Человек в высоком замке

           Likeeverybodyelse?ThelittleempireintheMiddleEast…themusical-comedyNewRome.

           Presentlysheservedhimaplatterofbaconandeggs,toastandmarmalade,coffee.Heatereadily.

           "WhatdidtheyserveyouinNorthAfrica?"sheaskedasshe,too,seatedherself.

           Joesaid,"Deaddonkey."

           "That’shideous."

           Withatwistedgrin,Joesaid,"AsinoMorte.ThebullybeefcanshadtheinitialsAMstampedonthem.TheGermanscalleditAlterMann.OldMan."Heresumedhisrapideating.

           Iwouldliketoreadthis,JulianathoughtasshereachedtotakethebookfromunderJoe’sarm.Willhebeherethatlong?Thebookhadgreaseonit;pagesweretorn.Fingermarksalloverit.Readbytruckdriversonthelonghaul,shethought.Intheone-armbeanerieslateatnight…I’llbetyou’reaslowreader,shethought.I’llbetyou’vebeenporingoverthisbookforweeks,ifnotmonths.

           Openingthebookatrandom,sheread:

           …nowinhisoldageheviewedtranquillity,domainsuchastheancientswouldhavecovetedbutnotcomprehended,shipsfromtheCrimeatoMadrid,andalltheEmpire,allwiththesamecoin,speech,flag.ThegreatoldUnionJackdippingfromsunrisetosunset:ithadbeenfulfilledatlast,thataboutthesunandtheflag.

           "TheonlybookIcarryaround,"Julianasaid,"isn’tactuallyabook;it’stheoracle,theIChing–FrankgotmehookedonitandIuseitallthetimetodecide.Ineverletitoutofmysight.Ever."SheclosedthecopyofTheGrasshopper."Wanttoseeit?Wanttouseit?"

           "No,"Joesaid.