Человек в высоком замке

           "MayItalktoMr.Abendsen?"

           "Whoisthis,please?"

           Julianasaid,"IreadhisbookandIdrovealldayupfromCanonCity,Colorado.I’minGreeleynow.IthoughtIcouldmakeittoyourplacetonight,butIcan’t,soIwanttoknowifIcanseehimsometimetomorrow."

           Afterapause,Mrs.Abendsensaidinastill-pleasantvoice,"Yes,it’stoolate,now;wegotobedquiteearly.Wasthereanyspecialreasonwhyyouwantedtoseemyhusband?He’sworkingveryhardrightnow."

           "Iwantedtospeaktohim,"shesaid.Herownvoiceinherearssoundeddrabandwooden;shestaredatthewallofthebooth,unabletofindanythingfurthertosay—herbodyachedandhermouthfeltdryandfulloffoultastes.Beyondthephoneboothshecouldseethedruggistatthesodacounterservingmilkshakestofourteen-agers.Shelongedtobethere;shescarcelypaidattentionasMrs.Abendsenanswered.Shelongedforsomefresh,colddrink,andsomethinglikeachickensaladsandwichtogowithit.

           "Hawthorneworkserratically,"Mrs.Abendsenwassayinginhermerry,briskvoice."IfyoudriveupheretomorrowIcan’tpromiseyouanything,becausehemightbeinvolvedalldaylong.Butifyouunderstandthatbeforeyoumakethetrip—"

           "Yes,"shebrokein.

           "Iknowhe’llbegladtochatwithyouforafewminutesifhecan,"Mrs.Abendsencontinued."Butpleasedon’tbedisappointedifbychancehecan’tbreakofflongenoughtotalktoyouorevenseeyou."

           "Wereadhisbookandlikedit,"Julianasaid."Ihaveitwithme."