Человек в высоком замке

           Apartygoingon?Buttheywerenotformallydressed.

           Aboy,tousled,aboutthirteen,wearingaT-shirtandjeans,flungthedoorwide."Yes?"

           Shesaid,"Is—Mr.Abendsenhome?Ishebusy?"

           Speakingtosomeonebehindhiminthehouse,theboycalled,"Mom,shewantstoseeDad."

           Besidetheboyappearedawomanwithreddish-brownhair,possiblythirty-five,withstrong,unwinkinggrayeyesandasmilesothoroughlycompetentandremorselessthatJulianaknewshewasfacingCarolineAbendsen.

           "Icalledlastnight,"Julianasaid.

           "Ohyesofcourse."Hersmileincreased.Shehadperfectwhiteregularteeth;Irish,Julianadecided.OnlyIrishbloodcouldgivethatjawlinesuchfemininity."Letmetakeyourpurseandcoat.Thisisaverygoodtimeforyou;theseareafewfriends.Whatalovelydress…it’sHouseofCherubini,isn’tit?"SheledJulianaacrossthelivingroom,toabedroomwhereshelaidJuliana’sthingswiththeothersonthebed."Myhusbandisaroundsomewhere.Lookforatallmanwithglasses,drinkinganold-fashioned."TheintelligentlightinhereyespouredouttoJuliana;herlipsquivered—thereissomuchunderstoodbetweenus,Julianarealized.Isn’tthatamazing?

           "Idrovealongway,"Julianasaid.

           "Yes,youdid.NowIseehim."CarolineAbendsenguidedherbackintothelivingroom,towardagroupofmen."Dear,"shecalled,"comeoverhere.Thisisoneofyourreaderswhoisveryanxioustosayafewwordstoyou."

           Onemanofthegroupmoved,detachedandapproachedcarryinghisdrink.