Человек в высоком замке

           Theentireworldknewit,andyettheLeader’sgabblewasstillsacred,stillHolyWrit.Theviewshadinfectedacivilizationbynow,and,likeevilspores,theblindblondNaziqueenswereswishingoutfromEarthtotheotherplanets,spreadingthecontamination.

           Whatyougetforincest:madness,blindness,death.

           Brrr.Sheshookherself.

           "Charley,"shecalledtothefrycook."Youaboutreadywithmyorder?"Shefeltabsolutelyalone;gettingtoherfeetshewalkedtothecounterandseatedherselfbytheregister.

           NoonenoticedherexcepttheyoungItaliantruckdriver;hisdarkeyeswerefixedonher.Joe,hisnamewas.Joewhat?shewondered.

           Closertohim,now,shesawthathewasnotasyoungasshehadthought.Hardtotell;theintensityallaroundhimdisturbedherjudgment.Continuallyhedrewhishandthroughhishair,combingitbackwithcrooked,rigidfingers.There’ssomethingspecialaboutthisman,shethought.Hebreathes—death.Itupsether,andyetattractedher.Nowtheoldertruckdriverinclinedhisheadandwhisperedtohim.Thentheybothscrutinizedher,thistimewithalookthatwasnottheordinarymaleinterest.

           "Miss,"theolderonesaid.Bothmenwerequitetense,now."Doyouknowwhatthisis?"Heheldupaflatwhitebox,nottoolarge.

           "Yes,"Julianasaid."Nylonstockings.SyntheticfibermadeonlybythegreatcartelinNewYork,I.G.Farben.Veryrareandexpensive."

           "YougottohandittotheGermans;monopoly’snotabadidea."