Американские боги

           "Now,let’sgethimdownfromthere."

           ThewetropesthatheldShadowtothetreehadlongagoweatheredandrotted,andtheypartedeasilyasthetwopeoplepulledonthem.Thebodyonthetreeslippedandsliddowntowardtheroots.Theycaughthimashefell,andtheytookhimup,carryinghimeasily,althoughhewasaverybigman,andtheyputhimdowninthegraymeadow.

           Thebodyonthegrasswascold,anditdidnotbreathe.Therewasapatchofdriedblackbloodonitsside,asifithadbeenstabbedwithaspear.

           "Whatnow?"

           "Now,"shesaid,"wewarmhim.Youknowwhatyouhavetodo."

           "Iknow.Icannot.""Ifyouarenotwillingtohelp,thenyoushouldnothavecalledmehere."

           "Butithasbeentoolong."

           "Ithasbeentoolongforallofus."

           "AndIamquitemad."

           "Iknow."ShereachedoutawhitehandtoHorus,andshetouchedhisblackhair.Heblinkedather,intently.Thenheshimmered,asifinaheathaze.

           Thehawkeyethatfacedherglintedorange,asifaflamehadjustbeenkindledinsideit;aflamethathadbeenlongextinguished.