Американские боги

           Shadowclosedhiseyes,rememberingtheplaceinhisheadthathehadgonewhenWednesdayhadtoldhimtomakesnow:thatplacethatpushed,mindtomind,andhesmiledasmilehedidnotfeelandhesaid,"Chad.Letitgo."Therewasacloudintheman’smind,adark,oppressivecloud,andShadowcouldalmostseeitand,concentratingonit,imagineditfadingawaylikeafoginthemorning."Chad,"hesaid,fiercely,tryingtopenetratethecloud,"thistownisgoingtochangenow.It’snotgoingtobetheonlygoodtowninadepressedregionanymore.It’sgoingtobealotmoreliketherestofthispartoftheworld.There’sgoingtobealotmoretrouble.Peopleoutofwork.Peopleoutoftheirheads.Morepeoplegettinghurt.Morebadshitgoingdown.Theyaregoingtoneedapolicechiefwithexperience.Thetownneedsyou."Andthenhesaid,"Margueriteneedsyou."

           Somethingshiftedinthestormcloudthatfilledtheman’shead.Shadowcouldfeelitchange.Hepushedthen,envisioningMargueriteOlsen’spracticalbrownhandsandherdarkeyes,andherlong,longblackhair.Hepicturedthewayshetippedherheadononesideandhalf-smiledwhenshewasamused."She’swaitingforyou,"saidShadow,andheknewitwastrueashesaidit.

           "Margie?"saidChadMulligan.