Человек в высоком замке

           Becauseeventuallytherewillbenolife;therewasonceonlythedustparticlesinspace,thehothydrogengases,nothingmore,anditwillcomeagain.Thisisaninterval,einAugenblick.Thecosmicprocessishurryingon,crushinglifebackintothegraniteandmethane;thewheelturnsforalllife.Itisalltemporary.Andthey—thesemadmen—respondtothegranite,thedust,thelongingoftheinanimate;theywanttoaidNatur.

           And,hethought,Iknowwhy.Theywanttobetheagents,notthevictims,ofhistory.TheyidentifywithGod’spowerandbelievetheyaregodlike.Thatistheirbasicmadness.Theyareovercomebysomearchetype;theiregoshaveexpandedpsychoticallysothattheycannottellwheretheybeginandthegodheadleavesoff.Itisnothubris,notpride;itisinflationoftheegotoitsultimateconfusionbetweenhimwhoworshipsandthatwhichisworshiped.ManhasnoteatenGod;Godhaseatenman.

           Whattheydonotcomprehendisman’shelplessness.Iamweak,small,ofnoconsequencetotheuniverse.Itdoesnotnoticeme;Iliveonunseen.Butwhyisthatbad?Isn’titbetterthatway?Whomthegodsnoticetheydestroy.Besmall…andyouwillescapethejealousyofthegreat.

           Asheunfastenedhisownbelt,Baynessaid,"Mr.Lotze,Ihavenevertoldanyonethis.IamaJew.Doyouunderstand?"

           Lotzestaredathimpiteously.