Человек в высоком замке

           Notyet."

           "Don’tyouhavetogettothegym?"

           I’mnotgoingtothegym,Julianasaidtoherself.Don’tyouknowthat?Wewillgosomewhere;wewon’tstayheretoomuchlonger.Butitwillbeaplacewehaven’tbeenbefore.It’stime.

           Shefelthimstarttodrawhimselfbackwardandupontohisknees,feltherhandsslidealonghisdamp,slipperyback.Thenshecouldhearhimwalkingaway,hisbarefeetagainstthefloor.Tothebathroom,nodoubt.Forhisshower.

           It’sover,shethought.Ohwell.Shesighed.

           "Ihearyou,"Joesaidfromthebathroom."Groaning.Alwaysdowncast,aren’tyou?Worry,fearandsuspicion,aboutmeandeverythingelseintheworld."Heemerged,briefly,drippingwithsoapywater,facebeaming."Howwouldyouliketotakeatrip?"

           Herpulsequickened."Where?"

           "Tosomebigcity.Howaboutnorth,toDenver?I’lltakeyouout;buyyoutickettoashow,goodrestaurant,taxi,getyoueveningdressorwhatyouneed.Okay?"

           Shecouldhardlybelievehim,butshewantedto;shetriedto.

           "WillthatStudeofyoursmakeit?"Joecalled.

           "Sure,"shesaid.

           "We’llbothgetsomeniceclothes,"hesaid."Enjoyourselves,maybeforthefirsttimeinourlives.Keepyoufromcrackingup."

           "Where’llwegetthemoney?"

           Joesaid,"Ihaveit.Lookinmysuitcase."Heshutthebathroomdoor;theracketofwatershutoutanyfurtherwords.

           Openingthedresser,shegotouthisdented,stainedlittlegrip.