Американские боги

           Hewasashapemadeofdarkness,whobecamemorerealthemoreShadowlookedawayfromhim,allowedhimtotakeshapeinhisperipheralvision.

           "Ifeedondeaththatisdedicatedtome,"saidWednesday.

           "Likemydeathonthetree,"saidShadow.

           "That,"saidWednesday,"wasspecial."

           "Anddoyoualsofeedondeath?"askedShadow,lookingatLoki.

           Lokishookhishead,wearily.

           "No,ofcoursenot,"saidShadow."Youfeedonchaos."

           Lokismiledatthat,abriefpainedsmile,andorangeflamesdancedinhiseyes,andflickeredlikeburninglacebeneathhispaleskin.

           "Wecouldn’thavedoneitwithoutyou,"saidWednesday,fromthecornerofShadow’seye."I’dbeenwithsomanywomen…"

           "Youneededason,"saidShadow.

           Wednesday’sghost-voiceechoed."Ineededyou,myboy.Yes.Myownboy.Iknewthatyouhadbeenconceived,butyourmotherleftthecountry.Ittookussolongtofindyou.Andwhenwedidfindyou,youwereinprison.Weneededtofindoutwhatmadeyoutick.Whatbuttonswecouldpresstomakeyoumove.Whoyouwere."Lokilooked,momentarily,pleasedwithhimself.Shadowwantedtohithim."Andyouhadawifetogobackhometo.Itwasunfortunate.Notinsurmountable."

           "Shewasnogoodforyou,"whisperedLoki."Youwerebetteroffwithouther.