Человек в высоком замке

           Childanstrolledovertohisofficeintherearofthestore."I’llwriteupatag.Soyou’llhavearecordofwhatyou’veleftwithme."Ashecamebackwithhistagbookheadded,"Youunderstandthatwhenmerchandiseisleftonaconsignmentbasisthestoredoesn’tassumeliabilityincaseoftheftordamage."Hehadalittlemimeographedreleaseforthesalesmantosign.Thestorewouldneverhavetoaccountfortheitemsleft.Whentheunsoldportionwasreturned,ifsomecouldnotbelocated—theymusthavebeenstolen,Childandeclaredtohimself.There’salwaystheftgoingoninstores.Especiallysmallitemslikejewelry.

           TherewasnowaythatRobertChildancouldlose.Hedidnothavetopayforthisman’sjewelry;hehadnoinvestmentinthiskindofinventory.Ifanyofitsoldhemadeaprofit,andifitdidnot,hesimplyreturneditall—orasmuchascouldbefound—tothesalesmanatsomevaguelaterdate.

           Childanmadeoutthetag,listingtheitems.Hesigneditandgaveacopytothesalesman."Youcangivemeacall,"hesaid,"inamonthorso.Tofindouthowit’sbeendoing."

           Takingthejewelrywhichhewantedhewentofftothebackofthestore,leavingthesalesmantogatheruphisremainingstuff.

           Ididn"tthinkhe’dgoalongwithit,hethought.Youneverknow.That’swhyit’salwaysworthtrying.

           Whenhenextlookedup,hesawthatthesalesmanwasreadytoleave.Hehadhiswickerhamperunderhisarmandthecounterwasclear.Thesalesmanwascomingtowardhim,holdingsomethingout.