Американские боги

           Thehousesmelledmustyanddamp,andalittlesweet,asifitwerehauntedbytheghostsoflong-deadcookies.

           Shadowagreed,reluctantly,tostaythenightthere,justasheagreed,evenmorereluctantly,towalkwithMr.Nancytothebarattheendoftheroad,forjustonelate-nightdrinkwhilethehouseairedout.

           "DidyouseeCzernobog?"askedNancy,astheystrolledthroughthemuggyFloridiannight.Theairwasalivewithwhirringpalmettobugsandthegroundcrawledwithcreaturesthatscuttledandclicked.Mr.Nancylitacigarillo,andcoughedandchokedonit.Still,hekeptrightonsmoking.

           "HewasgonewhenIcameoutofthecave."

           "Hewillhaveheadedhome.He’llbewaitin’foryouthere,youknow."

           "Yes."

           Theywalkedinsilencetotheendoftheroad.Itwasn’tmuchofabar,butitwasopen.

           "I’llbuythefirstbeers,"saidMr.Nancy.

           "We’reonlyhavingonebeer,remember,"saidShadow.

           "Whatareyou?"askedMr.Nancy."Somekindofcheapskate?"

           Mr.Nancyboughtthemtheirfirstbeers,andShadowboughtthesecondround.HestaredinhorrorasMr.Nancytalkedthebarmanintoturningonthekaraokemachine,andthenwatchedinfascinatedembarrassmentastheoldmanbeltedhiswaythrough"What’sNewPussycat?"beforecrooningoutamoving,tunefulversionof"TheWayYouLookTonight.