Американские боги

           Everyyearakid’sgoingtovanish.They’llcomesniffingabouthere.Justlikethey’llcomelookingforme.Tellme—howoldareyou?"Hecurledhisfingersaroundasofacushion,andpreparedtopullitoverhishead:itwoulddeflectafirstblow.

           Hinzelmann’sfacewasexpressionless."TheyweregivingtheirchildrentomebeforetheRomanscametotheBlackForest,"hesaid."IwasagodbeforeeverIwasakobold."

           "Maybeit’stimetomoveon,"saidShadow.Hewonderedwhatakoboldwas.

           Hinzelmannstaredathim.Thenhetookthepoker,andpushedthetipofitbackintotheburningembers."Maybeitis,atthat,"hesaid."Butit’snotthatsimple.WhatmakesyouthinkIcanleavethistown,evenifIwantto,Shadow?I’mpartofthistown.Yougoingtomakemego,Shadow?Youreadytokillme?SoIcanleave?"

           Shadowlookeddownatthefloor.Therewerestillglimmersandsparksinthecarpet,wherethepoker-tiphadrested.Hinzelmannfollowedthelookwithhisown,andcrushedtheembersoutwithhisfoot,twisting.InShadow’smindcame,unbidden,children,hundredsofthem,staringathimwithbone-blindeyes,thehairtwistingslowlyaroundtheirfaceslikefrondsofseaweed.Theywerelookingathimreproachfully.

           Heknewthathewaslettingthemdown.Hejustdidn’tknowwhatelsetodo.

           Shadowsaid,"Ican’tkillyou.Yousavedmylife."

           Heshookhishead.