Американские боги

           Sheworeascarletsnowsuit,nowstained,andhermousyhairwaslongandhermouthwasclosed,soShadowcouldnotseethebluerubber-bandbraces,butheknewthattheywerethere.Thecoldhadpreservedher,keptherasfreshasifshehadbeeninafreezer.Hereyeswerewideopen,andshelookedasifshehadbeencryingwhenshedied,andthetearsthathadfrozenonhercheekshadstillnotmelted.Hergloveswerebrightgreen.

           "Youwerehereallthetime,"saidShadowtoAlisonMcGovern’scorpse."Everysinglepersonwhodroveoverthatbridgesawyou.Everyonewhodrovethroughthetownsawyou.Theicefishermenwalkedpastyoueveryday.Andnobodyknew."Andthenherealizedhowfoolishthatwas.

           Somebodyknew.

           Somebodyhadputherhere.

           Hereachedintothetrunk—toseeifhecouldpullherout.Hehadfoundher,afterall.Nowhehadtogetherout.Heputhisweightonthecar,asheleanedin.Perhapsthatwaswhatdidit.

           Theicebeneaththefrontwheelswentatthatmoment,perhapsfromhismovements,perhapsnot.Thefrontofthecarlurcheddownwardseveralfeetintothedarkwaterofthelake.Waterbegantopourintothecarthroughtheopendriver’sdoor.WatersplashedaboutShadow’sankles,althoughtheicehestoodonwasstillsolid.