Американские боги

           Theplaceclosedateight,andattenpasteightShadowsawSamBlackCrowwalkoutoftheCoffeeHouseinthecompanyofasmallerwomanwhosepigtailedhairwasapeculiarshadeofred.Theywereholdinghandstightly,asifsimplyholdinghandscouldkeeptheworldatbay,andtheyweretalking—orrather,Samwasdoingmostofthetalkingwhileherfriendlistened.ShadowwonderedwhatSamwassaying.Shesmiledasshetalked.

           Thetwowomencrossedtheroad,andtheywalkedpasttheplacewhereShadowwasstanding.Thepigtailedgirlpassedwithinafootofhim;hecouldhavereachedoutandtouchedher,andtheydidn’tseehimatall.

           Hewatchedthemwalkingawayfromhimdownthestreet,andfeltapang,likeaminorchordbeingplayedinsidehim.

           Ithadbeenagoodkiss,Shadowreflected,butSamhadneverlookedathimthewayshewaslookingatthepigtailedgirl,andsheneverwould.

           "Whatthehell.We’llalwayshavePeru,"hesaid,underhisbreath,asSamwalkedawayfromhim."AndElPaso.We’llalwayshavethat."

           Thenheranafterher,andputtheflowersintoSam’shands.Hehurriedaway,soshecouldnotgivethemback.

           Thenhewalkedupthehillbacktohiscar,andhetookHighway90southtoChicago.Hedroveatorslightlyunderthespeedlimit.

           Itwasthelastthinghehadtodo.

           Hewasinnohurry.

           HespentthenightinaMotel6.