGrisham.ShadowboughtapackofVirginiaSlimsfromthemachine.Heaskedthenightclerkforabookofmatches.

           "You’reinanonsmokingroom,"saidtheclerk."Youmakesureyouopenthewindow,now."HepassedShadowabookofmatchesandaplasticashtraywiththeMotelAmericalogoonit.

           "Gotit,"saidShadow.

           Hewentbackintohisbedroom.Shehadstretchedoutnow,ontopofhisrumpledcovers.Shadowopenedthewindowandthenpassedherthecigarettesandthematches.Herfingerswerecold.Shelitamatchandhesawthathernails,usuallypristine,werebatteredandchewed,andtherewasmudunderthem.

           Lauralitthecigarette,inhaled,blewoutthematch.Shetookanotherpuff."Ican’ttasteit,"shesaid."Idon’tthinkthisisdoinganything."

           "I’msorry,"hesaid.

           "Metoo,"saidLaura.Whensheinhaledthecigarettetipglowed,andhewasabletoseeherface.

           "So,"shesaid."Theyletyouout."

           "Yes."

           Thetipofthecigaretteglowedorange."I’mstillgrateful.Ishouldneverhavegotyoumixedupinit."

           "Well,"hesaid,"Iagreedtodoit.Icouldhavesaidno."Hewonderedwhyhewasn’tscaredofher:whyadreamofamuseumcouldleavehimterrified,whileheseemedtobecopingwithawalkingcorpsewithoutfear.

           "Yes,"shesaid."Youcouldhave.Youbiggaloot."Smokewreathedherface.Shewasverybeautifulinthedimlight."YouwanttoknowaboutmeandRobbie?"

           "Iguess."

           Shestubbedoutthecigaretteintheashtray."Youwereinprison,"shesaid.