Человек в высоком замке

           Heisnotsupposedtohearsuchmatters.

           Soeasy,Mr.Baynesthought.Thewayoutissoimmediate,soavailable,tohim.Hethought,Iwishitwasforme.

           AndyetinthefinalanaylsisitisnotpossibleevenforMr.Tagomi.Wearenodifferent.Hecanclosehisearstothenewsasitcomesfromme,comesintheformofwords.Butlater.Whenitisnotamatterofwords.IfIcanmakethatcleartohimnow.OrtowhomeverIfinallyspeak.

           Leavinghishotelroom,Mr.Baynesdescendedbyelevatortothelobby.Outsideonthesidewalk,hehadthedoormancallapedecabforhim,andsoonhewasonhiswayupMarketStreet,theChinesedriverpumpingawayenergetically.

           "There,"hesaidtothedriver,whenhemadeoutthesignwhichhewaswatchingfor."Pullovertothecurb."

           Thepedecabstoppedbyafirehydrant.Mr.Baynespaidthedriverandsenthimoff.Nooneseemedtohavefollowed.Mr.Baynessetoffalongthesidewalkonfoot.Amomentlater,alongwithseveralothershoppers,heenteredthebigdowntownFugaDepartmentStore.

           Therewereshopperseverywhere.Counteraftercounter.Salesgirls,mostlywhite,withasprinklingofJapaneseasdepartmentmanagers.Thedinwasterrific.

           AftersomeconfusionMr.Bayneslocatedthemen’sclothingdepartment.Hestoppedattheracksofmen’strousersandbegantoinspectthem.Presentlyaclerk,ayoungwhite,cameover,greetinghim.

           Mr.Baynessaid,"IhavereturnedforthepairofdarkbrownwoolslackswhichIwaslookingatyesterday."