Американские боги

           Thescraelingwarpartyfelluponthemthatnight:fivehundredmentothirty.Theyclimbedthewall,andoverthefollowingsevendays,theykilledeachofthethirtymen,inthirtydifferentways.Andthesailorswereforgotten,byhistoryandtheirpeople.

           Thewalltheytoredown,thewarparty,andthevillagetheyburned.Thelongboat,upsidedownandpulledhighontheshingle,theyalsoburned,hopingthatthepalestrangershadbutoneboat,andthatbyburningittheywereensuringthatnootherNorthmenwouldcometotheirshores.

           ItwasmorethanahundredyearsbeforeLeiftheFortunate,sonofEriktheRed,rediscoveredthatland,whichhewouldcallVineland.Hisgodswerealreadywaitingforhimwhenhearrived:Tyr,one-handed,andgrayOdingallows-god,andThorofthethunders.

           Theywerethere.

           Theywerewaiting.