Американские боги

           Peopleimagine,andpeoplebelieve:anditisthatbelief,thatrock-solidbelief,thatmakesthingshappen.

           Themountaintopwasanarena;hesawthatimmediately.Andoneachsideofthearenahecouldseethemarrayed.

           Theyweretoobig.Everythingwastoobiginthatplace.

           Therewereoldgodsinthatplace:godswithskinsthebrownofoldmushrooms,thepinkofchicken-flesh,theyellowofautumnleaves.Somewerecrazyandsomeweresane.Shadowrecognizedtheoldgods.He’dmetthemalready,orhe’dmetotherslikethem.Therewereifritsandpiskies,giantsanddwarfs.HesawthewomanhehadmetinthedarkenedbedroominRhodeIsland,sawthewrithinggreensnake-coilsofherhair.HesawMama-ji,fromtheCarousel,andtherewasbloodonherhandsandasmileonherface.Heknewthemall.Herecognizedthenewones,too.

           Therewassomebodywhohadtobearailroadbaron,inanantiquesuit,hiswatch-chainstretchedacrosshisvest.Hehadtheairofonewhohadseenbetterdays.Hisforeheadtwitched.

           Therewerethegreatgraygodsoftheairplanes,heirstoallthedreamsofheavier-than-airtravel.

           Therewerecargodsthere:apowerful,serious-facedcontingent,withbloodontheirblackglovesandontheirchrometeeth:recipientsofhumansacrificeonascaleundreamed-ofsincetheAztecs.Eventheylookeduncomfortable.Worldschange.