Человек в высоком замке

           RobertChildan,suddenlynoticingtheman’sattention,ceasedhislineofthoughtandappliedhimselftohisfood.Canhereadmymind?hewondered.SeewhatI"mreallythinking?IknowIdidnotshowit.Ikepttheproperexpression;hecouldnotpossiblytell.

           "Robert,"Paulsaid,"sinceyouwerebornandraisedhere,speakingtheU.S.idiom,perhapsIcouldgetyourhelpwithabookwhichhasgivenmecertaintrouble.Novelfromthe1930sbyaU.S.author."

           Robertbowedslightly.

           "Thebook,"Paulsaid,"whichisquiterare,andwhichIpossessacopyofnonetheless,isbyNathanaelWest.TitleisMissLonelyhearts.Ihavereaditwithenjoyment,butdonottotallygraspN.West’smeaning."HelookedhopefullyatRobert.

           PresentlyRobertChildanadmitted."Ihaveneverreadthatbook,Ifear."Nor,hethought,evenheardofit.

           DisappointmentshowedinPaul’sexpression."Toobad.Itisatinybook.Tellsaboutmanwhorunscolumnindailypaper;receivesheartacheproblemsconstantly,untilevidentlydrivenmadbypainandhasdelusionthatheisJ.Christ.Doyourecall?Perhapsreadlongago."

           "No,"Robertsaid.

           "Givesstrangeviewaboutsuffering,"Paulsaid."Insightofmostoriginalkindintomeaningofpainfornoreason,problemwhichallreligionscopewith.ReligionssuchasChristianoftendeclaremustbesintoaccountforsuffering.N.Westseemstoaddmorecompellingviewofthis,overoldernotions.N.WestpossiblysawcouldbesufferingwithoutcauseduetohisbeingaJew."

           Robertsaid.