Американские боги

           TherewasacoolbreezecominginofftheAtlantic,andhebuttoneduphiscoat.

           Hesatdownonagrassybankandlookedatthecitythatsurroundedhim,andthought,onedayhewouldhavetogohome.Andonedayhewouldhavetomakeahometogobackto.Hewonderedwhetherhomewasathingthathappenedtoaplaceafterawhile,orifitwassomethingthatyoufoundintheend,ifyousimplywalkedandwaitedandwilleditlongenough.

           Hepulledouthisbook.

           Anoldmancamestridingacrossthehillsidetowardhim:heworeadarkgraycloak,raggedatthebottom,asifhehaddonealotoftraveling,andheworeabroad-brimmedbluehat,withaseagullfeathertuckedintotheband,atajauntyangle.Helookedlikeanaginghippie,thoughtShadow.Oralong-retiredgunfighter.Theoldmanwasridiculouslytall.

           ThemansquattedbesideShadowonthehillside.Henodded,curtly,toShadow.Hehadapiraticalblackeyepatchoveroneeye,andajuttingwhitechin-beard.Shadowwonderedifthemanwasgoingtohithimupforacigarette.

           "Hverniggengur?ManstÞúeftirmér?"saidtheoldman.

           "I’msorry,"saidShadow."Idon’tspeakIcelandic."Thenhesaid,awkwardly,thephrasehehadlearnedfromhisphrasebookinthedaylightofthesmallhoursofthatmorning:"Égtalabaraensku."IspeakonlyEnglish."American."

           Theoldmannoddedslowly.Hesaid,"MypeoplewentfromheretoAmericaalongtimeago.