Американские боги

           CanyoutellmehowtogettoHighway81fromhere?"

           Shelookedathimthroughtheopenpassenger-sidewindowandsaid,"Youknow,Idon’tthinkIcanexplainit.ButIcanshowyou,ifyoulike."Shewaspaleandherwethairwaslonganddark.

           "Climbin,"saidTown.Hedidn’tevenhesitate."Firstthing,weneedtobuysomegas."

           "Thanks,"shesaid."Ineededaride."Shegotin.Hereyeswereastonishinglyblue."There’sastickhere,ontheseat,"shesaid,puzzled.

           "Justthrowitintheback.Whereareyouheading?"heasked."Lady,ifyoucangetmetoagasstation,andbacktoafreeway,I’lltakeyouallthewaytoyourownfrontdoor."

           Shesaid,"Thankyou.ButIthinkI’mgoingfurtherthanyouare.Ifyoucangetmetothefreeway,thatwillbefine.Maybeatruckerwillgivemearide."Andshesmiled,acrooked,determinedsmile.Itwasthesmilethatdidit.

           "Ma’am,"hesaid,"Icangiveyouafinerridethananytrucker."Hecouldsmellherperfume.Itwasheadyandheavy,acloyingscent,likemagnoliasorlilacs,buthedidnotmind.

           "I’mgoingtoGeorgia,"shesaid."It’salongway."

           "I’mgoingtoChattanooga.I’lltakeyouasfarasIcan."

           "Mmm,"shesaid."What’syourname?"

           "TheycallmeMack,"saidMr.Town.