Человек в высоком замке

           "Youwouldnothaveknown,"Baynessaid,"becauseIdonotinanyphysicalwayappearJewish;Ihavehadmynosealtered,mylargegreasyporesmadesmaller,myskinchemicallylightened,theshapeofmyskullchanged.Inshort,physicallyIcannotbedetected.IcanandhaveoftenwalkedinthehighestcirclesofNazisociety.Noonewilleverdiscoverme.And—"Hepaused,standingclose,veryclosetoLotzeandspeakinginalowvoicewhichonlyLotzecouldhear."Andthereareothersofus.Doyouhear?Wedidnotdie.Westillexist.Weliveonunseen."

           AfteramomentLotzestuttered,"TheSecurityPolice—"

           "TheSDcangoovermyrecord,"Baynessaid."Youcanreportme.ButIhaveveryhighconnections.SomeofthemareAryan,someareotherJewsintoppositionsinBerlin.Yourreportwillbediscounted,andthen,presently,Iwillreportyou.Andthroughthesesameconnections,youwillfindyourselfinProtectiveCustody."Hesmiled,noddedandwalkeduptheaisleoftheship,awayfromLotze,tojointheotherpassengers.

           Everyonedescendedtheramp,ontothecold,windyfield.Atthebottom,BaynesfoundhimselfoncemoremomentarilynearLotze.

           "Infact,"Baynessaid,walkingbesideLotze,"Idonotlikeyourlooks,Mr.Lotze,soIthinkIwillreportyouanyhow."Hestrodeon,then,leavingLotzebehind.

           Atthefarendofthefield,attheconcourseentrance,alargenumberofpeoplewerewaiting.Relatives,friendsofpassengers,someofthemwaving,peering,smiling,lookinganxious,scanningfaces.