Американские боги
Chapter 4
"Youarelikehim,youwantmetojoinhismadness!"shoutedCzernobog.Helookedasifhewasonthevergeoftears.Apillarofashtumbledfromhiscigaretteontothethreadbarehallcarpet.
Wednesdaystoodup,walkedovertoCzernobog.HerestedhishandonCzernobog’sshoulder."Listen,"hesaid,peaceably."Firstly,it’snotmadness.It’stheonlyway.Secondly,everyonewillbethere.Youwouldnotwanttobeleftout,wouldyou?"
"YouknowwhoIam,"saidCzernobog."Youknowwhatthesehandshavedone.Youwantmybrother,notme.Andhe’sgone."
Adoorinthehallwayopened,andasleepyfemalevoicesaid,"Issomethingwrong?"
"Nothingiswrong,mysister,"saidZoryaUtrennyaya."Gobacktosleep."ThensheturnedtoCzernobog."See?Seewhatyoudowithallyourshouting?Yougobackinthereandsitdown.Sit!"Czernoboglookedasifhewereabouttoprotest;andthenthefightwentoutofhim.Helookedfrail,suddenly:frail,andlonely.
Thethreemenwentbackintotheshabbysittingroom.Therewasabrownnicotineringaroundthatroomthatendedaboutafootfromtheceiling,likethetidelineinanoldbathtub.
"Itdoesn’thavetobeforyou,"saidWednesdaytoCzernobog,unfazed."Ifitisforyourbrother,it’sforyouaswell.That’soneplaceyoudualistictypeshaveitovertherestofus,eh?"
Czernobogsaidnothing.
"SpeakingofBielebog,haveyouheardanythingfromhim?"
Czernobogshookhishead.HelookedupatShadow."Doyouhaveabrother?"
"No,"saidShadow."NotthatIknowof."
"Ihaveabrother.
