Американские боги

           Hefelttheimprovisedhookslidingfromthelock,uselessly.

           Hesighed.Fishedagain,slower,morecarefully.Hecouldimaginetheicegrumblingbeneathhisfeetasheshiftedhisweight.Andslow…and…

           Hehadit.Hepulledupontheaerialandthefrontdoorlockingmechanismpoppedup.Shadowreacheddownoneglovedhandandtookthedoorhandle,pressedthebutton,andpulled.Thedoordidnotopen.

           It’sstuck,hethought,icedup.That’sall.

           Hetugged,slidingontheice,andsuddenlythedooroftheklunkerflewopen,icescatteringeverywhere.

           Themiasmawasworseinsidethecar,astenchofrotandillness.Shadowfeltsick.

           Hereachedunderthedashboard,foundtheblackplastichandlethatopenedthetrunk,andtuggedonit,hard.

           Therewasathunkfrombehindhimasthetrunkdoorreleased.

           Shadowwalkedoutontotheice,slippedandsplashedaroundthecar,holdingontothesideofitashewent.

           It’sinthetrunk,hethought.

           Thetrunkwasopenaninch.Hereacheddownandopenedittherestoftheway,pullingitup.

           Thesmellwasbad,butitcouldhavebeenmuchworse:thebottomofthetrunkwasfilledwithaninchorsoofhalf-meltedice.Therewasagirlinthetrunk.