Человек в высоком замке

           Julianasawanimmenselytallmanwithblackcurlyhair;hisskin,too,wasdark,andhiseyesseemedpurpleorbrown,verysoftlycoloredbehindhisglasses.Heworeahand-tailored,expensive,naturalfibersuit,perhapsEnglishwool;thesuitaugmentedhiswiderobustshoulderswithnolinesofitsown.Inallherlifeshehadneverseenasuitquitelikeit;shefoundherselfstaringinfascination.

           Carolinesaid,"Mrs.FrinkdroveallthewayupfromCanonCity,Colorado,justtotalktoyouaboutGrasshopper."

           "Ithoughtyoulivedinafortress,"Julianasaid.Bendingtoregardher,HawthorneAbendsensmiledameditativesmile."Yes,wedid.ButwehadtogetuptoitinanelevatorandIdevelopedaphobia.IwasprettydrunkwhenIgotthephobiabutasIrecallit,andtheytellit,IrefusedtostandupinitbecauseIsaidthattheelevatorcablewasbeinghauledupbyJesusChrist,andweweregoingalltheway.AndIwasdeterminednottostand."

           Shedidnotunderstand.

           Carolineexplained,"HawthhassaidaslongasI’veknownhimthatwhenhefinallyseesChristheisgoingtositdown;he’snotgoingtostand."

           Thehymn,Julianaremembered."SoyougaveuptheHighCastleandmovedbackintotown,"shesaid.

           "I’dliketopouryouadrink,"Hawthornesaid.

           "Allright,"shesaid."Butnotanold-fashioned."Shehadalreadygotaglimpseofthesideboardwithseveralbottlesofwhiskeyonit,horsd’oeuvres,glasses,ice,mixer,cherriesandorangeslices.Shewalkedtowardit,Abendsenaccompanyingher."JustI.W.