Человек в высоком замке

           Laughatme,hethoughtashesawthechauffeursregardinghimashewalkedtohiscar.Forgotmybriefcase.Leftitbackthere,bymychair.Alleyesonhimashenoddedtohischauffeur.Doorheldopen;hecreptintohiscar.

           Takemetothehospital,hethought.No,takemebacktotheoffice."NipponTimesBuilding."hesaidaloud."Driveslowly."Hewatchedthecity,thecars,stores,tallbuildings,now,verymodern.People.Allthemenandwomen,goingontheirseparatebusinesses.

           WhenhereachedhisofficeheinstructedMr.RamseytocontactoneoftheotherTradeMissions,theNon-FerrousOresMission,andtorequestthattheirrepresentativetotheForeignOfficemeetingcontacthimonhisreturn.

           Shortlybeforenoon,thecallcamethrough.

           "Possiblyyounoticedmydistressatmeeting,"Mr.Tagomisaidintothephone."Itwasnodoubtpalpabletoall,especiallymyhastyflight."

           "Isawnothing,"theNon-Ferrousmansaid."ButafterthemeetingIdidnotseeyouandwonderedwhathadbecomeofyou."

           "Youaretactful,"Mr.Tagomisaidbleakly.

           "Notatall.IamsureeveryonewastoowrappedupintheForeignOfficelecturetopayheedtoanyotherconsideration.Astowhatoccurredafteryourdeparture—didyoustaythroughtherundownofaspirantsinthepowerstruggle?Thatcomesfirst."

           "IheardtothepartaboutDoctorSeyss-Inquart."

           "Followingthat,thespeakerdilatedontheeconomicsituationoverthere.