Американские боги

           ShadowwalkedbackuptotheSevenStatesFlagCourt,butsawnobody,andheardnothingbutthecrackandwhipoftheflagsinthestorm-wind.TherewerenopeoplewithswordsattheThousand-TonBalancedRock,nodefendersoftheSwing-A-LongBridge.Hewasalone.

           Therewasnothingtosee.Theplacewasdeserted.Itwasanemptybattlefield.

           No.Notdeserted.Notexactly.

           Hewasjustinthewrongplace.

           ThiswasRockCity.Ithadbeenaplaceofaweandworshipforthousandsofyears;todaythemillionsoftouristswhowalkedthroughthegardensandswungtheirwayacrosstheSwing-A-LongBridgehadthesameeffectaswaterturningamillionprayerwheels.Realitywasthinhere.AndShadowknewwherethebattlemustbetakingplace.

           Withthat,hebegantowalk.HerememberedhowhehadfeltontheCarousel,triedtofeellikethat,butinanewmomentoftime…

           HerememberedturningtheWinnebago,shiftingitatrightanglestoeverything.Hetriedtocapturethatsensation—

           Andthen,easilyandperfectly,ithappened.

           Itwaslikepushingthroughamembrane,likeplungingupfromdeepwaterintoair.Withonestephehadmovedfromthetouristpathonthemountainto…

           Tosomewherereal.HewasBackstage.

           Hewasstillonthetopofamountain.Thatmuchremainedthesame.Butitwassomuchmorethanthat.