Человек в высоком замке

           Heleftthedressingroom,hungthepairofslacksbackupontherack,andlefttheFugaDepartmentStore.

           Thatdidnottakeverylong,hethoughtashemovedalongthebusydowntownsidewalkwiththeotherpedestrians.Canheactuallygettheinformationbythen?ContactBerlin,relaymyquestions,doallthecodinganddecoding—everystepinvolved?

           Apparentlyso.

           NowIwishIhadapproachedtheagentsooner.Iwouldhavesavedmyselfmuchworryanddistress.Andevidentlynomajorriskwasinvolved;itallappearedtogooffsmoothly.Ittookinfactonlyfiveorsixminutes.

           Mr.Bayneswanderedon,lookingintostorewindows.Hefeltmuchbetternow.Presentlyhefoundhimselfviewingdisplayphotosofhonky-tonkcabarets,grimyflyspeckedutterlywhitenudeswhosebreastshunglikehalf-inflatedvolleyballs.Thatsightamusedhimandheloitered,peoplepushingpasthimontheirvariouserrandsupanddownMarketStreet.

           Atleasthehaddonesomething,atlast.

           Whatarelief!

           Proppedcomfortablyagainstthecardoor,Julianaread.Besideher,hiselbowoutthewindow,Joedrovewithonehandlightlyonthewheel,acigarettestucktohislowerlip;hewasagooddriver,andtheyhadcoveredagooddealofthedistancefromCanonCityalready.

           Thecarradioplayedmushybeer-gardenfolkmusic,anaccordionbanddoingoneofthecountlesspolkasorschottishes;shehadneverbeenabletotellthemonefromanother.

           "Kitsch,"Joesaid,whenthemusicended."Listen,Iknowalotaboutmusic;I’lltellyouwhoagreatconductorwas.