Человек в высоком замке

           Joedidnotseemtohearher;hewasstaringdownatthecopyofTheGrasshopperLiesHeavy."Andinthis,"hewenton,"youknowhowitisthatEnglandwins?BeatstheAxis?"

           Sheshookherhead,feelingthegrowingtensionofthemanbesideher.Hischinnowhadbeguntoquiver;helickedhislipsagainandagain,dugathisscalp…whenhespokehisvoicewashoarse.

           "HehasItalybetraytheAxis,"Joesaid.

           "Oh,"shesaid.

           "ItalygoesovertotheAllies.JoinstheAnglo-Saxonsandopensupwhathecallsthe"softunderbelly"ofEurope.Butthat’snaturalforhimtothinkthat.WeallknowthecowardlyItalianArmythatraneverytimetheysawtheBritish.Drinkingvino.Happy-go-lucky,notmadeforfighting.Thisfellow—"Joeclosedthebook,turneditaroundtostudythebackcover."Abendsen.Idon’tblamehim.Hewritesthisfantasy,imagineshowtheworldwouldbeiftheAxishadlost.HowelsecouldtheyloseexceptbyItalybeingatraitor?"Hisvoicegrated."TheDuce—hewasaclown;weallknowthat."

           "Ihavetoturnthebacon."Sheslidawayfromhimandhurriedbacktothekitchen.

           Followingafterher,stillcarryingthebook,Joewenton,"AndtheU.S.comesin.AfteritlickstheJaps.Andafterthewar,theU.S.andBritaindividetheworld.ExactlylikeGermanyandJapandidinreality."

           Julianasaid,"Germany,Japan,andItaly."Hestaredather.

           "YouleftoutItaly."Shefacedhimcalmly.Didyouforget,too?shesaidtoherself.