Американские боги

           ItwasfromsomethingWednesdaysaidtome,atChristmas."

           Lokijuststaredathim,sayingnothing.

           "It’sjustatwo-mancon,"saidShadow."Likethebishopandthediamondnecklaceandthecop.Liketheguywiththefiddle,andtheguywhowantstobuythefiddle,andthepoorsapinbetweenthemwhopaysforthefiddle.Twomen,whoappeartobeonoppositesides,playingthesamegame."

           Lokiwhispered,"Youareridiculous."

           "Why?Ilikedwhatyoudidatthemotel.Thatwassmart.Youneededtobethere,tomakesurethateverythingwentaccordingtoplan.Isawyou.Ievenrealizedwhoyouwere.AndIstillnevertwiggedthatyouweretheirMisterWorld.OrmaybeIdid,somewheredowndeep.IknewIknewyourvoice,anyway."

           Shadowraisedhisvoice."Youcancomeout,"hesaid,tothecavern."Whereveryouare.Showyourself."

           Thewindhowledintheopeningofthecavern,anditdroveasprayofrainwaterintowardthem.Shadowshivered.

           "I’mtiredofbeingplayedforasucker,"saidShadow."Showyourself.Letmeseeyou."

           Therewasachangeintheshadowsatthebackofthecave.Somethingbecamemoresolid;somethingshifted."Youknowtoodamnedmuch,m’boy,"saidWednesday’sfamiliarrumble.

           "Sotheydidn’tkillyou."

           "Theykilledme,"saidWednesday,fromtheshadows."Noneofthiswouldhaveworkediftheyhadn’t.