Американские боги
Chapter 4
Foramoment,itlookedlikeshehadtakenthemoonfromthesky,butthenShadowsawthatthemoonshonestill,andZoryaPolunochnayaopenedherhandtodisplayasilverLiberty-headdollarrestingbetweenfingerandthumb.
"Thatwasbeautifullydone,"saidShadow."Ididn’tseeyoupalmit.AndIdon’tknowhowyoudidthatlastbit."
"Ididnotpalmit,"shesaid."Itookit.AndnowIgiveittoyou,tokeepsafe.Here.Don’tgivethisoneaway."
Sheplaceditinhisrighthandandclosedhisfingersaroundit.Thecoinwascoldinhishand.ZoryaPolunochnayaleanedforward,andclosedhiseyeswithherfingers,andkissedhim,lightly,onceuponeacheyelid.
Shadowawokeonthesofa,fullydressed.Anarrowshaftofsunlightstreamedinthroughthewindow,makingthedustmotesdance.
Hegotoutofbed,andwalkedovertothewindow.Theroomseemedmuchsmallerinthedaylight.
Thethingthathadbeentroublinghimsincelastnightcameintofocusashelookedoutanddownandacrossthestreet.Therewasnofireescapeoutsidethiswindow:nobalcony,norustingmetalsteps.
Still,heldtightinthepalmofhishand,brightandshinyasthedayithadbeenminted,wasa1922Liberty-headsilverdollar.
"Oh.You’reup,"saidWednesday,puttinghisheadaroundthedoor."That’sgood.Youwantcoffee?We’regoingtorobabank."
ComingToAmerica
1721
TheimportantthingtounderstandaboutAmericanhistory,wroteMr.Ibis,inhisleather-boundjournal,isthatitisfictional,acharcoal-sketchedsimplicityforthechildren,ortheeasilybored.
