Человек в высоком замке

           BythetimetheJapsgottheirfirstspaceshipoffthegroundtheGermanswouldhavetheentiresolarsystemseweduptight.Backinthequaintoldhistory-bookdays,theGermanshadmissedoutwhiletherestofEuropeputthefinaltouchesontheircolonialempires.However,Frinkreflected,theywerenotgoingtobelastthistime;theyhadlearned.

           AndthenhethoughtaboutAfrica,andtheNaziexperimentthere.Andhisbloodstoppedinhisveins,hesitated,atlastwenton.

           Thathugeemptyruin.

           Theradiosaid:"…wemustconsiderwithpridehoweverouremphasisonthefundamentalphysicalneedsofpeoplesofallplace,theirsubspiritualaspirationswhichmustbe…"

           Frinkshuttheradiooff.Then,calmer,heturneditbackon.

           Christonthecrapper,hethought.Africa.Fortheghostsofdeadtribes.Wipedouttomakealandof—what?Whoknew?MaybeeventhemasterarchitectsinBerlindidnotknow.Bunchofautomatons,buildingandtoilingaway.Building?Grindingdown.Ogresoutofapaleontologyexhibit,attheirtaskofmakingacupfromanenemy’sskull,thewholefamilyindustriouslyscoopingoutthecontents—therawbrains–first,toeat.Thenusefulutensilsofmen’slegbones.Thrifty,tothinknotonlyofeatingthepeopleyoudidnotlike,buteatingthemoutoftheirownskull.Thefirsttechnicians!PrehistoricmaninasterilewhitelabcoatinsomeBerlinuniversitylab,experimentingwithusestowhichotherpeople’sskull,skin,ears,fatcouldbeputto.Ja,HerrDoktor.