Человек в высоком замке

           Hisentireselectionofjewelrylayarrangedontheblackvelvetonthesurfaceofthecounter.

           Goingleisurelyover,RobertChildanlitaLand-O-Smilesandstoodrockingbackandforthonhisheels,hummingbeneathhisbreath.Thesalesmanstoodsilently.Neitherspoke.

           AtlastChildanreachedoutandpointedatapin."Ilikethat."

           Thesalesmansaidinarapidvoice,"That’sagoodone.Youwon’tfindanywirebrushscratches.Allrouge-finished.Anditwon’ttarnish.Wehaveaplasticlacquersprayedonthemthat’lllastforyears.It’sthebestindustriallacqueravailable."

           Childannoddedslightly.

           "Whatwe’vedonehere,"thesalesmansaid,"istoadapttriedandprovenindustrialtechniquestojewelrymaking.AsfarasIknow,nobodyhaseverdoneitbefore.Nomolds.Allmetaltometal.Weldingandbrazing."Hepaused."Thebacksarehand-soldered."

           Childanpickeduptwobracelets.Thenapin.Thenanotherpin.Heheldthemforamoment,thensetthemofftooneside.

           Thesalesman’sfacetwitched.Hope.

           Examiningthepricetagonanecklace,Childansaid,"Isthis—"

           "Retail.Yourpriceisfiftypercentofthat.Andyoubuysayaroundahundreddollarsorso,wegiveyouanadditionaltwopercent."

           OnebyoneChildanlaidseveralmorepiecesaside.Witheachadditionalone,thesalesmanbecamemoreagitated;hetalkedfasterandfaster,finallyrepeatinghimself,evensayingmeaninglessfoolishthings,allinanundertoneandveryurgently.Hereallythinkshe’sgoingtosell,Childanknew.