Американские боги

           Therearetourists,butnotasmanyofthemasyoumightexpect,noteveninearlyJuly.Thesunwasshining,asithadshoneforweeksnow:itceasedshiningforanhourorsointhesmallhours.Therewouldbeaduskydawnofsortsbetweentwoandthreeinthemorning,andthenthedaywouldbeginoncemore.

           ThebigtouristhadwalkedmostofReykjavíkthatmorning,listeningtopeopletalkinalanguagethathadchangedlittleinathousandyears.Thenativesherecouldreadtheancientsagasaseasilyastheycouldreadanewspaper.Therewasasenseofcontinuityonthisislandthatscaredhim,andthathefounddesperatelyreassuring.Hewasverytired:theunendingdaylighthadmadesleepalmostimpossible,andhehadsatinhishotelroomthroughthewholelongnightlessnightalternatelyreadingaguidebookandBleakHouse,anovelhehadboughtinanairportinthelastfewweeks,butwhichairporthecouldnolongerremember.Sometimes,hehadstaredoutofthewindow.

           Finallytheclockaswellasthesunproclaimeditmorning.

           Heboughtabarofchocolateatoneofthemanycandystores,walkedthesidewalk,occasionallyfindinghimselfremindedofthevolcanicnatureofIceland:hewouldturnacornerandnotice,foramoment,asulphurousqualitytotheair.ItputhiminmindnotofHadesbutofrotteneggs.

           Manyofthewomenhepassedwereverybeautiful:slenderandpale.ThekindofwomenthatWednesdayhadliked.