Американские боги

           Helookedaroundurgently,wonderinghowtogetaway—andthenitwastoolate,andtheicetippedprecipitously,throwinghimagainstthecarandthedeadgirlinthetrunk;andthebackofthecarwentdown,andShadowwentdownwithit,intothecoldwatersofthelake.Itwastenpastnineinthemorning,onMarchthetwenty-third.

           Hetookadeepbreathbeforehewentunder,closinghiseyes,butthecoldofthelakewaterhithimlikeawall,knockingthebreathfromhisbody.

           Hetumbleddownward,intothemurkyicewater,pulleddownbythecar.

           Hewasunderthelake,downinthedarknessandthecold,weigheddownbyhisclothesandhisglovesandhisboots,trappedandswathedinhiscoat,whichseemedtohavebecomeheavierandbulkierthanhecouldhaveimagined.

           Hewasfalling,still.Hetriedtopushawayfromthecar,butitwaspullinghimwithit,andthentherewasabangwhichhecouldhearwithhiswholebody,nothisears,andhisleftfootwaswrenchedattheankle,thefoottwistedandtrappedbeneaththecarasitsettledonthelakebottom,andpanictookhim.

           Heopenedhiseyes.

           Heknewitwasdarkdownthere:rationally,heknewitwastoodarktoseeanything,butstill,hecouldsee;hecouldseeeverything.HecouldseeAlisonMcGovern’swhitefacestaringathimfromtheopentrunk.Hecouldseeothercarsaswell—theklunkersofbygoneyears,rottenhulkshapesinthedarkness,half-buriedinthelakemud.