Американские боги

           Itwasadirtygreenincolor;thesortofcarthatpeopleabandoninparkinglots,thekindthattheyjustparkandleavebecauseit’sjustnotworthcomingbackfor.Ithadnoengine.Itwasasymbolofawager,waitingfortheicetobecomerottenenough,andsoftenough,anddangerousenoughtoallowthelaketotakeitforever.

           Therewasachainacrosstheshortdrivewaythatleddowntothelake,andawarningsignforbiddingentrancetopeopleortovehicles.THINICE,itsaid.Beneathitwasahand-paintedsequenceofpictogramswithlinesthroughthem:nocars,nopedestrians,nosnowmobiles.Danger.

           Shadowignoredthewarningsandscrambleddownthebank.Itwasslippery—thesnowhadalreadymelted,turningtheearthtomudunderhisfeet,andthebrowngrassbarelyofferedtraction.Heskiddedandsliddowntothelakeandwalked,carefully,outontoashortwoodenjetty,andfromtherehesteppeddownontotheice.

           Thelayerofwaterontheice,madeupofmeltediceandmeltedsnow,wasdeeperthanithadlookedfromabove,andtheicebeneaththewaterwasslickerandmoreslipperythananyskatingrink,sothatShadowwasforcedtofighttokeephisfooting.Hesplashedthroughthewater,asitcoveredhisbootstothelacesandseepedinside.Icewater.Itnumbedwhereittouched.