Человек в высоком замке

           Calmly,evenharshly,Paulsaid,"Robert,youmustfacerealitywithmorecourage."

           Blanching,Childanstammered,"I’mconfusedby—"

           Paulstoodup,facinghim."Takeheed.Thetaskisyours.Youarethesoleagentforthispieceandothersofitsilk.Alsoyouareaprofessional.Withdrawforaperiodintoisolation.Meditate,possiblyconsulttheBookofChanges.Thenstudyyourwindowdisplays,yourads,yoursystemofmerchandising."

           Childangapedathim.

           "Youwillseeyourway,"Paulsaid."Howyoumustgoaboutputtingtheseobjectsoverinabigfashion."

           Childanfeltstunned.Theman’stellingmeI’mobligedtoassumemoralresponsibilityfortheEdfrankjewelry!CrackpotneuroticJapaneseworldview:nothinglessthannumber-onespiritualandbusinessrelationshipwiththejewelrytolerableintheeyesofPaulKasoura.

           AndtheworstpartofitwasthatPaulcertainlyspokewithauthority,rightoutofdeadcenterofJapanesecultureandtradition.

           Obligation,hethoughtbitterly.Itcouldstickwithhimtherestofhislife,onceincurred.Righttothegraveitself.Paulhad—tohisownsatisfaction,anyhow—dischargedhis.ButChildan’s;ah,thatregrettablyhadtheearmarkofbeingunending.

           They’reoutoftheirminds,Childansaidtohimself.Example:theywon’thelpahurtmanupfromthegutterduetotheobligationitimposes.