Американские боги

           ShadowwonderedwhatcouldhaveattractedWednesdaytoShadow’smother,whohadbeenbeautifulbuthadbeenneitherofthosethings.

           Shadowsmiledattheprettywomen,becausetheymadehimfeelpleasantlymale,andhesmiledattheotherwomentoo,becausehewashavingagoodtime.

           Hewasnotsurewhenhebecameawarethathewasbeingobserved.SomewhereonhiswalkthroughReykjavíkhebecamecertainthatsomeonewaswatchinghim.Hewouldturn,fromtimetotime,tryingtogetaglimpseofwhoitwas,andhewouldstareintostorewindowsandoutatthereflectedstreetbehindhim,buthesawnooneoutoftheordinary,noonewhoseemedtobeobservinghim.

           Hewentintoasmallrestaurant,whereheatesmokedpuffinandcloudberriesandarcticcharandboiledpotatoes,andhedrankCoca-Cola,whichtastedsweeter,moresugarythanherememberedittastingbackintheStates.

           Thewaiterbroughthisbill—themealwasmoreexpensivethanShadowhadexpected,butthatseemedtobetrueofmealsineveryplaceonShadow’swandering.Asthewaiterputthebilldownonthetable,hesaid,"Excuseme.YouareAmerican?"

           "Yes."

           "Then,happyFourthofJuly,"saidthewaiter.Helookedpleasedwithhimself.

           ShadowhadnotrealizedthatitwastheFourth.IndependenceDay.Yes.Helikedtheideaofindependence.Heleftthemoneyandatiponthetable,andwalkedoutside.