Американские боги

           Everywinter.Iwastheonlyonetohavefigureditout.Youmusthaveseenmeopenthetrunk.Whydidn’tyoujustletmedrown?"

           Hinzelmanntippedhisheadononeside.Hescratchedhisnose,thoughtfully,rockedbackandforthasifhewerethinking."Well,"hesaid."That’sagoodquestion.Iguessit’sbecauseIowedacertainpartyadebt.AndI’mgoodformydebts."

           "Wednesday?"

           "That’sthefellow."

           "TherewasareasonhehidmeinLakeside,wasn’tthere?Therewasareasonnobodyshouldhavebeenabletofindmehere."

           Hinzelmannsaidnothing.Heunhookedaheavyblackpokerfromitsplaceonthewall,andheproddedatthefirewithit,sendingupacloudoforangesparksandsmoke."Thisismyhome,"hesaid,petulantly."It’sagoodtown."

           Shadowfinishedhiscoffee.Heputthecupdownonthefloor.Theeffortwasexhausting."Howlonghaveyoubeenhere?"

           "Longenough."

           "Andyoumadethelake?"

           Hinzelmannpeeredathim,surprised."Yes,"hesaid."Imadethelake.TheywerecallingitalakewhenIgothere,butitweren’tnothingmorethanaspringandamill-pondandacreek."Hepaused."Ifiguredthatthiscountryishellonmykindoffolk.Iteatsus.Ididn’twanttobeeaten.SoImadeadeal.Igavethemalake,andIgavethemprosperity…"

           "Andallitcostthemwasonechildeverywinter.