Человек в высоком замке
Chapter 9
What’llshesaywhensheopensthebox?There’llhavetobeanotefrommeexplainingthatImadeitmyself;thatI’mapartnerinalittlenewcreativejewelrybusiness.I’llfireherimagination,giveheranaccountthat’llmakeherwanttoknowmore,that’llgetherinterested.I’lltalkaboutthegemsandthemetals.Theplaceswe’resellingto,thefancystores…
"Isn’titalonghere?"Edsaid,slowingthetruck.Theywereinheavydowntowntraffic;buildingsblottedoutthesky."Ibetterpark."
"Anotherfiveblocks,"Frinksaid.
"Gotoneofthosemarijuanacigarettes?"Edsaid."Onewouldcalmmerightaboutnow."
FrinkpassedhimhispackageofT’ien-lais,the"HeavenlyMusic"brandhehadlearnedtosmokeatW-MCorporation.
Iknowshe’slivingwithsomeguy,Frinksaidtohimself.Sleepingwithhim.Asifshewashiswife.IknowJuliana.Shecouldn’tsurviveanyotherway;Iknowhowshegetsaroundnightfall.Whenitgetscoldanddarkandeverybody’shomesittingaroundthelivingroom.Shewasnevermadeforasolitarylife.Meneither,herealized.
Maybetheguy’sarealniceguy.Someshystudentshepickedup.She’dbeagoodwomanforsomeyoungguywhohadneverhadthecouragetoapproachawomanbefore.She’snothardorcynical.Itwoulddohimalotofgood.Ihopetohellshe’snotwithsomeolderguy.That’swhatIcouldn’tstand.Someexperiencedmeanguywithatoothpickstickingoutofthesideofhismouth,pushingheraround.
Hefelthimselfbegintobreatheheavily.
