Американские боги

That all the artificial instruments were ever so slightly out of tune added to the otherworldliness of the place.

They had walked for what felt like several miles when they came to a room called the Mikado,

"I saw that on a T-shirt," said Shadow.

Shadow was not in the habit of visiting roadside attractions.

"If it's that easy," said Shadow, "how come everybody doesn't do it?"

They stopped outside a large shedlike building. A sign said that the all-U-can-eat lunch buffet was $4.99. "I love this place," said Wednesday.
"Good food?" asked Shadow.
"Not particularly," said Wednesday. "But the ambience is unmissable."

He looked like a security guard, and Shadow said so.

Wednesday when he came out of the men's room. His hands were still wet, and he was drying them off on a handkerchief. "They're out of paper towels in there," he said.

Wednesday put on a pair of faded pink earmuffs. He closed the trunk. Snowflakes settled on his dark blue cap, and on his earmuffs.

"Probably the battery," said the man. "People forget those things only last three, maybe four years. It's not like they cost a fortune."