Человек в высоком замке

           Somearehard."Thepolicemanpassedon.

           Mr.Tagomithought,Spoiled.Mychanceatnirvana.Gone.InterruptedbythatwhitebarbarianNeanderthalyank.ThatsubhumansupposingIworkedachild’spueriletoy.

           Risingfromthebenchhetookafewstepsunsteadily.Mustcalmdown.Dreadfullow-classjingoisticracistinvectives,unworthyofme.

           Incredibleunredemptivepassionsclashinginmybreast.Hemadehiswaythroughthepark.Keepmoving,hetoldhimself.Catharsisinmotion.

           Hereachedperipheryofpark.Sidewalk,KearnyStreet.Heavynoisytraffic.Mr.Tagomihaltedatthecurb.

           Nopedecabs.Hewalkedalongthesidewalkinstead;hejoinedthecrowd.Nevercangetonewhenyouneedit.

           God,whatisthat?Hestopped,gapedathideousmisshapenthingonskyline.Likenightmareofrollercoastersuspended,blottingoutview.Enormousconstructionofmetalandcementinair.

           Mr.Tagomiturnedtoapasser-by,athinmaninrumpledsuit."Whatisthat?"hedemanded,pointing.

           Themangrinned."Awful,ain’tit?That’stheEmbarcaderoFreeway.Alotofpeoplethinkitstinksuptheview."

           "Ineversawitbefore,"Mr.Tagomisaid.

           "You’relucky,"themansaid,andwenton.

           Maddream,Mr.Tagomithought.Mustwakeup.Wherearethepedecabstoday?Hebegantowalkfaster.Wholevistahasdull,smoky,tomb-worldcast.Smellofburning.Dimgraybuildings,sidewalk,peculiarharshtempoinpeople.Andstillnopedecabs.

           "Cab!"heshoutedashehurriedalong.

           Hopeless.Onlycarsandbuses.Carslikebrutalbigcrushers,allunfamiliarinshape.