Человек в высоком замке

           Hiscompanycontrolsvariousenterprisesthatmanufactureforhimatlowoverhead,alllocatedintheOrientwherethereischeaperlabor."

           "Whyishe—"Childanbegan.

           Paulsaid,"Piecessuchasthis…"Hepickedupthepinoncemore,briefly.Closingthelid,hereturnedtheboxtoChildan."…canbemass-produced.Eitherinbasemetalorplastic.Fromamold.Inanyquantitydesired."

           AfteratimeChildansaid,"Whataboutwu?Willthatremaininthepieces?"

           Paulsaidnothing.

           "Youadvisemetoseehim?"Childansaid.

           "Yes,"Paulsaid.

           "Why?"

           "Charms,"Paulsaid.

           Childanstared.

           "Good-luckcharms.Tobeworn.Byrelativelypoorpeople.AlineofamuletstobepeddledalloverLatinAmericaandtheOrient.Mostofthemassesstillbelieveinmagic,youknow.Spells.Potions.It’sabigbusiness,Iamtold."Paul’sfacewaswooden,hisvoicetoneless.

           "Itsounds,"Childansaidslowly,"asiftherewouldbeagooddealofmoneyinit."

           Paulnodded.

           "Wasthisyouridea?"Childansaid.

           "No,"Paulsaid.Hewassilent,then.

           Youremployer,Childanthought.Youshowedthepiecetoyoursuperior,whoknowsthisimporter.Yoursuperior—orsomeinfluentialpersonoveryourhead,someonewhohaspoweroveryou,someonerichandbig—contactedthisimporter.

           That’swhyyou’regivingitbacktome,Childanrealized.Youwantnopartofthis.ButyouknowwhatIknow:thatIwillgotothisaddressandseethisman.Ihaveto.Ihavenochoice.