Американские боги

           Lauratookthestickfromthebackseatofthecar.SheleftMr.TowninthefrontseatoftheFordExplorer,andclimbedoutofthecar,andwalkedthroughtheraintoRockCity.Theticketofficewasclosed.Thedoortothegiftshopwasnotlockedandshewalkedthroughit,pasttherockcandyandthedisplayofSEEROCKCITYbirdhouses,intotheEighthWonderoftheWorld.

           Nobodychallengedher,althoughshepassedseveralmenandwomenonthepath,intherain.Manyofthemlookedfaintlyartificial;severalofthemweretranslucent.Shewalkedacrossaswingingropebridge.Shepassedthewhitedeergardens,andpushedherselfthroughtheFatMan’sSqueeze,wherethepathranbetweentworockwalls.

           And,intheend,shesteppedoverachain,withasignonittellingherthatthispartoftheattractionwasclosed,andshewentintoacavern,andshesawamansittingonaplasticchair,infrontofadioramaofdrunkengnomes.HewasreadingtheWashingtonPostbythelightofasmallelectriclantern.Whenhesawherhefoldedthepaperandplaceditbeneathhischair.Hestoodup,atallmanwithclose-croppedorangehairinanexpensiveraincoat,andhegaveherasmallbow.

           "IshallassumethatMisterTownisdead,"hesaid."Welcome,spear-carrier."

           "Thankyou.I’msorryaboutMack,"shesaid."Wereyoufriends?"

           "Notatall.Heshouldhavekepthimselfalive,ifhewantedtokeephisjob.Butyoubroughthisstick.