Человек в высоком замке

           "WithStandardofLivingforUnfortunateAreasPlanningCommissionofInquiry."Prideshowedonhisface.Notthemilitary.Notoneofthegum-chewingboorishdrafteeswiththeirgreedypeasantfaces,wanderingupMarketStreet,gapingatthebawdyshows,thesexmovies,theshootinggalleries,thecheapnightclubswithphotosofmiddle-agedblondesholdingtheirnipplesbetweentheirwrinkledfingersandleering…thehonkytonkjazzslumsthatmadeupmostoftheflatpartofSanFrancisco,ricketytinandboardshacksthathadsprungupfromtheruinsevenbeforethelastbombfell.No—thismanwasoftheelite.Cultured,educated,evenmoresothanMr.Tagomi,whowasafterallahighofficialwiththerankingTradeMissiononthePacificCoast.Tagomiwasanoldman.HisattitudeshadformedintheWarCabinetdays.

           "HadyouwishedAmericantraditionalethnicartobjectsasagift?"Childanasked."Ortodecorateperhapsanewapartmentforyourstayhere?"Ifthelatter…hisheartpickedup.

           "Anaccurateguess,"thegirlsaid."Wearestartingtodecorate.Abitundecided.Doyouthinkyoucouldinformus?"

           "Icouldarrangetoarriveatyourapartment,yes,"Childansaid."Bringingseveralhandcases,Icansuggestincontext,atyourleisure.This,ofcourse,isourspeciality."Hedroppedhiseyessoastoconcealhishope.Theremightbethousandsofdollarsinvolved."IamgettinginaNewEnglandtable,maple,allwood-legged,nonails.Immensebeautyandworth.Andamirrorfromthetimeofthe1812War.