Человек в высоком замке

           Right?"Inclininghishead,hekissedheronthemouthsohardthattheirteethclashed."Howniceweboth’lllook,inournewclothes.Andyoucanexplaintomeexactlyhowtotalk,deportmyself;right?Teachmemanners;right?"

           "Youtalkokay,"Julianasaid."Betterthanme,even."

           "No."Hebecameabruptlysomber."Italkverybad.Arealwopaccent.Didn’tyounoticeitwhenyoufirstmetmeinthecafe?"

           "Iguessso,"shesaid;itdidnotseemimportanttoher.

           "Onlyawomanknowsthesocialconventions,"Joesaid,carryingherbackanddroppinghertobouncefrighteninglyonthebed."Withoutawomanwe’ddiscussracingcarsandhorsesandtelldirtyjokes;nocivilization."

           You’reinastrangemood,Julianathought.Restlessandbrooding,untilyoudecidetomoveon;thenyoubecomehoppedup.Doyoureallywantme?Youcanditchme,leavemehere;it’shappenedbefore.Iwouldditchyou,shethought,ifIweregoingon.

           "Isthatyourpay?"sheaskedashedressed."Yousaveditup?"Itwassomuch.Ofcourse,therewasagooddealofmoneyintheEast."AlltheothertruckdriversI’vetalkedtonevermadeso—"

           "YousayI’matruckdriver?"Joebrokein."Listen;Irodethatrignottodrivebutkeepoffhijackers.Looklikeatruckdriver,snoozinginthecab."Floppinginachairinthecorneroftheroomhelayback,pretendingsleep,hismouthopen,bodylimp."See?"

           Atfirstshedidnotsee.Andthensherealizedthatinhishandwasaknife,asthinasakitchenpotatoskewer.