Человек в высоком замке
Chapter 7
BigLaughingstock,recallingJapanWarwiththem,when—"
"Wehavehadtosuffer,topaythecost,"Robertsaid."Butwediditforagoodcause.TostopSlavicworldinundation."
Bettysaidinalowvoice,"Personally,Idonotbelieveanyhystericaltalkof‘worldinundation’byanypeople,SlavicorChineseorJapanese."SheregardedRobertplacidly.Shewasincompletecontrolofherself,notcarriedaway;butsheintendedtoexpressherfeeling.Aspotofcolor,deepred,hadappearedineachofhercheeks.
Theyateforatimewithoutconversing.
Ididitagain,RobertChildaninformedhimself.Impossibletoavoidthetopic.Becauseit’severywhere,inabookIhappentopickuporarecordcollection,inthesebonenapkinrings—lootpiledupbytheconquerors.Pillagefrommypeople.
Facefacts.I’mtryingtopretendthattheseJapaneseandIarealike.Butobserve:evenwhenIburstoutastomygratificationthattheywonthewar,thatmynationlost–there’sstillnocommonground.Whatwordsmeantomeissharpcontrastvis-à-visthem.Theirbrainsaredifferent.Soulslikewise.WitnessthemdrinkingfromEnglishbonechinacups,eatingwithU.S.silver,listeningtoNegrostyleofmusic.It’sallonthesurface.Advantageofwealthandpowermakesthisavailabletothem,butit’sersatzasthedayislong.
EventheIChing,whichthey’veforceddownourthroats;it’sChinese.Borrowedfromwaybackwhen.
