Человек в высоком замке

           "RefugeefromEurope."

           "IwasborninNewYork,"FrankFrinksaid.

           "You’reanescapeefromtheNazis,"thecopsaid."Youknowwhatthatmeans?"

           FrankFrinkbrokeawayandranacrossthegarage.Thethreecopsshouted,andatthedoorwayhefoundhimselffacingapolicecarwithuniformedarmedpoliceblockinghispath.Thepolicesmiledathim,andoneofthem,holdingagun,steppedoutandsmackedahandcuffintoplaceoverhiswrist.

           Jerkinghimbythewrist—thethinmetalcutintohisflesh,tothebone—thecopledhimbackthewayhehadcome.

           "BacktoGermany,"oneofthecopssaid,surveyinghim.

           "I’manAmerican,"FrankFrinksaid.

           "You’reaJew,"thecopsaid.

           Ashewastakenupstairs,oneofthecopssaid,"Willhebebookedhere?"

           "No,"anothersaid."We’llholdhimfortheGermanconsul.TheywanttotryhimunderGermanlaw."

           Therewasnolistofattorneys,afterall.

           FortwentyminutesMr.Tagomihadremainedmotionlessathisdesk,holdingtherevolverpointedatthedoor,whileMr.Baynespacedabouttheoffice.Theoldgeneralhad,aftersomethought,liftedthephoneandputthroughacalltotheJapaneseembassyinSanFrancisco.However,hehadnotbeenabletogetthroughtoBaronKaelemakule;theambassador,abureaucrathadtoldhim,wasoutofthecity.

           NowGeneralTedekiwasintheprocessofplacingatranspacificcalltoTokyo.

           "IwillconsultwiththeWarCollege,"heexplainedtoMr.Baynes."TheywillcontactImperialmilitaryforcesstationednearbyus."Hedidnotseemperturbed.