Американские боги
Chapter 1
"Howdoyoufeelaboutyouroffense?"
Shadowshrugged."Iwasstupid,"hesaid,andmeantit.
Themanwiththebirthmarksighed.Hetickedoffanumberofitemsonachecklist.ThenheriffledthroughthepapersinShadow’sfile."How’reyougettinghomefromhere?"heasked."Greyhound?"
"Flyinghome.It’sgoodtohaveawifewho’satravelagent."Themanfrowned,andthebirthmarkcreased."Shesentyouaticket?"
"Didn’tneedto.Justsentmeaconfirmationnumber.Electronicticket.AllIhavetodoisturnupattheairportinamonthandshow’emmyID,andI’mouttahere."
Themannodded,scribbledonefinalnote,thenheclosedthefileandputdowntheballpointpen.Twopalehandsrestedonthegraydesklikepinkanimals.Hebroughthishandsclosetogether,madeasteepleofhisforefingers,andstaredatShadowwithwateryhazeleyes.
"You’relucky,"hesaid."Youhavesomeonetogobackto,yougotajobwaiting.Youcanputallthisbehindyou.Yougotasecondchance.Makethemostofit."
ThemandidnotoffertoshakeShadow’shandasherosetoleave,nordidShadowexpecthimto.
Thelastweekwastheworst.Insomewaysitwasworsethanthewholethreeyearsputtogether.Shadowwonderedifitwastheweather:oppressive,still,andcold.Itfeltasifastormwasontheway,butthestormnevercame.Hehadthejittersandtheheebie-jeebies,afeelingdeepinhisstomachthatsomethingwasentirelywrong.Intheexerciseyardthewindgusted.Shadowimaginedthathecouldsmellsnowontheair.
Hecalledhiswifecollect.
