Американские боги

           "Yes?WhatkindofananswerisYes?"

           "It’sagoodanswer.Trueanswer,too."

           Shadowsaid,"Areyouagodaswell?"

           WhiskeyJackshookhishead."I’maculturehero,"hesaid."Wedothesameshitgodsdo,wejustscrewupmoreandnobodyworshipsus.Theytellstoriesaboutus,buttheytelltheoneswhichmakeuslookbadalongwiththeoneswherewecameoutfairlyokay."

           "Isee,"saidShadow.Andhedidsee,moreorless.

           "Look,"saidWhiskeyJack."Thisisnotagoodcountryforgods.Mypeoplefiguredthatoutearlyon.Therearecreatorspiritswhofoundtheearthormadeitorshititout,butyouthinkaboutit:who’sgoingtoworshipCoyote?HemadelovetoPorcupineWomanandgothisdickshotthroughwithmoreneedlesthanapincushion.He’darguewithrocksandtherockswouldwin.

           "So,yeah,mypeoplefiguredthatmaybethere’ssomethingatthebackofitall,acreator,agreatspirit,andsowesaythankyoutoit,becauseit’salwaysgoodtosaythankyou.Butweneverbuiltchurches.Wedidn’tneedto.Thelandwasthechurch.Thelandwasthereligion.Thelandwasolderandwiserthanthepeoplewhowalkedonit.Itgaveussalmonandcornandbuffaloandpassengerpigeons.Itgaveuswildriceandwalleye.Itgaveusmelonandsquashandturkey.Andwewerethechildrenoftheland,justliketheporcupineandtheskunkandthebluejay.