Американские боги

           Nancywasalreadycookingbreakfast:apileofpancakes,sizzlingbacon,perfecteggs,andcoffee.Helookedinthepeakofhealth.

           "Myheadhurts,"saidShadow.

           "Yougetagoodbreakfastinsideyou,you’llfeellikeanewman."

           "I’dratherfeellikethesameman,justwithadifferenthead,"saidShadow.

           "Eat,"saidMr.Nancy.

           Shadowate.

           "Howdoyoufeelnow?"

           "LikeI’vegotaheadache,onlynowI’vegotsomefoodinmystomachandIthinkI’mgoingtothrowup."

           "Comewithme."Besidethesofa,onwhichShadowhadspentthenight,coveredwithanAfricanblanket,wasatrunk,madeofsomedarkwood,whichlookedlikeanundersizedpiratechest.Mr.Nancyundidthepadlock,andopenedthelid.Insidethetrunktherewereanumberofboxes.Nancyrummagedamongtheboxes."It’sanancientAfricanherbalremedy,"hesaid."It’smadeofgroundwillowbark,thingslikethat.""Likeaspirin?"

           "Yup,"saidMr.Nancy."Justlikethat."Fromthebottomofthetrunkheproducedagianteconomy-sizedbottleofgenericaspirin.Heunscrewedthetop,andshookoutacoupleofwhitepills."Here."

           "Nicetrunk,"saidShadow.Hetookthebitterpills,swallowedthemwithaglassofwater.

           "Mysonsentittome,"saidMr.Nancy."He’sagoodboy.Idon’tseehimasmuchasI’dlike.