Человек в высоком замке

           Whyshouldwebeintimidated?He’sjustamanliketherestofus.Infact,heprobablywouldbepleasedtoknowsomebodydrovesofarjusttotellhimhowmuchtheylikedhisbook.Wecangetanautographonthebook,ontheinsidewheretheydothat.Isn’tthatso?Webetterbuyanewcopy;thisoneisallstained.Itwouldn’tlookgood."

           "Anythingyouwant,"Joesaid."I’llletyoudecideallthedetails;Iknowyoucandoit.Prettygirlalwaysgetseveryone;whenheseeswhataknockoutyouarehe’llopenthedoorwide.Butlisten;nomonkeybusiness."

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Yousaywe’remarried.Idon’twantyougettingmixedupwithhim—youknow.Thatwouldbedreadful.Wreckeveryone’sexistence;somerewardforhimtoletvisitorsin,someirony.Sowatchit,Juliana."

           "Youcanarguewithhim,"Julianasaid."ThatpartaboutItalylosingthewarbybetrayingthem;tellhimwhatyoutoldme."

           Joenodded."That’sso.Wecandiscussthewholesubject."

           Theydroveswiftlyon.

           Atseveno’clockthefollowingmorning,PSAreckoning,Mr.NobusukeTagomirosefrombed,startedtowardthebathroom,thenchangedhismindandwentdirectlytotheoracle.

           Seatedcross-leggedonthefloorofhislivingroomhebeganmanipulatingtheforty-nineyarrowstalks.Hehadadeepsenseoftheurgencyofhisquestioning,andheworkedatafeverishpaceuntilatlasthehadthesixlinesbeforehim.

           Shock!HexagramFifty-one!

           GodappearsinthesignoftheArousing.Thunderandlightning.