Американские боги
Chapter 4
Theysay,youputustogether,wearelikeoneperson,youknow?Whenweareyoung,hishair,itisveryblond,verylight,hiseyesareblue,andpeoplesay,heisthegoodone.Andmyhairitisverydark,darkerthanyourseven,andpeoplesayIamtherogue,youknow?Iamthebadone.Andnowtimepasses,andmyhairisgray.Hishair,too,Ithink,isgray.Andyoulookatus,youwouldnotknowwhowaslight,whowasdark."
"Wereyouclose?"askedShadow.
"Close?"askedCzernobog."No.Howcouldwebe?Wecaredaboutsuchdifferentthings."
Therewasaclatterfromtheendofthehall,andZoryaVechemyayacamein."Supperinonehour,"shesaid.Thenshewentout.
Czernobogsighed."Shethinkssheisagoodcook,"hesaid."Shewasbroughtup,therewereservantstocook.Now,therearenoservants.Thereisnothing."
"Notnothing,"saidWednesday."Nevernothing."
"You,"saidCzernobog."Ishallnotlistentoyou."HeturnedtoShadow."Doyouplaycheckers?"heasked.
"Yes,"saidShadow.
"Good.Youshallplaycheckerswithme,"hesaid,takingawoodenboxofpiecesfromthemantelpieceandshakingthemoutontothetable."Ishallplayblack."
WednesdaytouchedShadow’sarm."Youdon’thavetodothis,youknow,"hesaid.
"Notaproblem.Iwantto,"saidShadow.Wednesdayshrugged,andpickedupanoldcopyofReader’sDigestfromasmallpileofyellowingmagazinesonthewindowsill.
Czernobog’sbrownfingersfinishedarrangingthepiecesonthesquares,andthegamebegan.
Inthedaysthatweretocome,Shadowoftenfoundhimselfrememberingthatgame.