Американские боги
Chapter 4
Somenightshedreamedofit.Hisflat,roundpieceswerethecolorofold,dirtywood,nominallywhite.Czernobog’swereadull,fadedblack.Shadowwasthefirsttomove.Inhisdreams,therewasnoconversationastheyplayed,justtheloudclickasthepieceswereputdown,orthehissofwoodagainstwoodastheywereslidfromsquaretoadjoiningsquare.
Forthefirsthalfdozenmoveseachofthemenslippedpiecesoutontotheboard,intothecenter,leavingthebackrowsuntouched.Therewerepausesbetweenthemoves,long,chesslikepauses,whileeachmanwatched,andthought.
Shadowhadplayedcheckersinprison:itpassedthetime.Hehadplayedchess,too,buthewasnottemperamentallysuitedtoplanningahead.Hepreferredpickingtheperfectmoveforthemoment.Youcouldwinincheckerslikethat,sometimes.
TherewasaclickasCzernobogpickedupablackpieceandjumpeditoveroneofShadow’swhitepieces.TheoldmanpickedupShadow’swhitepieceandputitonthetableatthesideoftheboard.
"Firstblood.Youhavelost,"saidCzernobog."Thegameisdone."
"No,"saidShadow."Game’sgotalongwaytogoyet."
"Thenwouldyoucareforawager?Alittlesidebet,tomakeitmoreinteresting?"
"No,"saidWednesday,withoutlookingupfroma"HumorinUniform"column."Hewouldn’t."
"Iamnotplayingwithyou,oldman.Iplaywithhim.So,youwanttobetonthegame,MisterShadow?"
"Whatwereyoutwoarguingabout,before?"askedShadow.
Czernobograisedacraggyeyebrow."Yourmasterwantsmetocomewithhim.
