Shadow’s Story

Chapter 18 begins in the voice of the narrator, who comments, “None of this can actually be happening.” He suggests that it may be more “comfortable” for readers to think of the story “as a metaphor.” After all, that is all religion is in the first place.

The story resumes with Shadow suspended in a place of nothingness. “Even Nothing cannot last forever,” the narrator says. Whiskey Jack appears amid the nothingness and says Shadow was hard to find. “You didn’t go to any of the places I figured,” he says. He adds that Shadow will not be staying dead: “They are coming for you.”

Shadow protests that he wants to be done with life and everything, but he finds himself at Whiskey Jack’s house. It is now in a different place than it was before. Whiskey Jack comments that his nephew died, which seems to mean that nobody really believes in him anymore. Shadow asks if Whiskey Jack is a god, and Whiskey Jack says he is “a culture hero.” He explains that Native Americans have long understood that gods do not do well in America, so their heroes are not really worshipped.

While chatting with Whiskey Jack, Shadow puts together the pieces and realizes what is going on back at Rock City: Loki and Odin have constructed an enormous two-man con. They have tricked both sides into fighting so they can use the bloodbath to strengthen themselves. Just after he realizes this, Shadow feels Easter calling him back to life.

Shadow takes a long time to return to life. He just walks around blankly, like a toddler unable to make sense of what he sees. Easter knows that the gods at Rock City are beginning to kill each other and that Shadow is the only person who can stop them. But she has brought people back to life before, and she knows there is no way to rush the process.

When Shadow is ready, Easter offers to send him to the battle. He can take the same vehicle she used—a thunderbird. Shadow accepts Easter’s offer and climbs onto the back of the bird. It is huge, similar to a condor except bigger. Riding it feels “exactly like riding the lightning.”

Meanwhile, Laura and Mr. Town arrive at Rock City. She has long since realized who he is, and she can dimly sense the con that is taking place. She snaps Mr. Town’s neck and takes the stick to Loki herself. He asks her to give it to him, but she imagines it is a spear and stabs him with it. “I dedicate this death to Shadow,” she says. 

Meanwhile, the thunderbird carries Shadow toward Rock City. It tells him it felt his dream, and it places images in his mind to show him what the dream meant. Long ago, people used to kill thunderbirds to get at the eagle stones inside their heads, which could bring back the dead. Shadow thanks the bird for telling him, but he does not try to kill it to bring Laura back. When it drops him off, he merely watches it fly away.

Upon his arrival at the battle, Shadow hears someone shouting a dedication to Odin. He rushes to find Loki, who is badly injured but triumphant. He says it does not matter what Shadow tries to do anymore. The battle is dedicated, and he and Odin are gaining strength.

Shadow demands to see Wednesday, who appears in the form of a ghost. He confirms Shadow’s theory that the whole battle was a con, and that it took him and Loki...