Человек в высоком замке

           "Yes?"Childansaid.Hehadbeengoingoversomecorrespondence.

           "Iwanttoleaveourcard."Thesalesmanputdownanodd-lookinglittlesquareofgrayandredpaperonChildan’sdesk."EdfrankCustomJewelry.Ithasouraddressandphonenumber.Incaseyouwanttogetintouchwithus."

           Childannodded,smiledsilently,andreturnedtohiswork.

           Whennexthepausedandlookedupthestorewasempty.Thesalesmanhadgone.

           Puttinganickelintothewalldispenser,Childanobtainedacupofhotinstantteawhichhesippedcontemplatively.

           Iwonderifitwillsell,hewondered.Veryunlikely.Butitiswellmade.Andoneneverseesanythinglikeit.Heexaminedoneofthepins.Quitestrikingdesign.Certainlynotamateurs.

           I’llchangethetags.Markthemupalothigher.Pushthehandmadeangle.Andtheuniqueness.Customoriginals.Smallsculptures.Wearaworkofart.Exclusivecreationonyourlapelorwrist.

           AndtherewasanothernotioncirculatingandgrowinginthebackofRobertChildan’smind.Withthese,there’snoproblemofauthenticity.AndthatproblemmaysomedaywreckthehistoricAmericanartifactsindustry.Nottodayortomorrow—butafterthat,whoknows.

           Betternottohaveallironsinonefire.ThatvisitbythatJewishcrook;thatmightbetheharbinger.IfIquietlybuildupastockofnonhistoricobjects,contemporaryworkwithnohistoricityeitherrealorimagined,ImightfindIhavetheedgeoverthecompetition.Andaslongasitisn’tcostingmeanything.