Человек в высоком замке

           Andyetnowandthenhelethimselfstealaglanceather.Lovelydarkcolorsofherskin,hair,andeyes.Wearehalf-bakedcomparedtothem.Allowedoutofthekilnbeforewewerefullydone.Theoldaboriginalmyth;thetruth,there.

           Imustdivertmythoughts.Findsocialitem,anything.Hiseyesstrayedabout,seekingsometopic.Thesilencereignedheavily,makinghistensionsizzle.Unbearable.Whatthehelltosay?Somethingsafe.Hiseyesmadeoutabookonalowblackteakcabinet.

           "Iseeyou’rereadingTheGrasshopperLiesHeavy,"hesaid."Ihearitonmanylips,butpressureofbusinesspreventsmyownattention."Rising,hewenttopickitup,carefullyconsultingtheirexpressions;theyseemedtoacknowledgethisgestureofsociality,andsoheproceeded."Amystery?Excusemyabysmalignorance."Heturnedthepages.

           "Notamystery,"Paulsaid."Oncontrary,interestingformoffictionpossiblywithingenreofsciencefiction."

           "Ohno,"Bettydisagreed."Noscienceinit.Norsetinfuture.Sciencefictiondealswithfuture,inparticularfuturewheresciencehasadvancedovernow.Bookfitsneitherpremise."

           "But,"Paulsaid,"itdealswithalternatepresent.Manywell-knownsciencefictionnovelsofthatsort."ToRobertheexplained,"Pardonmyinsistenceinthis,butasmywifeknows,Iwasforalongtimeasciencefictionenthusiast.Ibeganthathobbyearlyinmylife;Iwasmerelytwelve.Itwasduringtheearlydaysofthewar."

           "Isee,"RobertChildansaid,withpoliteness.