Человек в высоком замке

           Isenseinthisencountersomethingterrible."

           Thegeneralinclinedhishead.

           "Mr.Baynes,whomIhavemet,"Mr.Tagomisaid,"andentertainedinmyhome,declareshimselfaSwede.YetperusalpersuadesonethatheisinfactahighlyplacedGermanofsomesort.Isaythisbecause—"

           "Pleasecontinue."

           "Thankyou.General,hisagitationregardingthismeetingcausesmetoinferaconnectionwiththepoliticalupheavalsintheReich."Mr.Tagomididnotmentionanotherfact:hisawarenessofthegeneral’sfailuretoappearatthetimeanticipated.

           Thegeneralsaid,"Sir,nowyouarefishing.Notinforming."Hisgrayeyestwinkledinfatherlymanner.Nomalice,there.

           Mr.Tagomiacceptedtherebuke."Sir,ismypresenceinthismeetingmerelyaformalitytobaffletheNazisnoops?"

           "Naturally,"thegeneralsaid,"weareinterestedinmaintainingacertainfiction.Mr.BaynesisrepresentativeforTor-AmindustriesofStockholm,purelybusinessman.AndIamShinjiroYatabe."

           Mr.Tagomithought,AndIamTagomi.Thatpartisso.

           "NodoubttheNazishavescrutinizedMr.Baynes’comingsandgoings,"thegeneralsaid.Herestedhishandsonhisknees,sittingboltupright…asif,Mr.Tagomithought,heweresniffingfar-offbeefteaodor."Buttodemolishthefictiontheymustresorttolegalities.Thatisthegenuinepurpose;nottodeceive,buttorequiretheformalitiesincaseofexposure.YouseeforinstancethattoapprehendMr.