Человек в высоком замке

           Ithadnotbeenfinished,andChildanhadtotellaconvincingstory.Staringthroughthestorewindowatthemiddaytraffic,hesoothedandreassured.Atlastthecustomer,somewhatappeased,rangoff.

           Nodoubtaboutit,hethoughtashehungupthephone.TheColt.44affairhadshakenhimconsiderably.Henolongerviewedhisstockwiththesamereverence.Bitofknowledgelikethatgoesalongway.Akintoprimalchildhoodawakening;factsoflife.Shows,heruminated,thelinkwithourearlyyears:notmerelyU.S.historyinvolved,butourownpersonal.Asif,hethought,questionmightariseastoauthenticityofourbirthcertificate.OrourimpressionofDad.

           MaybeIdon’tactuallyrecallF.D.R.asexample.Syntheticimagedistilledfromhearingassortedtalk.Mythimplantedsubtlyintissueofbrain.Like,hethought,mythofHepplewhite.MythofChippendale.OrrathermoreonlinesofAbrahamLincolnatehere.Usedthisoldsilverknife,fork,spoon.Youcan’tseeit,butthefactremains.

           Attheothercounter,stillfumblingwithhisdisplaysandwickerhamper,thesalesmansaid,"Wecanmakepiecestoorder.Custommade.Ifanyofyourcustomershavetheirownideas."Hisvoicehadastrangledquality;heclearedhisthroat,gazingatChildanandthendownatapieceofjewelrywhichheheld.Hedidnotknowhowtoleave,evidently.Childansmiledandsaidnothing.

           Notmyresponsibility.His,togethimselfbackoutofhere.Placesavedorno.

           Tough,suchdiscomfort.Buthedoesn’thavetobesalesman.Weallsufferinthislife.Lookatme.