Человек в высоком замке

           Wecanonlyknuckleunder.

           Whilehestoodthereundertheeavesofthebuilding,takingquickdragsonhismarijuanacigaretteanddullywatchingtrafficgoby,anordinary-looking,middle-agedwhitemansauntereduptohim.

           "Mr.Frink?FrankFrink?"

           "Yougotit,"Frinksaid.

           Themanproducedafoldeddocumentandidentification."I’mwiththeSanFranciscoPoliceDepartment.I’veawarrantforyourarrest."HeheldFrink’sarmalready;ithadalreadybeendone.

           "Whatfor?"Frinkdemanded.

           "Bunco.Mr.Childan,AmericanArtisticHandcrafts."ThecopforciblyledFrinkalongthesidewalk;anotherplainclothescopjoinedthem,onenowoneachsideofFrink.TheyhustledhimtowardaparkedunmarkedToyopet.

           Thisiswhatthetimerequiresofus,Frinkthoughtashewasdumpedontothecarseatbetweenthetwocops.Thedoorslammedshut;thecar,drivenbyathirdcop,thisoneinuniform,shotoutintotraffic.Thesearethesons-of-bitcheswemustsubmitto.

           "Yougotanattorney?"oneofthecopsaskedhim.

           "No,"hesaid.

           "They’llgiveyoualistofnamesatthestation."

           "Thanks,"Frinksaid.

           "What’dyoudowiththemoney?"oneofthecopsaskedlateron,astheywereparkingintheKearnyStreetPolicestationgarage.

           Frinksaid,"Spentit."

           "All?"

           Hedidnotanswer.

           Oneofthecopsshookhisheadandlaughed.

           Astheygotoutofthecar,oneofthemsaidtoFrink,"IsyourrealnameFink?"

           Frinkfeltterror.

           "Fink,"thecoprepeated."You’reakike."Heexhibitedalargegrayfolder.