Человек в высоком замке

           TheHomeIslandstaketheviewthatGermany’sschemetoreducethepopulationsofEuropeandNorthernAsiatothestatusofslaves—plusmurderingallintellectuals,bourgeoiselements,patrioticyouthandwhatnot—hasbeenaneconomiccatastrophe.OnlytheformidabletechnologicalachievementsofGermanscienceandindustryhavesavedthem.Miracleweapons,sotospeak."

           "Yes,"Mr.Tagomisaid.Seatedathisdesk,holdingthephonewithonehand,hepouredhimselfacupofhottea."AsdidtheirmiracleweaponsV-oneandV-twoandtheirjetfightersinthewar."

           "Itisasleight-of-handbusiness,"theNon-FerrousOresmansaid."Mainly,theirusesofatomicenergyhavekeptthingstogether.Andthediversionoftheircircus-likerockettraveltoMarsandVenus.Hepointedoutthatforalltheirthrillingimport,suchtraffichaveyieldednothingofeconomicworth."

           "Buttheyaredramatic,"Mr.Tagomisaid.

           "Hisprognosiswasgloomy.Hefeelsthatmosthigh-placedNazisarerefusingtofacefactsvis-à-vistheireconomicplight.Bydoingso,theyacceleratethetendencytowardgreatertourdeforceadventures,lesspredictability,lessstabilityingeneral.Thecycleofmanicenthusiasm,thenfear,thenParteisolutionsofadesperatetype—well,thepointhegotacrosswasthatallthistendstobringthemostirresponsibleandrecklessaspirantstothetop."

           Mr.Tagominodded.

           "Sowemustpresumethattheworst,ratherthanthebest,choicewillbemade.Thesoberandresponsibleelementswillbedefeatedinthepresentclash."