Человек в высоком замке

           Indicatingwithhisdrinkglass,Abendsensaid,"What’sthatpinonyourdressdo?Wardoffdangerousanima-spiritsoftheimmutableworld?Ordoesitjustholdeverythingtogether?"

           "Whydoyouchangethesubject?"Julianasaid."EvadingwhatIaskedyou,andmakingapointlessremarklikethat?It’schildish."

           HawthorneAbendsensaid,"Everyonehas—technicalsecrets.Youhaveyours;Ihavemine.Youshouldreadmybookandacceptitonfacevalue,justasIacceptwhatIsee—"Againhepointedatherwithhisglass."Withoutinquiringifit’sgenuineunderneath,there,ordonewithwiresandstavesandfoam-rubberpadding.Isn’tthatpartoftrustinginthenatureofpeopleandwhatyouseeingeneral?"Heseemed,shethought,irritableandflusterednow,nolongerpolite,nolongerahost.AndCaroline,shenoticedoutofthecornerofhereye,hadanexpressionoftenseexasperation;herlipswerepressedtogetherandshehadstoppedsmilingentirely.

           "Inyourbook,"Julianasaid,"youshowedthatthere’sawayout.Isn’tthatwhatyoumeant?"

           "Out,"heechoedironically.

           Julianasaid,"You’vedonealotforme;nowIcanseethere’snothingtobeafraidof,nothingtowantorhateoravoid,here,orrunfrom.Orpursue."

           Hefacedher,jigglinghisglass,studyingher."There’sagreatdealinthisworldworththecandle,inmyopinion."

           "Iunderstandwhat’sgoingoninyourmind,"Julianasaid.Toheritwastheoldandfamiliarexpressiononaman’sface,butitdidnotupsethertoseeithere.