Американские боги
Chapter 4
Shadowsaid,"Bestofthree?"
Czernobogsimplystaredathim,hisgrayeyeslikepointsofsteel.Andthenhelaughed,clappedhishandsonShadow’sshoulders."Ilikeyou!"heexclaimed."Youhaveballs."
ThenZoryaUtrennyayaputherheadaroundthedoortotellthemthatdinnerwasready,andtheyshouldcleartheirgameawayandputthetableclothdownonthetable.
"Wehavenodiningroom,"shesaid,"Iamsorry.Weeatinhere."
Servingdisheswereplacedonthetable.Eachofthedinerswasgivenasmallpaintedtrayonwhichwassometarnishedcutlery,toholdonhisorherlap.
ZoryaVechernyayatookfivewoodenbowlsandplacedanunpeeledboiledpotatoineach,thenladledinahealthyservingofaferociouslycrimsonborscht.Sheploppedaspoonfulofwhitesourcreamin,andhandedthebowlstoeachofthem.
"Ithoughtthereweresixofus,"saidShadow.
"ZoryaPolunochnayaisstillasleep,"saidZoryaVechernyaya."Wekeepherfoodintherefrigerator.Whenshewakes,shewilleat."
Theborschtwasvinegary,andtastedlikepickledbeets.Theboiledpotatowasmealy.
Thenextcoursewasaleatherypotroast,accompaniedbygreensofsomedescription-althoughtheyhadbeenboiledsolongandsothoroughlythattheywerenolonger,byanystretchoftheimagination,greens,andwerewellontheirwaytobecomingbrowns.
Thentherewerecabbageleavesstuffedwithgroundmeatandrice,cabbageleavesofsuchatoughnessthattheywerealmostimpossibletocutwithoutspatteringgroundmeatandricealloverthecarpet.Shadowpushedhisaroundhisplate.
