Американские боги
Chapter 4
Thelandingatthetopofthestairsendedinasingledoorpaintedred,withapeepholeinit.
Wednesdayknockedatthedoor.Therewasnoresponse.Heknockedagain,louderthistime.
"Okay!Okay!Iheardyou!Iheardyou!"Thesoundoflocksbeingundone,ofboltsbeingpulled,therattleofachain.Thereddooropenedacrack.
"Whoisit?"Aman’svoice,oldandcigarette-roughened.
"Anoldfriend,Czernobog.Withanassociate."
Thedooropenedasfarasthesecuritychainwouldallow.Shadowcouldseeagrayface,intheshadows,peeringoutatthem."Whatdoyouwant,Votan?"
"Initially,simplythepleasureofyourcompany.AndIhaveinformationtoshare.What’sthatphrase?...Ohyes.Youmaylearnsomethingtoyouradvantage."
Thedooropenedalltheway.Themaninthedustybathrobewasshort,withiron-grayhairandcraggyfeatures.Heworegraypinstripepants,shinyfromage,andslippers.Heheldanunfilteredcigarettewithsquare-tippedfingers,suckingthetipwhilekeepingitcuppedinhisfist-likeaconvict,thoughtShadow,orasoldier.HeextendedhislefthandtoWednesday."Welcomethen,Votan."
"TheycallmeWednesdaythesedays,"hesaid,shakingtheoldman’shand.
Anarrowsmile;aflashofyellowteeth."Yes,"hesaid."Veryfunny.Andthisis?"
"Thisismyassociate.Shadow,meetMr.Czernobog."
"Wellmet,"saidCzernobog.HeshookShadow’slefthandwithhisown.Hishandswereroughandcallused,andthetipsofhisfingerswereasyellowasiftheyhadbeendippediniodine.
"Howdoyoudo,Mr.Czernobog?"
"Idoold.
