Человек в высоком замке

           Hehoppedtothedoorandouttothefrontoffice.Therethethreeseamenwearingheavygraysweaters,allwiththickblondhair,strongfaces,atriflenervous.Reissraisedhisrighthand."HeilHitler."Hegavethemabrieffriendlysmile.

           "HeilHitler,"theymumbled.Theybeganshowinghimtheirpapers.

           Assoonashehadcertifiedtheirvisittotheconsulate,hehurriedbackintohisprivateoffice.

           Oncemore,alone,hereopenedTheGrasshopperLiesHeavy.

           HiseyesfellonasceneinvolvingHitler.Nowhefoundhimselfunabletostop;hebegantoreadthesceneoutofsequence,thebackofhisneckburning.

           Thetrial,herealized,ofHitler.Afterthecloseofthewar.HitlerinthehandsoftheAllies,goodGod.AlsoGoebbels,Göring,alltherestofthem.AtMunich.EvidentlyHitlerwasansweringtheAmericanprosecutor.

           …black,flaming,thespiritofoldseemedforaninstantonceagaintoblazeup.Thequivering,shamblingbodyjerkedtaut;theheadlifted.Outofthelipsthatceaselesslydrooled,acroakinghalf-bark,half-whisper."Deutsche,hiersteh’Ich."Shuddersamongthosewhowatchedandlistened,theearphonespressedtightly,strainedfacesofRussian,American,BritishandGermanalike.Yes,Karlthought.Herehestandsoncemore…theyhavebeatenus—andmore.Theyhavestrippedthissuperman,shownhimforwhatheis.Onlya…

           "Freiherr."

           Reissrealizedthathissecretaryhadenteredtheoffice."I"mbusy,"hesaidangrily.Heslammedthebookshut.