Человек в высоком замке

           Julianahaddivorcedhimayearago,andhehadnotseenherinmonths;infacthedidnotevenknowwhereshelived.EvidentlyshehadleftSanFrancisco.PerhapseventhePSA.Eithertheirmutualfriendshadnotheardfromherortheywerenottellinghim.

           Busilyhemaneuveredtheyarrowstalks,hiseyesfixedonthetallies.HowmanytimeshehadaskedaboutJuliana,onequestionoranother?Herecamethehexagram,broughtforthbythepassivechanceworkingsofthevegetablestalks.Random,andyetrootedinthemomentinwhichhelived,inwhichhislifewasboundupwithallotherlivesandparticlesintheuniverse.Thenecessaryhexagrampicturinginitspatternofbrokenandunbrokenlinesthesituation.He,Juliana,thefactoryonGoughStreet,theTradeMissionsthatruled,theexplorationoftheplanets,thebillionchemicalheapsinAfricathatwerenownotevencorpses,theaspirationsofthethousandsaroundhimintheshantywarrensofSanFrancisco,themadcreaturesinBerlinwiththeircalmfacesandmanicplans—allconnectedinthismomentofcastingtheyarrowstalkstoselecttheexactwisdomappropriateinabookbeguninthethirtiethcenturyB.C.AbookcreatedbythesagesofChinaoveraperiodoffivethousandyears,winnowed,perfected,thatsuperbcosmology—andscience—codifiedbeforeEuropehadevenlearnedtodolongdivision.

           Thehexagram.Hisheartdropped.Forty-four.Kou.ComingtoMeet.Itssoberingjudgment.Themaidenispowerful.Oneshouldnotmarrysuchamaiden.AgainhehadgottenitinconnectionwithJuliana.