Человек в высоком замке

           "SomedayIwillifpossiblereciprocate.Iwillremember."

           ButstilltheyoungJapaneseshowednoreaction.Tootrue,Childanthought,whatweusedtosay:theyareinscrutable.

           Accompanyinghimtothedoor,Paulseemeddeepinthought.Allatonceheblurted,"Americanartisansmadethispiecehandbyhand,correct?Laboroftheirpersonalbodies?"

           "Yes,frominitialdesigntofinalpolish."

           "Sir!Willtheseartisansplayalong?Iwouldimaginetheydreamedotherwisefortheirwork."

           "I’dhazardtheycouldbepersuaded,"Childansaid;theproblem,tohim,appearedminor.

           "Yes,"Paulsaid."Isupposeso."

           SomethinginhistonemadeRobertChildantakesuddennote.Anebulousandpeculiaremphasis,there.AndthenitsweptoverChildan.Withoutadoubthehadsplittheambiguity—hesaw.

           Ofcourse.WholeaffairacrueldismissalofAmericanefforts,takingplacebeforehiseyes.Cynicism,butGodforbid,hehadswallowedhook,lineandsinker.Gotmetoagree,stepbystep,ledmealongthegardenpathtothisconclusion:productsofAmericanhandsgoodfornothingbuttobemodelsforjunkygood-luckcharms.

           ThiswashowtheJapaneseruled,notcrudelybutwithsubtlety,ingenuity,timelesscunning.

           Christ!We’rebarbarianscomparedtothem,Childanrealized.We’renomorethanboobsagainstsuchpitilessreasoning.Pauldidnotsay—didnottellme—thatourartwasworthless;hegotmetosayitforhim.And,asafinalirony,heregrettedmyutterance.Faint,civilizedgestureofsorrowasheheardthetruthoutofme.