Американские боги

           "Okay,"hesaid."Hee.Hee.Okay.Hee.Gotit.MessagereceivedonPlanetTechnical.Loudandclear.Ixnayontheestionsquay."

           Mr.Worldshookhishead.Herestedahandonthefatkid’sshoulder."Hey,"hesaid."Youreallywanttoknow?"

           "Sure."

           "Well,"saidMr.World,"seeingthatwe’refriends,here’stheanswer:I’mgoingtotakethestick,andI’mgoingtothrowitoverthearmiesastheycometogether.AsIthrowit,itwillbecomeaspear.Andthen,asthespeararcsoverthebattle,I’mgoingtoshout,‘IdedicatethisbattletoOdin.’"

           "Huh?"saidthefatkid."Why?"

           "Power,"saidMr.World.Hescratchedhischin."Andfood.Acombinationofthetwo.Yousee,theoutcomeofthebattleisunimportant.Whatmattersisthechaos,andtheslaughter."

           "Idon’tgetit."

           "Letmeshowyou.It’llbejustlikethis,"saidMr.World."Watch!"Hetookthewooden-bladedhunter’sknifefromthepocketofhisBurberryand,inonefluidmovement,heslippedthebladeofitintothesoftfleshbeneaththefatkid’schin,andpushedhardupward,towardthebrain."IdedicatethisdeathtoOdin,"hesaid,astheknifesankin.

           Therewasaleakageontohishandofsomethingthatwasnotactuallyblood,andasputteringsparkingnoisebehindthefatkid’seyes