Человек в высоком замке

           Iwillcarryitaboutwithme,lookingatitatregularintervals.Onceeveryotherday,forinstance.AftertwomonthsifIdonotsee—"

           "Youmayreturnitforfullcredit,"Mr.Childansaid.

           "Thankyou,"Mr.Tagomisaid.Hefeltbetter.Sometimesonemusttryanything,hedecided.Itisnodisgrace.Onthecontrary,itisasignofwisdom,ofrecognizingthesituation.

           "Thiswillcalmyou,"Mr.Childansaid.Helaidoutasinglesmallsilvertriangleornamentedwithhollowdrops.Blackbeneath,brightandlight-filledabove.

           "Thankyou,"Mr.Tagomisaid.

           BypedecabMr.TagomijourneyedtoPortsmouthSquare,alittleopenparkontheslopeaboveKearnyStreetoverlookingthepolicestation.Heseatedhimselfonabenchinthesun.Pigeonswalkedalongthepavedpathsinsearchoffood.Onotherbenchesshabbymenreadthenewspaperordozed.Hereandthereotherslayonthegrass,nearlyasleep.

           BringingfromhispocketthepaperbagmarkedwiththenameofMr.R.Childan’sstore,Mr.Tagomisatholdingthepaperbagwithbothhands,warminghimself.Thenheopenedthebagandliftedouthisnewpossessionforinspectioninsolitude,hereinthislittlegrassandpathparkofoldmen.

           Heheldthesquiggleofsilver.Reflectionofthemiddaysun,likeboxtopcerealtrinket,sent-awayacquiredJackArmstrongmagnifyingmirror.Or—hegazeddownintoit.OmastheBrahminssay.Shrunkspotinwhichalliscaptured.Both,atleastinhint.Thesize,theshape.Hecontinuedtoinspectdutifully.

           Willitcome,asMr.R.Childanprophesied?Fiveminutes.