Американские боги

           Thebedroomwasthickwithdust:itcoveredeverysurface,thewoodandtheglass,andmotesofitfloatedanddancedthroughthebeamsofsunshinecomingthroughtheopenwindow,disturbedbyoccasionalbreezesandthelazyflappingoftheyellowedlacecurtains.

           Herememberedthisroom.ThiswastheroomtheyhadgiventoWednesday,thatnight.Bielebog’sroom.

           ZoryaVechernyayaeyedhimuncertainly."Themattress,"shesaid."Itneedstobeturned."

           "Notaproblem,"saidShadow.Hereachedoutandtookthemattress,lifteditwitheaseandturneditover.Itwasanoldwoodenbed,andthefeathermattressweighedalmostasmuchasaman.Dustflewandswirledasthemattresswentdown.

           "Whyareyouhere?"askedZoryaVechernyaya.Itwasnotafriendlyquestion,thewaysheaskedit.

           "I’mhere,"saidShadow,"becausebackinDecemberayoungmanplayedagameofcheckerswithanoldgod,andhelost."

           Theoldwoman’sgrayhairwasuponthetopofherheadinatightbun.Shepursedherlips."Comebacktomorrow,"saidZoryaVechernyaya.

           "Ican’t,"hesaid,simply.

           "Isyourfuneral.Now,yougoandsitdown.ZoryaUtrennyayawillbringyoucoffee.Czernobogwillbebacksoon."

           Shadowwalkedalongthecorridortothesittingroom.Itwasjustasheremembered,althoughnowthewindowwasopen.Thegraycatsleptonthearmofthesofa.