Человек в высоком замке

           InkitchenelectricovenisbroilingT-bonesteak.Alongwiththis,bakedpotatowithsauceofsourcreamandchives.Maximutters:noonecanerrinservingsteaktonew-foundguestfirsttime."

           "Verygratifying,"Childansaid."Quitefondofsteak."Andthatcertainlywasso.Herarelyhadit.ThegreatstockyardsfromtheMiddleWestdidnotsendoutmuchtotheWestCoastanymore.Hecouldnotrecallwhenhehadlasthadagoodsteak.

           Itwastimeforhimtograftguestgift.

           Fromhiscoatpockethebroughtsmalltissue-paperwrappedthing.Helaiditdiscreetlyonthelowtable.Bothofthemimmediatelynoticed,andthisrequiredhimtosay,"Bagatelleforyou.TodisplayfragmentoftherelaxationandenjoymentIfeelinbeinghere."

           Hishandopenedthetissuepaper,showingthemthegift.BitofivorycarvedacenturyagobywhalersfromNewEngland.Tinyornamentedartobject,calledascrimshaw.Theirfacesilluminatedwithknowledgeofthescrimshawswhichtheoldsailorshadmadeintheirsparetime.NosinglethingcouldhavesummedupoldU.S.culturemore.

           Silence.

           "Thankyou,"Paulsaid.

           RobertChildanbowed.

           Therewaspeace,then,foramoment,inhisheart.Thisoffering,this—astheIChingputit—libation.Ithaddonewhatneededtobedone.Someoftheanxietyandoppressionwhichhehadfeltlatelybegantoliftfromhim.

           FromRayCalvinhehadreceivedrestitutionfortheColt.44,plusmanywrittenassurancesofnosecondrecurrence.Andyetithadnoteasedhisheart.