Человек в высоком замке

           Harperoverice,"shesaid."Ialwaysenjoythat.Doyouknowtheoracle?"

           "No,"Hawthornesaid,ashefixedherdrinkforher.

           Astounded,shesaid,"TheBookofChanges?"

           "Idon’t,no,"herepeated.Hehandedherherdrink.

           CarolineAbendsensaid,"Don’tteaseher."

           "Ireadyourbook,"Julianasaid."InfactIfinisheditthisevening.Howdidyouknowallthat,abouttheotherworldyouwroteabout?"

           Hawthornesaidnothing;herubbedhisknuckleagainsthisupperlip,staringpastherandfrowning.

           "Didyouusetheoracle?"Julianasaid.

           Hawthorneglancedather.

           "Idon’twantyoutokidorjoke,"Julianasaid."Tellmewithoutmakingsomethingwittyoutofit."

           Chewinghislip,Hawthornegazeddownatthefloor;hewrappedhisarmsabouthimself,rockedbackandforthonhisheels.Theothersintheroomnearbyhadbecomesilent,andJuliananoticedthattheirmannerhadchanged.Theywerenothappy,now,becauseofwhatshehadsaid.Butshedidnottrytotakeitbackordisguiseit;shedidnotpretend.Itwastooimportant.Andshehadcometoofaranddonetoomuchtoacceptanythinglessthanthetruthfromhim.

           "That’s—ahardquestiontoanswer,"Abendsensaidfinally.

           "Noitisn’t,"Julianasaid.

           Noweveryoneintheroomhadbecomesilent;theyallwatchedJulianastandingwithCarolineandHawthorneAbendsen.

           "I’msorry,"Abendsensaid,"Ican’tanswerrightaway.You’llhavetoacceptthat."

           "Thenwhydidyouwritethebook?"Julianasaid.