Человек в высоком замке

           "ThatconcludesbusinesswithGermanGovernmentthisdate."HeeyedtheconsulwithdistasteasheheldthepentoMr.Tagomi.

           "No,"Mr.Tagomisaid.Hereturnedthe20-50formtoMr.Ramsey.Thenhegrabbeditback,scribbledonthebottom,Release.RankingTradeMission,S.F.authority,VideMilitaryProtocol1947.Tagomi.HehandedonecarbontotheGermanconsul,theotherstoMr.Ramseyalongwiththeoriginal."Goodday,HerrReiss."Hebowed.

           TheGermanconsulbowed,too.Hescarcelybotheredtolookatthepaper.

           "Pleaseconductfuturebusinessthroughimmediatemachinerysuchasmail,telephone,cable,"Mr.Tagomisaid."Notpersonally."

           Theconsulsaid,"You’reholdingmeresponsibleforgeneralconditionsbeyondmyjurisdiction."

           "Chickenshit,"Mr.Tagomisaid."Isaythattothat."

           "Thisisnotthewaycivilizedindividualsconductbusiness,"theconsulsaid."You’remakingthisallbitterandvindictive.Whereitoughttobemereformalitywithnopersonalityembroiled."Hethrewhiscigaretteontothecorridorfloor,thenturnedandstrodeoff.

           "Takefoulstinkingcigarettealong,"Mr.Tagomisaidweakly,buttheconsulhadturnedthecorner."Childishconductbyself,"Mr.TagomisaidtoMr.Ramsey."Youwitnessedrepellentchildishconduct."Hemadehiswayunsteadilybackintohisoffice.Nobreathatall,now.Apainfloweddownhisleftarm,andatthesametimeagreatopenpalmofhandflattenedandsquashedhisribs.Oof,hesaid.Beforehim,nocarpet,butmerelyshowerofsparks,rising,red.