Американские боги
Chapter 4
"Weplayedcheckers,"saidCzernobog,hackinghimselfanotherlumpofpotroast."Theyoungmanandme.Hewonagame,Iwonagame.Becausehewonagame,IhaveagreedtogowithhimandWednesday,andhelpthemintheirmadness.AndbecauseIwonagame,whenthisisalldone,Igettokilltheyoungman,withablowofahammer."
ThetwoZoryasnoddedgravely."Suchapity,"ZoryaVechernyayatoldShadow."Inmyfortuneforyou,Ishouldhavesaidyouwouldhavealonglifeandahappyone,withmanychildren."
"Thatiswhyyouareagoodfortune-teller,"saidZoryaUtrennyaya.Shelookedsleepy,asifitwereaneffortforhertobeupsolate."Youtellthebestlies."
Attheendofthemeal,Shadowwasstillhungry.Prisonfoodhadbeenprettybad,andprisonfoodwasbetterthanthis.
"Goodfood,"saidWednesday,whohadcleanedhisplatewitheveryevidenceofenjoyment."Ithankyouladies.Andnow,Iamafraidthatitisincumbentuponustoaskyoutorecommendtousafinehotelintheneighborhood."
ZoryaVechernyayalookedoffendedatthis."Whyshouldyougotoahotel?"shesaid."Wearenotyourfriends?"
"Icouldn’tputyoutoanytrouble..."saidWednesday.
"Isnotrouble,"saidZoryaUtrennyaya,onehandplayingwithherincongruouslygoldenhair,andsheyawned.
"YoucansleepinBielebog’sroom,"saidZoryaVechernyaya,pointingtoWednesday."Isempty.Andforyou,youngman,Imakeupabedonsofa.Youwillbemorecomfortablethaninfeatherbed.Iswear."
"Thatwouldbereallykindofyou,"saidWednesday."Weaccept."
