Человек в высоком замке

           LiveoutinCityoftheWindingMists,thenewexclusiveapartmentsonSkylineoverlookingBelmont.

           "Hello,"hesaid,andfeltbetter.Theysmiledathimwithoutanysuperiority,onlykindness.Hisdisplays—whichreallywerethebestoftheirkindontheCoast—hadawedthemalittle;hesawthatandwasgrateful.Theyunderstood.

           "Reallyexcellentpieces,sir,"theyoungmansaid.

           Childanbowedspontaneously.

           Theireyes,warmnotonlywithhumanbondbutwiththesharedenjoymentoftheartobjectshesold,theirmutualtastesandsatisfactions,remainedfixedonhim;theywerethankinghimforhavingthingsliketheseforthemtosee,pickupandexamine,handleperhapswithoutevenbuying.Yes,hethought,theyknowwhatsortofstoretheyarein;thisisnottouristtrash,notredwoodplaquesreadingMUIRWOODS,MARINCOUNTY,PSA,orfunnysignsorgirlyringsorpostcardsorviewsoftheBridge.Thegirl’seyesespecially,large,dark.Howeasily,Childanthought,Icouldfallinlovewithagirllikethis.Howtragicmylife,then;asifitweren’tbadenoughalready.Thestylishblackhair,lacquerednails,piercedearsforthelongdanglingbrasshandmadeearrings.

           "Yourearrings,"hemurmured."Purchasedhere,perhaps?"

           "No,"shesaid."Athome."

           Childannodded.NocontemporaryAmericanart;onlythepastcouldberepresentedhere,inastoresuchashis."Youarehereforlong?"heasked."ToourSanFrancisco?"

           "I’mstationedhereindefinitely,"themansaid.