Человек в высоком замке

           AsJoeloadedtheparcelsandbagsintothecarshesaid,"Don’tyouthinkI’mgoingtolookterrific?"

           "Yes,"hesaidinapreoccupiedvoice."Especiallythatbluedress.Youwearthatwhenwegothere,toAbendsen’s;understand?"Hespokethelastwordsharplyasifitwasanorder;thetonesurprisedher.

           "I’masizetwelveorfourteen,"shesaidastheyenteredthenextdressshop.Thesalesgirlsmiledgraciouslyandaccompaniedthemtotheracksofdresses.Whatelsedidsheneed?Julianawondered.Bettertogetasmuchaspossiblewhileshecould;hereyestookineverythingatonce,theblouses,skirts,sweaters,slacks,coats.Yes,acoat."Joe,"shesaid,"Ihavetohavealongcoat.Butnotaclothcoat."

           TheycompromisedwithoneofthesyntheticfibercoatsfromGermany;itwasmoredurablethannaturalfur,andlessexpensive.Butshefeltdisappointed.Tocheerherselfupshebeganexaminingjewelry.Butitwasdrearycostumejunk,withoutimaginationororiginality.

           "Ihavetogetsomejewelry,"sheexplainedtoJoe."Earrings,atleast.Orapin—togowiththebluedress."Sheledhimalongthesidewalktoajewelrystore."Andyourclothes,"sheremembered,withguilt."Wehavetoshopforyou,too."

           Whileshelookedforjewelry,Joestoppedatabarbershopforhishaircut.Whenheappearedahalfhourlater,shewasamazed;hehadnotonlygottenhishaircutasshortaspossible,buthehadhaditdyed.Shewouldhardlyhaverecognizedhim;hewasnowblond.GoodGod,shethought,staringathim.