Американские боги
Chapter 4
Theywalkedtothelobby.Wednesdaypressedthetopbuttononthegougedmetalintercombox.Nothinghappened.Hepresseditagain.Then,experimentally,hebegantopresstheotherbuttons,forothertenants,withnoresponse.
"It’sdead,"saidagauntoldwoman,comingdownthesteps."Doesn’twork.Wecallthesuper,askhimwhenhegoingtofix,whenhegoingtomendtheheating,hedoesnotcare,goestoArizonaforthewinterforhischest."Heraccentwasthick,EasternEuropean,Shadowguessed.
Wednesdaybowedlow."Zorya,mydear,mayIsayhowunutterablybeautifulyoulook?Aradiantcreature.Youhavenotaged."
Theoldwomanglaredathim."Hedon’twanttoseeyou.Idon’twanttoseeyouneither.Youbadnews."
"That’sbecauseIdon’tcomeifitisn’timportant."
Thewomansniffed.Shecarriedanemptystringshoppingbag,andworeanoldredcoat,buttoneduptoherchin.ShelookedatShadowsuspiciously.
"Whoisthebigman?"sheaskedWednesday."Anotheroneofyourmurderers?"
"Youdomeadeepdisservice,goodlady.ThisgentlemaniscalledShadow.Heisworkingforme,yes,butonyourbehalf.Shadow,mayIintroduceyoutothelovelyMissZoryaVechernyaya."
"Goodtomeetyou,"saidShadow.
Birdlike,theoldwomanpeeredupathim."Shadow,"shesaid."Agoodname.Whentheshadowsarelong,thatismytime.Andyouarethelongshadow."Shelookedhimupanddown,thenshesmiled."Youmaykissmyhand,"shesaid,andextendedacoldhandtohim.
Shadowbentdownandkissedherthinhand.
