Американские боги

           Theyparkedatthebackoftheparkinglot.Heturnedofftheengine.

           "Hey.Mack.Beforeyougetoutofthecar,don’tIgetahug?"askedLaurawithasmile.

           "Yousurelydo,"saidMr.Town,andheputhisarmsaroundher,andshesnuggledclosetohimwhiletherainpatteredatattooontheroofoftheFordExplorer.Hecouldsmellherhair.Therewasafaintlyunpleasantscentbeneaththeperfume.Travelwoulddoit,everytime.Thatbath,hedecided,wasarealmustforbothofthem.HewonderediftherewasanyplaceinChattanoogawherehecouldgetthosescentedbathbombshisfirstwifehadlovedsomuch.Lauraraisedherheadagainsthis,andherhandstrokedthelineofhisneck,absently.

           "Mack…Ikeepthinking.Youmustreallywanttoknowwhathappenedtothosefriendsofyours,"shesaid."WoodyandStone.Doyou?""Yeah,"hesaid,movinghislipsdowntohers,fortheirfirstkiss."SureIdo."

           Sosheshowedhim.

           Shadowwalkedthemeadow,makinghisownslowcirclesaroundthetrunkofthetree,graduallywideninghiscircle.Sometimeshewouldstopandpicksomethingup:aflower,oraleaf,orapebble,oratwig,orabladeofgrass.Hewouldexamineitminutely,asifconcentratingentirelyonthetwignessofthetwig,theleafnessoftheleaf,asifhewereseeingitforthefirsttime.

           Easterfoundherselfremindedofthegazeofababy,atthepointwhereitlearnstofocus.