Человек в высоком замке

           "You’reverysick.Wecan’tgo."

           "Nodoctor,"shesaid."I’llbeokay."Shetriedtosmile;shewatchedhisfacetoseeifshehad.Reflectionfromhisbrain,caughtmythoughtsinrots.

           "Ican’ttakeyoutotheAbendsens’,"hesaid."Notnow,anyway.Tomorrow.Maybeyou’llbebetter.We’lltrytomorrow.Wehaveto."

           "MayIgotothebathroomagain?"

           Henodded,hisfaceworking,barelyhearingher.Soshereturnedtothebathroom;againsheshutthedoor.Inthecabinetanotherblade,whichshetookinherrighthand.Shecameoutoncemore.

           "Bye-bye,"shesaid.

           Assheopenedthecorridordoorheexclaimed,grabbedwildlyather.

           Whisk."Itisawful,"shesaid."Theyviolate.Ioughttoknow."Readyforpursesnatcher;thevariousnightprowlers,Icancertainlyhandle.Wherehadthisonegone?Slappinghisneck,doingadance."Letmeby,"shesaid."Don’tbarmywayunlessyouwantalesson.However,onlywomen."Holdingthebladeupshewentonopeningthedoor.Joesatonthefloor,handspressedtothesideofhisthroat.Sunburnposture."Good-bye,"shesaid,andshutthedoorbehindher.Thewarmcarpetedcorridor.

           Awomaninawhitesmock,hummingorsinging,wheeledacartalong,headdown.Gawkedatdoornumbers,arrivedinfrontofJuliana;thewomanliftedherhead,andhereyespoppedandhermouthfell.

           "Ohsweetie,"shesaid,"youreallyaretight;youneedalotmorethanahairdresser—yougorightbackinsideyourroomandgetyourclothesonbeforetheythrowyououtofthishotel.