Американские боги

           Ifyou’velostyourskillyoumightsimplybruiseme.Howlonghasitbeensinceyouswungakillinghammerinthestockyards?Thirtyyears?Forty?"

           Czernobogsaidnothing.Hisclosedmouthwasagrayslashacrosshisface.Hetappedhisfingersonthewoodentable,drummingoutarhythmwiththem.Thenhepushedthetwenty-fourcheckersbacktotheirhomesquaresontheboard.

           "Play,"hesaid."Again,youarelight.Iamdark."

           Shadowpushedhisfirstpieceout.Czernobogpushedoneofhisownpiecesforward.AnditoccurredtoShadowthatCzernobogwasgoingtotrytoplaythesamegameagain,theonethathehadjustwon,thatthiswouldbehislimitation.

           ThistimeShadowplayedrecklessly.Hesnatchedtinyopportunities,movedwithoutthinking,withoutapausetoconsider.Andthistime,asheplayed,Shadowsmiled;andwheneverCzernobogmovedapiece,Shadowsmiledwider.

           Soon,Czernobogwasslamminghispiecesdownashemovedthem,bangingthemdownonthewoodentablesohardthattheremainingpiecesshiveredontheirblacksquares.

           "There,"saidCzernobog,takingoneofShadow’smenwithacrash,slammingtheblackpiecedown."There.Whatdoyousaytothat?"

           Shadowsaidnothing:hesimplysmiled,andjumpedthepiecethatCzernoboghadputdown,andanother,andanother,andafourth,clearingthecenteroftheboardofblackpieces.Hetookawhitepiecefromthepilebesidetheboardandkingedhisman.

           Afterthat,itwasjustamopping-upexercise:anotherhandfulofmoves,andthegamewasdone.