Человек в высоком замке

           Restingherchinonherfoldedarmsonthetablesurfaceandgazingathimsideways,shesaid,"Haveyoumovedinherepermanently?Andwhatareyouupto?"Broodingovertheinsults,theslanders.Youpetrifyme,shethought,withyourhatredoflife.But—youhavesomething.You’relikealittleanimal,notimportantbutsmart.Studyinghislimited,cleverdarkfaceshethought,HowcouldIeverhaveimaginedyouasyoungerthanme?Buteventhat’strue,yourchildishness;youarestillthebabybrother,worshipingyourtwoolderbrothersandyourMajorPardiandGeneralRommel,pantingandsweatingtobreaklooseandgettheTommies.Didtheyactuallygarroteyourbrotherswithloopsofwire?Weheardthat,theatrocitystoriesandphotosreleasedafterthewar…Sheshuddered.ButtheBritishcommandoswerebroughttotrialandpunishedlongago.

           Theradiohadceasedplayingmusic;thereseemedtobeanewsprogram,racketofshortwavefromEurope.Thevoicefadedandbecamegarbled.Alongpause,nothingatall.Justsilence.ThentheDenverannouncer,veryclear,closeby.Shereachedtoturnthedial,butJoestoppedherhand.

           "…newsofChancellorBormann’sdeathshockedastunnedGermanywhichhadbeenassuredasrecentlyasyesterday…"

           heandJoejumpedtotheirfeet.

           …allReichsstationscanceledscheduledprogramsandlisteners,heardthesolemnstrainsofthechorusoftheSSDivisionDasReichraisedintheanthemofthePartei,theHorstWesselLied.