Американские боги
Chapter 4
Hern**ples,everygoose-bumpontheareolae,werevisiblemomentarily,darkagainstthewhitecotton.Shadowshivered.
"Odin’sWain,theycallit.AndtheGreatBear.Wherewecomefrom,webelievethatisa,athing,a,notagod,butlikeagod,abadthing,chainedupinthosestars.Ifitescapes,itwilleatthewholeofeverything.Andtherearethreesisterswhomustwatchthesky,alltheday,allthenight.Ifheescapes,thethinginthestars,theworldisover.Pf!,likethat."
"Andpeoplebelievethat?"
"Theydid.Alongtimeago."
"Andyouwerelookingtoseeifyoucouldseethemonsterinthestars?"
"Somethinglikethat.Yes."
Hesmiled.Ifitwerenotforthecold,hedecided,hewouldhavethoughthewasdreaming.Everythingfeltsomuchlikeadream.
"CanIaskhowoldyouare?Yoursistersseemsomucholder."
Shenoddedherhead."Iamtheyoungest.ZoryaUtrennyayawasborninthemorning,andZoryaVechernyayawasbornintheevening,andIwasbornatmidnight.Iamthemidnightsister:ZoryaPolunochnaya.Areyoumarried?"
"Mywifeisdead.Shediedlastweekinacaraccident.Itwasherfuneralyesterday."
"I’msosorry."
"Shecametoseemelastnight."Itwasnothardtosay,inthedarknessandthemoonlight;itwasnotasunthinkableasitwasbydaylight.
"Didyouaskherwhatshewanted?"
"No.Notreally."
"Perhapsyoushould.Itisthewisestthingtoaskthedead.Sometimestheywilltellyou.ZoryaVechernyayatellsmethatyouplayedcheckerswithCzernobog."
"Yes.Hewontherighttoknockinmyskullwithasledge."
