Человек в высоком замке

           "Yourpartydoesnotanswer,"theCheyenneoperatortoldheratlast."Wewillputthecallthroughagainlaterand—"

           "No,"Julianasaid,shakingherhead.Ithadbeenjustawhimanyhow."Iwon’tbehere.Thankyou."Shehungup—themotelownerhadbeenstandingnearbytoseethatnothingwouldbemistakenlychargedtohim—andwalkedquicklyoutoftheoffice,ontothecool,darksidewalk,tostandandwaitthere.

           Fromthetrafficagleamingnewcabcoasteduptothecurbandhalted;thedooropenedandthedriverhoppedouttohurryaround.

           Amomentlater,Julianawasonherway,ridinginluxuryintherearofthecab,acrossCheyennetotheAbendsens’.

           TheAbendsenhousewaslitupandshecouldhearmusicandvoices.Itwasasingle-storystuccohousewithmanyshrubsandagooddealofgardenmadeupmostlyofclimbingroses.Asshestarteduptheflagstonepathshethought,CanIactuallybethere?IsthistheHighCastle?Whatabouttherumorsandstories?Thehousewasordinary,wellmaintainedandthegroundstended.Therewasevenachild’stricycleparkedinthelongcementdriveway.

           CoulditbethewrongAbendsen?ShehadgottentheaddressfromtheCheyennephonebook,butitmatchedthenumbershehadcalledthenightbeforefromGreeley.

           Shesteppedupontotheporchwithitswrought-ironrailingsandpressedthebuzzer.Throughthehalf-opendoorshecouldmakeoutthelivingroom,anumberofpersonsstandingabout,Venetianblindsonthewindows,apiano,fireplace,bookcases…nicelyfurnished,shethought.