Американские боги

           Theysweptthroughthestormlikejaggedboltsoflightning,flashingfromcloudtocloud;theymovedlikethethunder’sroar,liketheswellandripofthehurricane.Itwasacrackling,impossiblejourney,andShadowforgottobescaredalmostimmediately.Youcannotbeafraidwhenyouridethethunderbird.Thereisnofear:onlythepowerofthestorm,unstoppableandall-consuming,andthejoyoftheflight.

           Shadowdughisfingersintothethunderbird’sfeathers,feelingthestaticprickleonhisskin.Bluesparkswrithedacrosshishandsliketinysnakes.Rainwashedhisface.

           "Thisisthebest,"heshouted,overtheroarofthestorm.

           Asifitunderstoodhim,thebirdbegantorisehigher,everywing-beataclapofthunder,anditswoopedanddoveandtumbledthroughthedarkclouds.

           "Inmydream,Iwashuntingyou,"saidShadow,hiswordsrippedawaybythewind."Inmydream.Ihadtobringbackafeather."

           Yes.Thewordwasastaticcrackleintheradioofhismind.Theycametousforfeathers,toprovethattheyweremen;andtheycametoustocutthestonesfromourheads,togivetheirdeadourlives.

           Animagefilledhismindthen:ofathunderbird—afemale,heassumed,forherplumagewasbrown,notblack—lyingfreshlydeadonthesideofamountain.Besideitwasawoman.Shewasbreakingopenitsskullwithaknobofflint.