Человек в высоком замке

           AsJoeshutthedoor,Julianasaid,"Howdidyouknowanewwhiteshirtcan’tbewornuntilit’spressed?"

           Hesaidnothing;heshrugged.

           "Ihadforgotten,"Julianasaid."Andawomanoughttoknow…whenyoutakethemoutofthecellophanethey’reallwrinkled."

           "WhenIwasyoungerIusedtodressupandgooutalot."

           "Howdidyouknowthehotelhadvaletservice?Ididn’tknowit.Didyoureallyhaveyourhaircutanddyed?Ithinkyourhairalwayswasblond,andyouwerewearingahairpiece.Isn’tthatso?"

           Againheshrugged.

           "YoumustbeanSDman,"shesaid."Posingasawoptruckdriver.YouneverfoughtinNorthAfrica,didyou?You’resupposedtocomeupheretokillAbendsen;isn’tthatso?Iknowitis.IguessI’mprettydumb."Shefeltdried-up,withered.

           Afteraninterval,Joesaid,"SureIfoughtinNorthAfrica.MaybenotwithPardi’sartillerybattery.WiththeBrandenburgers."Headded,"Wehrmachtkommando.InfiltratedBritishHQs.Idon’tseewhatdifferenceitmakes;wesawplentyofaction.AndIwasatCairo;Iearnedthemedalandabattlefieldcitation.Corporal."

           "Isthatfountainpenaweapon?"

           Hedidnotanswer.

           "Abomb,"sherealizedsuddenly,sayingitaloud."Abooby-trapkindofbomb,that’swiredsoit’llexplodewhensomeonetouchesit."

           "No,"hesaid."Whatyousawisatwo-watttransmitterandreceiver.SoIcankeepinradiocontact.Incasethere’sachangeofplan,whatwiththeday-by-daypoliticalsituationinBerlin."