Человек в высоком замке

           It’llbereallatewhenwegetthere,morelikeelevenorpastmidnight."

           Hesaid,"PutonthedressorI’llkillyou."

           Closinghereyes,shebegantogiggle.Mytraining,shethought.Itwastrue,afterall;nowwe’llsee.Canhekillmeorcan’tIpinchanerveinhisbackandcripplehimforlife?ButhefoughtthoseBritishcommandoes;he’sgonethroughthisalready,manyyearsago.

           "Iknowyoumaybecanthrowme,"Joesaid."Ormaybenot."

           "Notthrowyou,"shesaid."Maimyoupermanently.Iactuallycan.IlivedoutontheWestCoast.TheJapstaughtme,upinSeattle.YougoontoCheyenneifyouwanttoandleavemehere.Don’ttrytoforceme.I’mscaredofyouandI’lltry."Hervoicebroke."I’lltrytogetyousobad,ifyoucomeatme."

           "Ohcomeon—putonthegoddamdress!What’sthisallabout?Youmustbenuts,talkinglikethataboutkillingandmaiming,justbecauseIwantyoutohopinthecarafterdinneranddriveuptheautobahnwithmeandseethisfellowwhosebookyou—"

           Aknockatthedoor.

           Joestalkedtoitandopenedit.Auniformedboyinthecorridorsaid,"Valetservice.Youinquiredatthedesk,sir."

           "Ohyes,"Joesaid,stridingtothebed;hegatheredupthenewwhiteshirtswhichhehadboughtandcarriedthemtothebellboy."Canyougetthembackinhalfanhour?"

           "Justironingoutthefolds,"theboysaid,examiningthem."Notcleaning.Yes,I’msuretheycan,sir."