Человек в высоком замке

           "We’llhaveit,"Joesaid."Listen."Hestudiedherwithaqueer,introspectiveexpression."YoutaketothatGrasshopperbooksomuch;Iwonder—doyousupposeamanwhowritesabestseller,anauthorlikethatAbendsen,dopeoplewriteletterstohim?Ibetlotsofpeoplepraisehisbookbyletterstohim,maybeevenvisit."

           Allatoncesheunderstood."Joe—it’sonlyanotherhundredmiles!"

           Hiseyesshone;hesmiledather,happyagain,nolongerflushedortroubled.

           "Wecould!"shesaid."Youdrivesogood—it’dbenothingtogoonupthere,wouldit?"

           Slowly,Joesaid,"Well,Idoubtafamousmanletsvisitorsdropin.Probablysomanyofthem."

           "Whynottry?Joe—"Shegrabbedhisshoulder,squeezedhimexcitedly."Allhecoulddoissendusaway.Please."

           Withgreatdeliberation,Joesaid,"Whenwe’vegoneshoppingandgotnewclothes,allsprucedup…that’simportant,tomakeagoodimpression.AndmaybeevenrentanewcarupinCheyenne.Betyoucandothat."

           "Yes,"shesaid."Andyouneedahaircut.Andletmepickyourclothes;please,Joe.IusedtopickFrank’sclothesforhim;amancanneverbuyhisownclothes."

           "Yougotgoodtasteinclothes,"Joesaid,oncemoreturningtowardtheroadahead,gazingoutsomberly."Inotherways,too.Betterifyoucallhim.Contacthim."

           "I’llgetmyhairdone,"shesaid.

           "Good."

           "I’mnotscaredatalltowalkupandringthebell,"Julianasaid."Imean,youliveonlyonce.