Американские боги

           Hepushedupwithhishand,andfeltitscrapetheedgeoftheiceandmoveupintotheair.Heflailedforagrip,andfeltanotherhandtakehisown,andpull.

           Hisheadbangedagainsttheice,hisfacescrapedtheunderneathoftheice,andthenhisheadwasupintheair,andhecouldseethathewascomingupthroughaholeintheice,andforamomentallhecoulddowasbreathe,andlettheblacklakewaterrunfromhisnoseandhismouth,andblinkhiseyes,whichcouldseenothingmorethanablindingdaylight,andshapes,andsomeonewaspullinghim,now,forcinghimoutofthewater,sayingsomethingabouthowhe’dfreezetodeath,socomeon,man,pull,andShadowwriggledandshooklikeabullsealcomingashore,shakingandcoughingandshuddering.

           Hebreatheddeepgaspsofair,stretchedflatoutonthecreakingice,andeventhatwouldnotholdforlong,heknew,butitwasnogood.Histhoughtswerecomingwithdifficulty,treacle-slow.

           "Justleaveme,"hetriedtosay."I’llbefine."Hiswordswereaslur,andeverythingwasdrawingtoahalt.

           Hejustneededtorestforamoment,thatwasall,justrest,andthenhewouldgetupandmoveon,forobviouslyhecouldnotjustliethereforever.

           Therewasajerk;watersplashedhisface.Hisheadwasliftedup.