Человек в высоком замке

           "Icanwaitnofurthermore,"Tagomisaid. 

           "Nosir."ChildangazedmoroselythroughthestorewindowatthewarmbrightdayandtheSanFranciscoofficebuildings. 

           "Asubstitute,then.Yourrecommendation,Mr.Chil-dan?" Tagomideliberatelymispronouncedthename; insultwithinthecodethatmadeChildan’searsburn. Placepulled,thedreadfulmortificationoftheirsituation. RobertChildan’saspirationsandfearsandtormentsroseupandexposedthemselves,swampedhim,stoppinghistongue. Hestammered,hishandstickyonthephone. Theairofhisstoresmelledofthemarigolds;themusicplayedon,buthefeltasifhewerefallingintosomedistantsea. 

           "Well…"hemanagedtomutter. "Butterchurn. Icecreammakercirca1900."Hismindrefusedtothink. Justwhenyouforgotaboutit;justwhenyoufoolyourself. Hewasthirty-eightyearsold,andhecouldremembertheprewardays,theothertimes.FranklinD.RooseveltandtheWorld’sFair;theformerbetterworld. "CouldIbringvariousdesirableitemsouttoyourbusinesslocation?"hemumbled. 

           Anappointmentwasmadefortwoo’clock. Havetoshutstore,heknewashehungupthephone. Nochoice.Havetokeepgoodwillofsuchcustomers;businessdependsonthem. 

           Standingshakily,hebecameawarethatsomeone—acouple—hadenteredthestore. Youngmanandgirl,bothhandsome,well-dressed.Ideal. Hecalmedhimselfandmovedprofessionally,easily,intheirdirection,smiling. Theywerebendingtoscrutinizeacounterdisplay,hadpickedupalovelyashtray. Married,heguessed.