Человек в высоком замке

           Andalsotheaboriginalart:agroupofvegetable-dyedgoat-hairrugs."

           "Imyself,"themansaid,"prefertheartofthecities."

           "Yes,"Childansaideagerly."Listen,sir.IhaveamuralfromWPApost-officeperiod,original,doneonboard,foursections,depictingHoraceGreeley.Pricelesscollector’sitem."

           "Ah,"themansaid,hisdarkeyesflashing.

           "AndaVictrolacabinetof1920madeintoaliquorcabinet."

           "Ah."

           "And,sir,listen:framedsignedpictureofJeanHarlow."

           Themangoggledathim.

           "Shallwemakearrangements?"Childansaid,seizingthiscorrectpsychologicalinstant.Fromhisinnercoatpockethebroughthispen,notebook."Ishalltakeyournameandaddress,sirandlady."

           Afterward,asthecouplestrolledfromhisstore,Childanstood,handsbehindhisback,watchingthestreet.Joy.Ifallbusinessdayswerelikethis…butitwasmorethanbusiness,thesuccessofhisstore.ItwasachancetomeetayoungJapanesecouplesocially,onabasisofacceptanceofhimasamanratherthanhimasayankor,atbest,atradesmanwhosoldartobjects.Yes,thesenewyoungpeople,oftherisinggeneration,whodidnotrememberthedaysbeforethewaroreventhewaritself—theywerethehopeoftheworld.Placedifferencedidnothavethesignificanceforthem.

           Itwillend,Childanthought.Someday.Theveryideaofplace.Notgovernedandgoverning,butpeople.

           Andyethetrembledwithfear,imagininghimselfknockingattheirdoor.Heexaminedhisnotes.TheKasouras.Beingadmitted,nodoubtofferedtea.