Человек в высоком замке

           NoJapsbuiltovens."

           "Toobadtheydidn’t,"theoldertruckdriversaid.But,pickinguphiscoffeecup,heresumedeating.

           Yellow,Julianathought.Yes,Isupposeit’strue.WelovetheJapsouthere.

           "Whereareyoustaying?"sheasked,speakingtotheyoungtruckdriver,Joe."Overnight."

           "Idon’tknow,"heanswered."Ijustgotoutofthetrucktocomeinhere.Idon’tlikethiswholestate.MaybeI’llsleepinthetruck."

           "TheHoneyBeeMotelisn’ttoobad,"thefrycooksaid.

           "Okay,"theyoungtruckdriversaid."MaybeI’llstaythere.Iftheydon’tmindmebeingItalian."Hehadadefiniteaccent,althoughhetriedtohideit.

           Watchinghim,Julianathought,it’sidealismthatmakeshimthatbitter.Askingtoomuchoutoflife.Alwaysmovingon,restlessandgriped.I’mthesameway;Icouldn’tstayontheWestCoastandeventuallyIwon’tbeabletostandithere.Weren’ttheold-timerslikethat?But,shethought,nowthefrontierisn’there;it’stheotherplanets.

           Shethought:HeandIcouldsignupforoneofthosecolonizingrocketships.ButtheGermanswoulddisbarhimbecauseofhisskinandmebecauseofmydarkhair.ThosepaleskinnyNordicSSfairiesinthosetrainingcastlesinBavaria.Thisguy—Joewhatever—hasn’tevengottherightexpressiononhisface;heshouldhavethatcoldbutsomehowenthusiasticlook,asifhebelievedinnothingandyetsomehowhadabsolutefaith.Yes,that’showtheyare.They’renotidealistslikeJoeandme;they’recynicswithutterfaith.