Американские боги

           OneofLaura’shandsclutchedherchest.Shelookeddreadfullyvulnerable.Shealsolookeddead,butthenShadowwasalmostusedtothatbynow.

           Shadowsquattedbesideher,andhetouchedhercheekwithhishand,andhesaidhername.Hereyesopened,andsheliftedherheadandturnedituntilshewaslookingathim.

           "Hello,puppy,"shesaid.Hervoicewasthin.

           "Hi,Laura.Whathappenedhere?"

           "Nothing,"shesaid."Juststuff.Didtheywin?"

           "Idon’tknow,"saidShadow."Ithinkthesethingsarekindofrelative.ButIstoppedthebattletheyweretryingtostart."

           "Mycleverpuppy,"shesaid."Thatman,MisterWorld,hesaidhewasgoingtoputastickthroughyoureye.Ididn’tlikehimatall."

           "He’sdead.Youkilledhim,hon."

           Shenodded.Shesaid,"That’sgood."

           Hereyesclosed.Shadow’shandfoundhercoldhand,andhehelditinhis.Intimesheopenedhereyesagain.

           "Didyoueverfigureouthowtobringmebackfromthedead?"sheasked.

           "Iguess,"hesaid."Iknowoneway,anyway."

           "That’sgood,"shesaid.Shesqueezedhishandwithhercoldhand.Andthenshesaid,"Andtheopposite?Whataboutthat?"

           "Theopposite?"

           "Yes,"shewhispered."IthinkImusthaveearnedit