Американские боги

           Therewasathicklayerofcloudsurroundingthemountain,andinthegloomandthestormbeyondthecourtyardhecouldseenostatesatall.

           Therewasnosound.Theplaceseemedutterlyabandoned.

           Hecalledout,andimaginedheheardsomethinganswering.Hewalkedtowardtheplacefromwhichhethoughtthesoundhadcome.

           Nobody.Nothing.Justachainmarkingtheentrancetoacaveasoff-limitstoguests.

           Shadowsteppedoverthechain.

           Helookedaround,peeringintothedarkness.

           Hisskinprickled.

           Avoicefrombehindhim,intheshadows,said,veryquietly,"Youhaveneverdisappointedme."

           Shadowdidnotturn."That’sweird,"hesaid."Idisappointedmyselfalltheway.Everytime."

           "Notatall,"chuckledthevoice."Youdideverythingyouweremeanttodo,andmore.Youtookeverybody’sattention,sotheyneverlookedatthehandwiththecoininit.It’scalledmisdirection.Andthere’spowerinthesacrificeofason—powerenough,andmorethanenough,togetthewholeballrolling.Totellthetruth,I’mproudofyou."

           "Itwascrooked,"saidShadow."Allofit.Noneofitwasforreal.Itwasjustaset-upforamassacre."

           "Exactly,"saidWednesday’svoicefromtheshadows."Itwascrooked.Butitwastheonlygameintown."

           "IwantLaura,"saidShadow."IwantLoki.