Человек в высоком замке

           He,yousee,wasnodoubtraisedasaBuddhist.Evenifnotformally,theinfluencewasthere.Acultureinwhichnolifeistobetaken;alllivesholy."

           Mr.Baynesnodded.

           "Hewillrecoverhisequilibrium,"GeneralTedekicontinued."Intime.Rightnowhehasnostandpointbywhichhecanviewandcomprehendhisact.Thatbookwillhelphim,foritprovidesanexternalframeofreference."

           "Isee,"Mr.Baynessaid.Hethought,AnotherframeofreferencewhichmighthelphimwouldbetheDoctrineofOriginalSin.Iwonderifhehaseverheardofit.Wearealldoomedtocommitactsofcrueltyorviolenceorevil;thatisourdestiny,duetoancientfactors.Ourkarma.

           Tosaveonelife,Mr.Tagomihadtotaketwo.Thelogical,balancedmindcannotmakesenseofthat.AkindlymanlikeMr.Tagomicouldbedriveninsanebytheimplicationsofsuchreality.

           Nevertheless,Mr.Baynesthought,thecrucialpointliesnotinthepresent,notineithermydeathorthedeathofthetwoSDmen;itlies—hypothetically—inthefuture.Whathashappenedhereisjustified,ornotjustified,bywhathappenslater.Canweperhapssavethelivesofmillions,allJapaninfact?

           Butthemanmanipulatingthevegetablestalkscouldnotthinkofthat;thepresent,theactuality,wastootangible,thedeadanddyingGermansonthefloorofhisoffice.

           GeneralTedekiwasright;timewouldgiveMr.Tagomiperspective.Eitherthat,orhewouldperhapsretreatintotheshadowsofmentalillness,averthisgazeforever,duetoahopelessperplexity