Человек в высоком замке

           Scentingoutandreactingbadly.Perhapsgoslower;takegifttohim,tohisoffice?Givemuchthesamestory,buttohim.Thenlethimgivegifttoher;nosuspicion.And,RobertChildanthought,thenIgiveBettyacallonthephonetomorrowornextdaytogetherreaction.

           Evenmoreairtight!

           WhenFrankFrinksawhisbusinesspartnercomingbackupthesidewalkhecouldtellthatithadnotgonewell.

           "Whathappened?"hesaid,takingthewickerhamperfromEdandputtingitinthetruck."JesusChrist,youweregoneanhourandahalf.Ittookhimthatlongtosayno?"

           Edsaid,"Hedidn’tsayno."Helookedtired.Hegotintothetruckandsat.

           "What’dhesay,then?"Openingthehamper,Frinksawthatagoodmanyofthepiecesweregone.Manyoftheirbest."Hetookalot.What’sthematter,then?"

           "Consignment,"Edsaid.

           "Youlethim?"Hecouldnotbelieveit."Wetalkeditover—"

           "Idon’tknowhowcome."

           "Christ,"Frinksaid.

           "I’msorry.Heactedlikehewasgoingtobuyit.Hepickedalotout.Ithoughthewasbuying."

           Theysattogethersilentlyinthetruckforalongtime.