Американские боги

           Thentheypickedhimup,amanateachshoulder,amanateachleg,carriedhimatshoulderheight,thefourmenmakinghimaneight-leggedhorse,andtheycarriedhimattheheadofaprocessiontoanashtreeonthehilloverlookingthebay,wheretheyputaropearoundhisneckandhunghimhighinthewind,theirtributetotheAll-Father,thegallowslord.Thescraeling’sbodyswunginthewind,hisfaceblackening,histongueprotruding,hiseyespopping,hispenishardenoughtohangaleatherhelmeton,whilethemencheeredandshoutedandlaughed,proudtobesendingtheirsacrificetotheheavens.

           And,thenextday,whentwohugeravenslandeduponthescraeling’scorpse,oneoneachshoulder,andcommencedtopeckatitscheeksandeyes,themenknewtheirsacrificehadbeenaccepted.

           Itwasalongwinter,andtheywerehungry,buttheywerecheeredbythethoughtthat,whenspringcame,theywouldsendtheboatbacktothenorthlands,anditwouldbringsettlers,andbringwomen.Astheweatherbecamecolder,andthedaysbecameshorter,someofthementooktosearchingforthescraelingvillage,hopingtofindfood,andwomen.Theyfoundnothing,savefortheplaceswherefireshadbeen,wheresmallencampmentshadbeenabandoned.

           Onemidwinter’sday,whenthesunwasasdistantandcoldasadullsilvercoin,theysawthattheremainsofthescraeling’sbodyhadbeenremovedfromtheashtree.Thatafternoonitbegantosnow,inhuge,slowflakes.

           Themenfromthenorthlandsclosedthegatesoftheirencampment,retreatedbehindtheirwoodenwall