Американские боги

           Allthedoorsintheapartment(except,unsurprisingly,ZoryaPolunochnaya’s)werewideopen,andallthewindowshecouldseewereopenaswell.Agentlebreezeblewfitfullythroughthecorridor.

           "You’respringcleaning,"hesaidtoZoryaUtrennyaya.

           "Wehaveaguestcoming,"shetoldhim."Now,youmustgoaway.First,youwantcoffee?"

           "IcametoseeCzernobog,"saidShadow."It’stime."

           ZoryaUtrennyayashookherheadviolently."No,no,"shesaid."Youdon’twanttoseehim.Notagoodidea."

           "Iknow,"saidShadow."Butyouknow,theonlythingI’vereallylearnedaboutdealingwithgodsisthatifyoumakeadeal,youkeepit.Theygettobreakalltherulestheywant.Wedon’t.EvenifItriedtowalkoutofhere,myfeetwouldjustbringmeback."

           Shepushedupherbottomlip,thensaid,"Istrue.Butgotoday.Comebacktomorrow.Hewillbegonethen."

           "Whoisit?"calledawoman’svoice,fromfurtherdownthecorridor."ZoryaUtrennyaya,towhoareyoutalking?Thismattress,Icannotturnonmyown,youknow."

           Shadowwalkeddownthecorridor,andsaid,"Goodmorning,ZoryaVechernyaya.CanIhelp?"whichmadethewomanintheroomsqueakwithsurpriseanddrophercornerofthemattress.