Американские боги

           "Maybeitwasadream-butitwasn’t-ormaybeIinhaledsomeofthefatkid’ssynthetictoad-skinsmoke,orprobablyI’mjustgoingmad..."

           "Yeah,yeah.Spititout,"saidWednesday."I’mkindofinthemiddleofsomethinghere."

           Shadowglancedintotheroom.Hecouldseethattherewassomeoneinthebed,watchinghim.Asheetpulledupoversmallbr**sts.Paleblondehair,somethingrattishabouttheface.Heloweredhisvoice."Ijustsawmywife,"hesaid."Shewasinmyroom."

           "Aghost,youmean?Yousawaghost?"

           "No.Notaghost.Shewassolid.Itwasher.She’sdeadallright,butitwasn’tanykindofaghost.Itouchedher.Shekissedme."

           "Isee."Wednesdaydartedalookatthewomaninthebed."Berightback,m’dear,"hesaid.

           TheycrossedthehalltoShadow’sroom.Wednesdayturnedonthelamps.Helookedatthecigarettebuttintheashtray.Hescratchedhischest.Hisn**plesweredark,old-mann**ples,andhischesthairwasgrizzled.Therewasawhitescardownonesideofhistorso.Hesniffedtheair.Thenheshrugged.

           "Okay,"hesaid."Soyourdeadwifeshowedup.Youscared?"

           "Alittle."

           "Verywise.Thedeadalwaysgivemethescreamingmimis.Anythingelse?"

           "I’mreadytoleaveEaglePoint.Laura’smothercansortouttheapartment,allthat.Shehatesmeanyway.I’mreadytogowhenyouare."

           Wednesdaysmiled."Goodnews,myboy.We’llleaveinthemorning.Now,youshouldgetsomesleep.Ihavesomescotchinmyroom,ifyouneedhelpsleeping.Yes?"

           "No.I’llbefine."

           "Thendonotdisturbmefurther.