Американские боги

           Theexpressiononhisfacewasoneofsurprise.Hisneckhadbeenexpertlybroken.Shadowtouchedtheman’sface.Stillwarm.

           Shadowcouldsmellascentontheairinthecar;itwasfaint,liketheperfumeofsomeonewholeftaroomyearsbefore,butShadowwouldhaveknownitanywhere.HeslammedthedooroftheExplorerandmadehiswayacrosstheparkinglot.

           Ashewalkedhefeltatwingeinhisside,asharp,jabbingpainthatmusthaveonlyexistedinhishead,asitlastedforonlyasecond,orless,andthenitwasgone.

           Therewasnobodyinthegiftshop,nobodysellingtickets.HewalkedthroughthebuildingandoutintothegardensofRockCity.

           Thunderrumbled,anditrattledthebranchesofthetreesandshookdeepinsidethehugerocks,andtherainfellwithcoldviolence.Itwaslateafternoon,butitwasdarkasnight.

           Atrailoflightningspearedacrosstheclouds,andShadowwonderedifthatwasthethunderbirdreturningtoitshighcrags,orjustanatmosphericdischarge,orwhetherthetwoideaswere,onsomelevel,thesamething.

           Andofcoursetheywere.Thatwasthepoint,afterall.

           Somewhereaman’svoicecalledout.Shadowheardit.Theonlywordsherecognizedorthoughtherecognizedwere"…toOdin!"

           ShadowhurriedacrossSevenStatesFlagCourt,theflagstonesnowrunningfastwithadangerousamountofrainwater.Onceheslippedontheslickstone.