Человек в высоком замке

           Thosewerethebestdaysofall,rebuildingafterthewar—fine,clean,long-lastingrowsofpublicbuildingsblockbyblock,wholenewdowntown,NewYorkandBaltimore.Nowofcoursethatwork’spast.BigcartelslikeNewJerseyKruppandSohnenrunningtheshow.Butthat’snotNazi;that’sjustoldEuropeanpowerful.Worse,youhear?NazislikeRommelandTodtamilliontimesbettermenthanindustrialistslikeKruppandbankers,allthosePrussians;oughttohavebeengassed.Allthosegentlemeninvests."

           But,Julianathought,thosegentlemeninvestsareinforever.Andyouridols,RommelandDoctorTodt;theyjustcameinafterhostilities,tocleartherubble,buildtheautobahns,startindustryhumming.TheyevenlettheJewslive,luckysurprise—amnestysotheJewscouldpitchin.Until‘49,anyhow…andthengood-byeTodtandRommel,retiredtograze.

           Don’tIknow?Julianathought.Didn’tIhearallaboutitfromFrank?Youcan’ttellmeanythingaboutlifeundertheNazis;myhusbandwas—is—aJew.IknowthatDoctorTodtwasthemostmodest,gentlemanthateverlived;Iknowallhewantedtodowasprovidework—honest,reputablework—forthemillionsofbleak-eyed,despairingAmericanmenandwomenpickingthroughtheruinsafterthewar.Iknowhewantedtoseemedicalplansandvacationresortsandadequatehousingforeveryone,regardlessofrace;hewasabuilder,notathinker…andinmostcaseshemanagedtocreatewhathehadwanted—heactuallygotit.But…

           Apreoccupation,inthebackofhermind,nowrosedecidedly.