Американские боги

           Hemadenopretenseofstirringthefirewithitanylonger;hehelditlikeasword,orabaton,theglowingorange-whitetipofitwavingintheair.Itsmoked.Shadowwasveryawarethathewasnext-to-naked,andhewasstilltired,andclumsy,andfarfromabletodefendhimself.

           "Youwanttokillme?"saidShadow."Goahead.Doit.I’madeadmananyway.Iknowyouownthistown—it’syourlittleworld.Butifyouthinknoone’sgoingtocomelookingforme,you’relivinginadreamworld.It’sover,Hinzelmann.Onewayoranother,it’sdone."

           Hinzelmannpushedhimselftohisfeet,usingthepokerasawalkingstick.Thecarpetcharredandsmokedwhereherestedthered-hottipashegotup.HelookedatShadowandthereweretearsinhispaleblueeyes."Ilovethistown,"hesaid."Ireallylikebeingacrankyoldman,andtellingmystoriesanddrivingTessieandice-fishing.RememberwhatItoldyou,it’snotthefishyoubringhomefromaday’sfishing.It’sthepeaceofmind."

           HeextendedthetipofthepokerinShadow’sdirection:Shadowcouldfeeltheheatofitfromafootaway.

           "Icouldkillyou,"saidHinzelmann,"Icouldfixit.I’vedoneitbefore.You’renotthefirsttofigureitout.ChadMulligan’sfather,hefigureditout.Ifixedhim.Icanfixyou.""Maybe,"saidShadow."Butforhowlong,Hinzelmann?Anotheryear?Anotherdecade?Theyhavecomputers.Theyaren’tstupid.Theypickuponpatterns.