Человек в высоком замке

           Herownskinwasfinelyknit,unusuallyso.Didhefalldeadwithoutme?Afinkisafinch,aformofbird.Andtheysaybirdsdie.

           "Areyougoingbackontheroadtonight?"sheaskedtheyoungItaliantruckdriver.

           "Tomorrow."

           "Ifyou’renothappyintheU.S.whydon’tyoucrossoverpermanently?"shesaid."I’vebeenlivingintheRockiesforalongtimeanditisn’tsobad.IlivedontheCoast,inSanFrancisco.Theyhavetheskinthingthere,too."

           Glancingbrieflyatherashesathunchedatthecounter,theyoungItaliansaid,"Lady,it’sbadenoughtohavetospendonedayoronenightinatownlikethis.Livehere?Christ—ifIcouldgetanyotherkindofjob,andnothavetobeontheroadeatingmymealsinplaceslikethis—"Noticingthatthefrycookwasred,heceasedspeakingandbegantodrinkhiscoffee.

           Theoldertruckdriversaidtohim,"Joe,you’reasnob."

           "YoucouldliveinDenver,"Julianasaid."It’snicerupthere."IknowyouEastAmericans,shethought.Youlikethebigtime.Dreamingyourbigschemes.Thisisjustthestickstoyou,theRockies.Nothinghashappenedheresincebeforethewar.Retiredoldpeople,farmers,thestupid,slow,poor…andallthesmartboyshaveflockedeasttoNewYork,crossedtheborderlegallyorillegally.Because,shethought,that’swherethemoneyis,thebigindustrialmoney.Theexpansion.Germaninvestmenthasdonealot…itdidn’ttakelongforthemtobuildtheU.S.backup.