Человек в высоком замке

           "Anothertime,"Mr.Childansaid,accompanyinghimtotheentranceofthestore;hemadenomovetodisplayanyalternativeitems,Mr.Tagominoticed.

           "Yourcertitudeisinquestionabletaste,"Mr.Tagomisaid."Itseemstopressuntowardly."

           Mr.Childandidnotcringe."Forgiveme,"hesaid."ButIamcorrect.Isenseaccuratelyinthesethecontractedgermofthefuture."

           "Sobeit,"Mr.Tagomisaid."ButyourAnglo-Saxonfanaticismdoesnotappealtome."Nonetheless,hefeltacertainrenewalofhope.Hisownhope,inhimself,"Goodday."Hebowed."Iwillseeyouagainoneofthesedays.Wecanperhapsexamineyourprophecy."

           Mr.Childanbowed,sayingnothing.

           Carryinghisbriefcase,withtheColt.44within,Mr.Tagomideparted.IgooutasIcamein,hereflected.Stillseeking.StillwithoutwhatIneedifIamtoreturntotheworld.

           WhatifIhadboughtoneofthoseodd,indistinctitems?Keptit,reexamined,contemplated…wouldIhavesubsequently,throughit,foundmywayback?Idoubtit.

           Thoseareforhim,notme.

           Andyet,evenifonepersonfindshisway…thatmeansthereisaWay.EvenifIpersonallyfailtoreachit.

           Ienvyhim.

           Turning,Mr.Tagomistartedbacktowardthestore.Thereinthedoorway,stoodMr.Childanregardinghim.Hehadnotgonebackin.

           "Sir,"Mr.Tagomisaid,"Iwillbuyoneofthose,whicheveryouselect.Ihavenofaith,butIamcurrentlygraspingatstraws."HefollowedMr.Childanthroughthestoreoncemore,totheglasscase."Idonotbelieve.