Человек в высоком замке

           "Theymightdecidetooccupythisregion,too."

           "Notthislate!"

           "Youneverknowwhatthey’regoingtodo,"Julianasaid."Theyhidetheirrealthoughts."

           "What—didtheymakeyoudo?"MissDavis,huggingherpurseagainstherbodywithbotharms,movedcloser,intheeveningdarkness,tohear.

           "Everything,"Julianasaid.

           "OhGod.I’dfight,"MissDavissaid.

           Julianaexcusedherselfandwalkedtothevacantshower;someoneelsewasapproachingitwithatoweloverherarm.

           Later,shesatinaboothatTastyCharley’sBroiledHamburgers,listlesslyreadingthemenu.Thejukeboxplayedsomehillbillytune;steelguitarandemotion-chokedmoaning…theairwasheavywithgreasesmoke.Andyet,theplacewaswarmandbright,anditcheeredher.Thepresenceofthetruckdriversatthecounter,thewaitress,thebigIrishfrycookinhiswhitejacketattheregistermakingchange.

           Seeingher,Charleyapproachedtowaitonherhimself.Grinning,hedrawled,"Missywantteanow?"

           "Coffee,"Julianasaid,enduringthefrycook’srelentlesshumor.

           "Ahso,"Charleysaid,nodding.

           "Andthehotsteaksandwichwithgravy."

           "Nothavebowlrat’s-nestsoup?Ormaybegoatbrainsfriedinoliveoil?"Acoupleofthetruckdrivers,turningontheirstools,grinnedalongwiththegag,too.Andinadditiontheytookpleasureinnoticinghowattractiveshewas.Evenlackingthefrycook’skidding,shewouldhavefoundthetruckdriversscrutinizingher.