Американские боги

           "Hey,pal,"saidChadMulligan."Theysentmeanotesaidyou’ddiedincustody.Heartattack."

           "Howaboutthat?"saidShadow."SeemslikeI’mdyingallovertheplace."

           "Hecamedownhere,Chad,"saidHinzelmann."Hethreatenedme."

           "No,"saidChadMulligan."Hedidn’t.I’vebeenhereforthelasttenminutes,Hinzelmann.Iheardeverythingyousaid.Aboutmyoldman.Aboutthelake."Hewalkedfurtherintotheden.Hedidnotraisethegun."Imean,Jesus,Hinzelmann.Youcan’tdrivethroughthistownwithoutseeingthatgoddamnedlake.It’satthecenterofeverything.SowhatthehellamIsupposedtodo?"

           "Yougottoarresthim.Hesaidhewasgoingtokillme,"saidHinzelmann,ascaredoldmaninadustyden."Chad,I’mpleasedyou’rehere."

           "No,"saidChadMulligan."You’renot."

           Hinzelmannsighed.Hebentdown,asifresigned,andhepulledthepokeroutfromthefire.Thetipofitwasburningbrightorange.

           "Putthatdown,Hinzelmann.Justputitdownslowly,keepyourhandsintheairwhereIcanseethem,andturnandfacethewall."

           Therewasanexpressionofpurefearontheoldman’sface,andShadowwouldhavefeltsorryforhim,butherememberedthefrozentearsonthecheeksofAlisonMcGovern,andcouldnotfeelanything.Hinzelmanndidnotmove.Hedidnotputdownthepoker.Hedidnotturntothewall.