Человек в высоком замке

           Triedeverything,herealized.Pleaded,contemplated,threatened,philosophizedatlength.Whatelsecanbedone?

           CouldIbutstayhere.Itisdeniedme.Opportunitywillperhapsoccuragain.Andyet,asW.S.Gilbertsays,suchanopportunitywillnotoccuragain.Isthatso?Ifeelittobeso.

           WhenIwasachildIthoughtasachild.ButnowIhaveputawaychildishthings.NowImustseekinotherrealms.Imustkeepafterthisobjectinnewways.

           Imustbescientific.Exhaustbylogicalanalysiseveryentree.Systematically,inclassicAristotelianlaboratorymanner.

           Heputhisfingerinhisrightear,toshutofftrafficandallotherdistractingnoises.Thenhetightlyheldthesilvertriangle,shellwise,tohisleftear.

           Nosound.Noroarofsimulatedocean,inactualityinteriorblood-motionnoises—noteventhat.

           Thenwhatothersensemightapprehendmystery?Hearingofnouse,evidently.Mr.Tagomishuthiseyesandbeganfingeringeverybitofsurfaceontheitem.Nottouch;hisfingerstoldhimnothing.Smell.Heputthesilverclosetohisnoseandinhaled.Metallicfaintodor,butitconveyednomeaning.Taste.Openinghismouthhesneakedthesilvertrianglewithin,poppeditinlikeacracker,butofcourserefrainedfromchewing.Nomeaning,onlybitterhardcoldthing.

           Heagainhelditinhispalm.

           Backatlasttoseeing.Highestrankingofthesenses:Greekscaleofpriority.Heturnedthesilvertriangleeachandeveryway;hevieweditfromeveryextraremstandpoint.

           WhatdoIsee?heaskedhimself.Duetolongpatientpainstakingstudy.