Человек в высоком замке

           Eventually,themajor’sfriendhadshownupatthestoretohearChildan’shistoricallyfirsthandaccount.Thatman,alsoaretiredofficeroftheImperialArmy,hadbeenfascinated.

           "Bottlecaps!"Childanhadexclaimedwithoutwarning.

           TheJapanesehadblinkeduncomprehendingly.

           "Weusedtocollectthetopsfrommilkbottles.Askids.Theroundtopsthatgavethenameofthedairy.TheremusthavebeenthousandsofdairiesintheUnitedStates.Eachoneprintedaspecialtop."

           Theofficer’seyeshadglintedwiththeinstinct."Doyoupossessanyofyoursometimecollection,sir?"

           Naturally,Childandidnot.But…probablyitwasstillpossibletoobtaintheancient,long-forgottentopsfromthedaysbeforethewarwhenmilkhadcomeinglassbottlesratherthanthrowawaypasteboardcartons.

           Andso,bystages,hehadgottenintothebusiness.Othershadopenedsimilarplaces,takingadvantageoftheevergrowingJapanesecrazeforAmericana…butChildanhadalwayskepthisedge.

           "Yourfare,"thechinkwassaying,bringinghimoutofhismeditation,"isadollar,sir."Hehadunloadedthebagsandwaswaiting.

           Absentmindedly,Childanpaidhim.Yes,itwasquitelikelythattheclientofMr.TagomiresembledMajorHumo;atleast,Childanthoughttartly,frommypointofview.HehaddealtwithsomanyJapanese…buthestillhaddifficultytellingthemapart.Thereweretheshortsquatones,builtlikewrestlers.Thenthedruggist-likeones.Thetree-shrubflower-gardenerones…hehadhiscategories.