Человек в высоком замке

           Herereadtheentirearticle.Andthenheputthepaperoncemoreaway,tookthephone,andgavetheTradeMissionnumber.

           "ThisisMr.Baynes.MayIhaveMr.Tagomi?"

           "Amoment,sir."

           Averylongmoment.

           "Mr.Tagomihere."

           Mr.Baynestookadeepbreathandsaid,"Forgivethissituationdepressingtousboth,sir—"

           "Ah.Mr.Baynes."

           "Yourhospitalitytomesir,couldnotbeexceeded.SomedayIknowyouwillhaveunderstandingofthereasonswhichcausemetodeferourconferenceuntiltheoldgentleman—"

           "Regretfully,hehasnotarrived."

           Mr.Baynesshuthiseyes."Ithoughtmaybesinceyesterday—"

           "Afraidnot,sir."Thebarestpoliteness."Ifyouwillexcuseme,Mr.Baynes.Pressingbusiness."

           "Goodday,sir."

           Thephoneclicked.TodayMr.Tagomihadrungoffwithoutevensayinggood-bye.Mr.Baynesslowlyhungthereceiver.

           Imusttakeaction.Canwaitnolonger.

           IthadbeenmadeverycleartohimbyhissuperiorsthathewasnottocontacttheAbwehrunderanycircumstances.HewassimplytowaituntilhehadmanagedtomakeconnectionswiththeJapanesemilitaryrepresentative;hewastoconferwiththeJapanese,andthenhewastoreturntoBerlin.ButnoonehadforseenthatBormannwoulddieatthisparticularmoment.Thereforetheordershadtobesuperseded.Bymorepracticaladvice.Hisown,inthiscase,sincetherewasnooneelsetoconsult.