Американские боги

           Wednesdaychuckled,andbegantoporeoverhismaps,unfoldingandrefoldingthem,makingoccasionalnotesonayellowlegalpadwithalargesilverballpointpen.

           Eventuallyhewasfinished.Heputhispenaway,putthefolderonthebackseat."Thebestthingaboutthestateswe’reheadingfor,"saidWednesday,"Minnesota,Wisconsin,allaroundthere,istheyhavethekindofwomenIlikedwhenIwasyounger.Pale-skinnedandblue-eyed,hairsofairit’salmostwhite,wine-coloredlips,andround,fullbr**stswiththeveinsrunningthroughthemlikeagoodcheese."

           "Onlywhenyouwereyounger?"askedShadow."Lookedlikeyouweredoingprettygoodlastnight."

           "Yes."Wednesdaysmiled."Wouldyouliketoknowthesecretofmysuccess?"

           "Youpaythem?"

           "Nothingsocrude.No,thesecretischarm.Pureandsimple."

           "Charm,huh?Well,liketheysay,youeithergotitoryouain’t."

           "Charmscanbelearned,"saidWednesday.

           Shadowtunedtheradiotoanoldiesstation,andlistenedtosongsthatwerecurrentbeforehewasborn.BobDylansangaboutahardrainthatwasgoingtofall,andShadowwonderedifthatrainhadfallenyet,orifitwassomethingthatwasstillgoingtohappen.Theroadaheadofthemwasemptyandtheicecrystalsontheasphaltglitteredlikediamondsinthemorningsun.

           Chicagohappenedslowly,likeamigraine.Firsttheyweredrivingthroughcountryside,then,imperceptibly,theoccasionaltownbecamealowsuburbansprawl,andthesprawlbecamethecity.

           Theyparkedoutsideasquatblackbrownstone.Thesidewalkwasclearofsnow.