Американские боги

           MostofthestuffIknownowthatIdidn’tknowthenIcan’tputintowords."

           "Normallypeoplewhodiestayintheirgraves,"saidShadow.

           "Dothey?Dotheyreally,puppy?Iusedtothinktheydidtoo.NowI’mnotsosure.Perhaps."Sheclimbedoffthebedandwalkedovertothewindow.Herface,inthelightofthemotelsign,wasasbeautifulasithadeverbeen.Thefaceofthewomanhehadgonetoprisonfor.

           Hishearthurtinhischestasifsomeonehadtakenitinafistandsqueezed."Laura...?"

           Shedidnotlookathim."You’vegottenyourselfmixedupinsomebadthings,Shadow.You’regoingtoscrewitup,ifsomeoneisn’ttheretowatchoutforyou.I’mwatchingoutforyou.Andthankyouformypresent."

           "Whatpresent?"

           Shereachedintothepocketofherblouse,andpulledoutthegoldcoinhehadthrownintothegraveearlierthatday.Therewasstillblackdirtonit."Imayhaveitputonachain.Itwasverysweetofyou."

           "You’rewelcome."

           Sheturnedthenandlookedathimwitheyesthatseemedbothtoseeandnottoseehim."Ithinkthereareseveralaspectsofourmarriagewe’regoingtohavetoworkon."

           "Babes,"hetoldher."You’redead."

           "That’soneofthoseaspects,obviously."Shepaused."Okay,"shesaid."I’mgoingnow.ItwillbebetterifIgo."And,naturallyandeasily,sheturnedandputherhandsonShadow’sshoulders,andwentupontiptoestokisshimgoodbye,asshehadalwayskissedhimgoodbye.

           Awkwardlyhebenttokissheronthecheek,butshemovedhermouthashedidsoandpushedherlipsagainsthis.