Американские боги

           Shedidnotdaretotalktohim.Atthatmoment,itwouldhavebeensacrilegious.Shewatchedhim,exhaustedasshewas,andshewondered.

           Abouttwentyfeetoutfromthebaseofthetree,half-overgrownwithlongmeadow-grassanddeadcreepers,hefoundacanvasbag.Shadowpickeditup,untiedtheknotsatthetopofthebag,loosenedthedraw-string.

           Theclotheshepulledoutwerehisown.Theywereold,butstillserviceable.Heturnedtheshoesoverinhishands.Hestrokedthefabricoftheshirt,thewoolofthesweater,staredatthemasifhewerelookingatthemacrossamillionyears.

           Forsometimehelookedatthem,then,onebyone,heputthemon.

           Heputhishandsintohispockets,andlookedpuzzledashepulledonehandoutholdingwhatlookedtoEasterlikeawhiteandgraymarble.

           Hesaid,"Nocoins."Itwasthefirstthinghehadsaidinseveralhours.

           "Nocoins?"echoedEaster.

           Heshookhishead."Itwasgoodtohavethecoins,"hesaid."Theygavemesomethingtodowithmyhands."Hebentdowntopullonhisshoes.

           Oncehewasdressed,helookedmorenormal.Grave,though.Shewonderedhowfarhehadtraveled,andwhatithadcosthimtoreturn.