Человек в высоком замке

           Tagomi’stoneonthetelephone,hisimmenseagitation,hadcommunicatedthefact.ImageofoneofChildan’sownveryimportantclients,orrather,customers,swamupintohismind,amanwhohaddoneagooddealtocreateforChildanareputationamongthehigh-placedpersonagesresidingintheBayArea.

           Fouryearsago,Childanhadnotbeenthedealerintherareanddesirablewhichhewasnow;hehadoperatedasmallratherdimlylightedsecondhandbookshoponGeary.Hisneighboringstoressoldusedfurniture,orhardware,ordidlaundry.Itwasnotaniceneighborhood.Atnightstrong-armrobberiesandsometimesrapetookplaceonthesidewalk,despitetheeffortsoftheSanFranciscoPoliceDepartmentandeventheKempeitai,theJapanesehigher-ups.Allstorewindowshadirongratingsfittedoverthemoncethebusinessdayhadended,thistopreventforcibleentry.Yet,intothisdistrictofthecityhadcomeanelderlyJapaneseex-Armyman,aMajorItoHumo.Tall,slender,white-haired,walkingandstandingstiffly,MajorHumohadgivenChildanhisfirstinklingofwhatmightbedonewithhislineofmerchandise.

           "Iamacollector,"MajorHumohadexplained.Hehadspentanentireafternoonsearchingamongtheheapsofoldmagazinesinthestore.InhismildvoicehehadexplainedsomethingwhichChildancouldnotquitegraspatthetime:tomanywealthy,culturedJapanese,thehistoricobjectsofAmericanpopularcivilizationwereofequalinterestalongsidethemoreformalantiques.