Человек в высоком замке

           Andthetoolsandequipment;wecandisposeofthemataloss,butatleastwe’llgetsomething.

           Thisisthemomenttoconsulttheoracle.Ask,HowwillEdmakeoutonthisfirstsellingtrip?Buthewastoonervousto.Itmightgiveabadomen,andhedidnotfeelcapableoffacingit.Inanycase,thediewascast:thepiecesweremade,theshopsetup—whatevertheIChingmightblaboutatthispoint.

           Itcan’tsellourjewelryforus…itcan’tgiveusluck.

           "I’lltackleChildan’splacefirst,"Edsaid."Wemightaswellgetitoverwith.Andthenyoucantryacouple.You’recomingalong,aren’tyou?Inthetruck.I’llparkaroundthecorner."

           Astheygotintotheirpickuptruckwiththeirwickerhamper,Frinkthought,GodknowshowgoodasalesmanEdis,orIam.Childancanbesold,butit’sgoingtotakeapresentation,liketheysay.

           IfJulianawerehere,hethought,shecouldstrollinthereanddoitwithoutbattinganeye;she’spretty,shecantalktoanybodyonearth,andshe’sawoman.Afterall,thisiswomen’sjewelry.Shecouldwearitintothestore.Shuttinghiseyes,hetriedtoimaginehowshewouldlookwithoneoftheirbraceletson.Oroneoftheirlargesilvernecklaces.Withherblackhairandherpaleskin,doleful,probingeyes,wearingagrayjerseysweater,alittlebittootight,thesilverrestingagainstherbareflesh,metalrisingandfallingasshebreathed.

           God,shewasvividinhismind,rightnow.