Человек в высоком замке

           Notsobadafterall.And,hethought,thisexperiencemaywellhelpmeinmybusiness.

           Itistherapeutictomeetthesepeoplewhohaveintimidatedyou.Andtodiscoverwhattheyarereallylike.Thentheintimidationgoes.

           Thinkingalongthoselines,hearrivedathisownneighborhoodandfinallyathisowndoor.Hepaidthechinkpedecabdriverandascendedthefamiliarstairs.

           There,inhisfrontroom,satamanhedidnotknow.Awhitemanwearinganovercoat,sittingonthecouchreadingthenewspaper.AsRobertChildanstoodastonishedinthedoorway,themanputdownhisnewspaper,leisurelyrose,andreachedintohisbreastpocket.Hebroughtoutawalletanddisplayedit.

           "Kempeitai."

           Hewasapinoc.EmployeeofSacramentoanditsStatePoliceinstalledbytheJapaneseoccupationauthorities.Frightening!

           "You’reR.Childan?"

           "Yes,sir,"hesaid.Hisheartpounded.

           "Recently,"thepolicemansaid,consultingaclipboardofpaperswhichhehadtakenfromabriefcaseonthecouch,"youwerepaidavisitbyaman,awhite,describinghimselfasrepresentinganofficeroftheImperialNavy.Subsequentinvestigationshowedthatthiswasnotso.Nosuchofficerexisted.Nosuchship."HeeyedChildan.

           "That’scorrect,"Childansaid.

           "Wehaveareport,"thepolicemancontinued,"ofaracketbeingconductedintheBayArea.Thisfellowevidentlywasinvolved.Wouldyoudescribehim?"

           "Small,ratherdark-skinned,"Childanbegan.

           "Jewish?"

           "Yes!"Childansaid."NowthatIthinkaboutit.AlthoughIoverlookeditatthetime."