Американские боги

           Herbreathsmelled,faintly,ofmothballs.

           Laura’stongueflickeredintoShadow’smouth.Itwascold,anddry,andittastedofcigarettesandofbile.IfShadowhadhadanydoubtsastowhetherhiswifewasdeadornot,theyendedthen.

           Hepulledback.

           "Iloveyou,"shesaid,simply."I’llbelookingoutforyou."Shewalkedovertothemotelroomdoor.Therewasastrangetasteinhismouth."Getsomesleep,puppy,"shetoldhim."Andstayoutoftrouble."

           Sheopenedthedoortothehall.Thefluorescentlightinthehallwaywasnotkind:beneathit,Lauralookeddead,butthen,itdidthattoeveryone.

           "Youcouldhaveaskedmetostaythenight,"shesaid,inhercold-stonevoice.

           "Idon’tthinkIcould,"saidShadow.

           "Youwill,hon,"shesaid."Beforeallthisisover.Youwill."Sheturnedawayfromhim,andwalkeddownthecorridor.

           Shadowlookedoutofthedoorway.ThenightclerkkeptonreadinghisJohnGrishamnovel,andbarelylookedupasshewalkedpasthim.Therewasthickgraveyardmudclingingtohershoes.Andthenshewasgone.

           Shadowbreathedout,aslowsigh.Hisheartwaspoundingarrhythmicallyinhischest.HewalkedacrossthehallandknockedonWednesday’sdoor.Asheknockedhegottheweirdestnotion,thathewasbeingbuffetedbyblackwings,asifanenormouscrowwasflyingthroughhim,outintothehallandtheworldbeyond.

           Wednesdayopenedthedoor.Hehadawhitemoteltowelwrappedaroundhiswaist,butwasotherwisenak*d."Whatthehelldoyouwant?"heasked.

           "Somethingyoushouldknow,"saidShadow.