Человек в высоком замке

           Soonshewasstandinginthecoldconcretegaragebeneaththehotel,waitingwhiletheattendantbroughttheStudebakeraround.Inherpurseshefoundallkindsofchange;shetippedtheattendantandthenextsheknewshewasdrivingupayellow-litrampandontothedarkstreetwithitsheadlights,cars,advertisingneonsigns.

           Theuniformeddoormanofthehotelpersonallyloadedherluggageandparcelsintothetrunkforher,smilingwithsuchheartyencouragementthatshegavehimanenormoustipbeforeshedroveaway.Noonetriedtostopher,andthatamazedher;theydidnotevenraiseaneyebrow.Iguesstheyknowhe’llpay,shedecided.Ormaybehealreadydidwhenheregisteredforus.

           Whileshewaitedwithothercarsforastreetlighttochange,sherememberedthatshehadnottoldthematthedeskaboutJoesittingontheflooroftheroomneedingthedoctor.Stillwaitingupthere,waitingfromnowonuntiltheendoftheworld,oruntilthecleaningwomenshoweduptomorrowsometime.Ibettergoback,shedecided,ortelephone.Stopatapayphonebooth.

           It’ssosilly,shethoughtasshedrovealongsearchingforaplacetoparkandtelephone.Whowouldhavethoughtanhourago?Whenwesignedin,whenweshopped…wealmostwenton,gotdressedupandwentouttodinner;wemightevenhavegottenouttothenightclub.Againshehadbeguntocry,shediscovered;tearsdrippedfromhernose,ontoherblouse,asshedrove.ToobadIdidn’tconsulttheoracle;itwouldhaveknownandwarnedme.