Человек в высоком замке

           Strangled,sometimes,andyet,eventhen,thelightofyang,theflickeratthecenter.Ilikehim,Mr.Tagomisaidtohimself.GermanorSwede.Ihopethezaracainehelpedhisheadache.Mustrecalltoinquire,firstoffthebat.

           Hisdeskintercombuzzed.

           "No,"hesaidbrusquelyintoit."Nodiscussion.ThisismomentforInnerTruth.Introversion."

           FromthetinyspeakerMr.Ramsey’svoice:"Sir,newshasjustcomefromthepressservicebelow.TheReichsChancellorisdead.MartinBormann."Ramsey’svoicepoppedoff.Silence.

           Mr.Tagomithought,Cancelallbusinessfortoday.Herosefromhisdeskandpacedrapidlybackandforth,pressinghishandstogether.Letmesee.DispatchatonceformalnotetoReichsConsul.Minoritem;subordinatecanaccomplish.Deepsorrow,etc.AllJapanjoinswithGermanpeopleinthissadhour.Then?Becomevitallyreceptive.MustbeinpositiontoreceiveinformationfromTokyoinstantly.

           Pressingtheintercombuttonhesaid,"Mr.Ramsey,besurewearethroughtoTokyo.Telltheswitchboardgirls,bealert.Mustnotmisscommunication."

           "Yes,sir,"Mr.Ramseysaid.

           "Iwillbeinmyofficefromnowon.Thwartallroutinematters.Turnbackanyandallcallerswhosebusinessiscustomary."

           "Sir?"

           "Myhandsmustbefreeincasesuddenactivityisneeded."

           "Yessir."

           Halfanhourlater,atnine,amessagearrivedfromthehighest-rankingImperialGovernmentofficialontheWestCoast,theJapaneseAmbassadortothePacificStatesofAmerica,theHonorableBaronL.B.Kaelemakule.