Человек в высоком замке

           Everypiecetheymade,thestrong,thinfingerspickedup,examined;tossingherheadback,holdingthepiecehigh.Julianasorting,alwaysawitnesstowhathehaddone.

           Bestforher,hedecided,wouldbeearrings.Thebrightdanglyones,especiallythebrass.Withherhairheldbackbyacliporcutshortsothatherneckandearscouldbeseen.Andwecouldtakephotosofherforadvertisinganddisplay.HeandEdhaddiscussedacatalog,sotheycouldsellbymailtostoresinotherpartsoftheworld.Shewouldlookterrific…herskinisnice,veryhealthy,nosaggingorwrinkles,andafinecolor.Wouldshedoit,ifIcouldlocateher?Nomatterwhatshethinksofme;nothingtodowithourpersonallife.Thiswouldbeastrictlybusinessmatter.

           Hell,Iwouldn’teventakethepictures.We’dgetaprofessionalphotographertodoit.Thatwouldpleaseher.Hervanityprobablyasgreatasalways.Shealwayslikedpeopletolookather,admireher;anybody.Iguessmostwomenarelikethat.Theycraveattentionallthetime.They’reverybabyishthatway.

           Hethought,Julianacouldneverstandbeingalone;shehadtohavemearoundallthetimecomplimentingher.Littlekidsarethatway;theyfeeliftheirparentsaren’twatchingwhattheydothenwhattheydoisn’treal.Nodoubtshe’sgotsomeguynoticingherrightnow.Tellingherhowprettysheis.Herlegs.Hersmooth,flatstomach.

           "What’sthematter?"Edsaid,glancingathim."Losingyournerve?"

           "No,"Frinksaid.

           "I’mnotjustgoingtostandthere,"Edsaid.