āI thought this city didnāt have any gods.ā
The pigeon grinned a beak full of dogās teeth. āHa. They say there arenāt. They even kept most of them out for a while.ā
āHow did you make it?ā
āBy being smart. By hiding.ā
She gave the one-legged, feral feathered thing a sideways look. āAs a pigeon?ā
āSometimes,ā said the pigeon. āSometimes Iām graffiti on a wall. Sometimes Iām a coin dropped in a beggarās hand. I am neon at night, the rain in the light. I am the song the busker sings. I listen to the prayers of those who come to the city with big dreams.ā
āAnd in return?ā
It grinned again. Steam rolled off its feathers, smelling of cigarettes. āI eat their despair.ā
āThatās cruel.ā
It moved its wings in something like a shrug. āThatās the big city for you.ā
