Американские боги

           ThecorpsewasayoungJapanesewomanwithherstomachblownaway,andherfaceallbloody.Slowly,thecorpsebegantofade.

           Thepeoplecontinuedupthehill,ontwolegs,onfourlegs,onnolegsatall.

           ThedrivethroughtheTennesseemountaincountryhadbeenstartlinglybeautifulwheneverthestormhadeased,andnerve-wrackingwhenevertherainhadpelteddown.TownandLaurahadtalkedandtalkedandtalkedthewholeway.Hewassogladhehadmether.Itwaslikemeetinganoldfriend,areallygoodoldfriendyou’dsimplynevermetbefore.Theytalkedhistoryandmoviesandmusic,andsheturnedouttobetheonlyperson,andImeantheonlyotherperson,hehadevermetwhohadseenaforeignfilm(Mr.TownwassureitwasSpanish,whileLaurawasjustascertainitwasPolish)fromthesixtiescalledTheManuscriptFoundinSaragossa,afilmhehadbeenstartingtobelievehehadhallucinated.

           WhenLaurapointedoutthefirstSEEROCKCITYbarntohimhechuckledandadmittedthatthatwaswherehewasheaded.Shesaidthatwassocool.Shealwayswantedtovisitthosekindsofplaces,butshenevermadethetime,andalwaysregretteditlater.Thatwaswhyshewasontheroadrightnow.Shewashavinganadventure.

           Shewasatravelagent,shetoldhim.Separatedfromherhusband.Sheadmittedthatshedidn’tthinktheycouldevergetbacktogether,andsaiditwasherfault.

           "Ican’tbelievethat."

           Shesighed."It’strue,Mack.