Американские боги

           Othershadfacesofsmudgedphosphors;theyglowedgently,asiftheyexistedintheirownlight.

           Shadowfeltsorryforthemall.

           Therewasanarrogancetothenewones.Shadowcouldseethat.Buttherewasalsoafear.

           Theywereafraidthatunlesstheykeptpacewithachangingworld,unlesstheyremadeandredrewandrebuilttheworldintheirimage,theirtimewouldalreadybeover.

           Eachsidefacedtheotherwithbravery.Toeachside,theoppositionwerethedemons,themonsters,thedamned.

           Shadowcouldseeaninitialskirmishhadtakenplace.Therewasalreadybloodontherocks.

           Theywerereadyingthemselvesfortherealbattle;fortherealwar.Itwasnowornever,hethought.Ifhedidnotmovenow,itwouldbetoolate.

           InAmericaeverythinggoesonforever,saidavoiceinthebackofhishead.The1950slastedforathousandyears.Youhaveallthetimeintheworld.

           Shadowwalkedinsomethingthatwashalfastroll,halfacontrolledstumble,intothecenterofthearena.

           Hecouldfeeleyesonhim,eyesandthingsthatwerenoteyes.Heshivered.

           Thebuffalovoicesaid,Youaredoingjustfine.

           Shadowthought,Damnright.Icamebackfromthedeadthismorning.Afterthat,everythingelseshouldbeapieceofcake.

           "Youknow,"saidShadow,totheair,inaconversationalvoice,"thisisnotawar.