philip_k_dick_-_the_man_in_the_high_castle

They drove on. Band music from the radio, static. Once more she tried to concentrate on the
book.
'You're right,' Joe said after a long time.
'About what?'
'Two-bit empire. Clown for a leader. No wonder we got nothing out of the war.'
She patted his arm.
'Juliana, it's all darkness,' Joe said. 'Nothing is true or certain. Right?'
'Maybe so,' she said absently, continuing to try to read.
'Britain wins,' Joe said, indicating the book. 'I save you the trouble. U.S. dwindles, Britain keeps
needling and poking and expanding, keeps the initiative. So put it away.'
'I hope we have fun in Denver,' she said, closing the book. 'You need to relax. I want you to.' If
you don't, she thought, you're going to fly apart in a million pieces. Like a bursting spring. And
what happens tome, then? How do I get back? And — do I just leave you?
I want the good time you promised me, she thought. I don't want to be cheated; I've been cheated
too much in my life before, by too many people.
'We'll have it,' Joe said. 'Listen.' He studied her with a queer, introspective expression. 'You take
to that Grasshopper book so much; I wonder — do you suppose a man who writes a best seller, an
author like that Abendsen do people write letters to him? I bet lots of people praise his book by
letters to him, maybe even visit.'
All at once she understood. 'Joe — it's only another hundred miles!'
His eyes shone; he smiled at her, happy again, no longer flushed or troubled.
'We could!' she said. 'You drive so good — it'd be nothing to go on up there, would it?'
Slowly, Joe said, 'Well, I doubt a famous man lets visitors drop in. Probably so many of them.'
'Why not try? Joe — ' She grabbed his shoulder, squeezed him excitedly. 'All he could do is send
us away. Please.'
With great deliberation, Joe said, 'When we've gone shopping and got new clothes, all spruced
up. . . that's important, to make a good impression. And maybe even rent a new car up in Cheyenne.
Bet you can do that.'
'Yes,' she said. 'And you need a haircut. And let me pick your clothes; please, Joe. I used to pick
Frank's clothes for him; a man can never buy his own clothes.'
'You got good taste in clothes,' Joe said, once more turning toward the road ahead, gazing out
somberly. 'In other ways, too. Better if you call him. Contact him.'
'I'll get my hair done,' she said.
'Good.'
'I'm not scared at all to walk up and ring the bell,' Juliana said. 'I mean, you live only once. Why
should we be intimidated? He's just a man like the rest of us. In fact, he probably would be pleased
to know somebody drove so far just to tell him how much they liked his book. We can get an
autograph on the book, on the inside where they do that. Isn't that so? We better buy a new copy;
this one is all stained. It wouldn't look good.'
'Anything you want,' Joe said. 'I'll let you decide all the details; I know you can do it. Pretty girl
always gets everyone; when he sees what a knockout you are he'll open the door wide. But listen;
no monkey business.'
'What do you mean?'
'You say we're married. I don't want you getting mixed up with him — you know. That would be
dreadful. Wreck everyone's existence; some reward for him to let visitors in, some irony. So watch
it, Juliana.'