Человек в высоком замке

           Whomaretheyfooling?Themselves?Pilfercustomsrightandleft,wear,eat,talk,walk,asforinstanceconsumingwithgustobakedpotatoservedwithsourcreamandchives,old-fashionedAmericandishaddedtotheirhaul.Butnobodyfooled,Icantellyou;meleastofall.

           Onlythewhiteracesendowedwithcreativity,hereflected.AndyetI,bloodmemberofsame,mustbumpheadtofloorforthesetwo.Thinkhowitwouldhavebeenhadwewon!Wouldhavecrushedthemoutofexistence.NoJapantoday,andtheU.S.A.gleaminggreatsolepowerinentirewideworld.

           Hethought:ImustreadthatGrasshopperbook.Patrioticduty,fromthesoundofit.

           Bettysaidsoftlytohim,"Robert,you’renoteating.Isthefoodmisprepared?"

           Atoncehetookaforkfulofsalad."No,"hesaid."ItisvirtuallythemostdeliciousmealIhavehadinyears."

           "Thankyou,"shesaid,obviouslypleased."Doingmybesttobeauthentic…forinstance,carefullyshoppinginteeny-tinyAmericanmarketsdownalongMissionStreet.Understandthat’stherealMcCoy."

           Youcookthenativefoodstoperfection,RobertChildanthought.Whattheysayistrue:yourpowersofimitationareimmense.Applepie,Coca-Cola,strollafterthemovie,GlennMiller…youcouldpastetogetheroutoftinandricepaperacompleteartificialAmerica.Rice-paperMominthekitchen,rice-paperDadreadingthenewspaper.Rice-paperpupathisfeet.Everything.

           Paulwaswatchinghimsilently.