Американские боги

           "Look,"hesaid,andpointedtothewaterfall.Thesunwashighenoughthatitcaughtthewaterfallspray:arainbownimbushungintheair.Shadowthoughtitwasthemostbeautifulthinghehadeverseen.

           "It’sgoingtobeabloodbath,"saidWhiskeyJack,flatly.

           Shadowsawitthen.Hesawitall,starkinitssimplicity.Heshookhishead,thenhebegantochuckle,andheshookhisheadsomemore,andthechucklebecameafull-throatedlaugh.

           "Youokay?"

           "I’mfine,"saidShadow."IjustsawthehiddenIndians.Notallofthem.ButIsawthemanyhow."

           "ProbablyHoChunk,then.Thoseguysnevercouldhideworthadamn."Helookedupatthesun."Timetogoback,"hesaid.Hestoodup.

           "It’satwo-mancon,"saidShadow."It’snotawaratall,isit?"

           WhiskeyJackpattedShadow’sarm."You’renotsodumb,"hesaid.

           TheywalkedbacktoWhiskeyJack’sshack.Heopenedthedoor.Shadowhesitated."IwishIcouldstayherewithyou,"hesaid."Thisseemslikeagoodplace."

           "Therearealotofgoodplaces,"saidWhiskeyJack."That’skindofthepoint.Listen,godsdiewhentheyareforgotten.Peopletoo.Buttheland’sstillhere.Thegoodplaces,andthebad.Thelandisn’tgoinganywhere.AndneitheramI."

           Shadowclosedthedoor.Somethingwaspullingathim.