Человек в высоком замке

           Itwasintheoldman’sblood.

           Frinksaid,"Icameformytools.Nothingelse."Hisownvoice,hewasgladtohear,wasfirm,evenharsh.

           "Well,let’ssee,"W-Mmumbled,obviouslyhazyinhisownmindastothestatusofFrink’stools.ToEdMcCarthyhesaid,"Ithinkthatwouldbeinyourdepartment,Ed.MaybeyoucanfixFrankhereup.Ihaveotherbusiness."Heglancedathispocketwatch."Listen,Ed.I’lldiscussthatinvoicelater;Ihavetorunalong."HepattedEdMcCarthyonthearmandthentrottedoff,notlookingback.

           EdMcCarthyandFrinkstoodtogether.

           "Youcametogetyourjobback,"McCarthysaidafteratime.

           "Yes,"Frinksaid.

           "Iwasproudofwhatyousaidyesterday."

           "SowasI,"Frinksaid."But—Christ,Ican’tworkitoutanywhereelse."Hefeltdefeatedandhopeless."Youknowthat."Thetwoofthemhad,inthepast,oftentalkedovertheirproblems.

           McCarthysaid,"Idon’tknowthat.You"reasgoodwiththatflex-cablemachineasanybodyontheCoast.I’veseenyouwhipoutapieceinfiveminutes,includingtherougepolishing.AllthewayfromtheroughCratex.Andexceptforthewelding—"

           "IneversaidIcouldweld,"Frinksaid.

           "Didyoueverthinkofgoingintobusinessonyourown?"

           Frink,takenbysurprise,stammered,"Whatdoing?"

           "Jewelry."

           "Aw,forChrist’ssake!"

           "Custom,originalpieces,notcommercial."McCarthybeckonedhimovertoacorneroftheshop,awayfromthenoise.