Человек в высоком замке

           Byhisownexpressionheshowednothing;hewentonwiththegameofpickingpieces.

           "That’sanespeciallygoodone,"thesalesmanwasramblingon,asChildanfishedoutalargependantandthenceased."Ithinkyougotourbest.Allourbest."Themanlaughed.

           "Youreallyhavegoodtaste."Hiseyesdarted.HewasaddinginhismindwhatChildanhadchosen.Thetotalofthesale.

           Childansaid,"Ourpolicy,withuntriedmerchandise,hastobeconsignment."

           Forafewsecondsthesalesmandidnotunderstand.Hestoppedhistalking,buthestaredwithoutcomprehension.

           Childansmiledathim.

           "Consignment,"thesalesmanechoedatlast.

           "Wouldyouprefernottoleaveit?"Childansaid.

           Stammering,themanfinallysaid,"YoumeanIleaveitandyoupaymelateronwhen—"

           "Yougettwo-thirdsoftheproceeds.Whenthepiecessell.Thatwayyoumakemuchmore.Youhavetowait,ofcourse,but—"Childanshrugged."It’suptoyou.Icangiveitsomewindowdisplay,possibly.Andifitmoves,thenpossiblylateron,inamonthorso,withthenextorder—well,wemightseeourwaycleartobuysomeoutright."

           Thesalesmanhadnowspentwelloveranhourshowinghiswares,Childanrealized.Andhehadeverythingout.Allhisdisplaysdisarrangedanddismantled.Anotherhour’sworktogetitbackreadytotakesomewhereelse.Therewassilence.Neithermanspoke.

           "Thosepiecesyouputtooneside—"thesalesmansaidinalowvoice."They’retheonesyouwant?"

           "Yes.I’llletyouleavethemall."