Человек в высоком замке

           HefixedhismercilessscrutinyonFrink.

           "Maybeso,"Frinksaid.

           "Tryit.Dosomeoriginaldesigns.Orworkdirectlyonthemetal.Playaround.Likeakidplays."

           "No,"Frinksaid.

           "Youhavenofaith,"McCarthysaid."You’vecompletelylostfaithinyourself—right?Toobad.BecauseIknowyoucoulddoit."Hewalkedawayfromtheworkbench.

           Itistoobad,Frinkthought.Butneverthelessit’sthetruth.It’safact.Ican’tgetfaithorenthusiasmbywillingit.Decidingto.

           ThatMcCarthy,hethought,isadamngoodshopforeman.Hehastheknackofneedlingaman,gettinghimtoputouthisbestefforts,todohisutmostinspiteofhimself.He’sanaturalleader;healmostinspiredme,foramoment,there.But—McCarthyhadgoneoff,now;theefforthadfailed.

           ToobadIdon’thavemycopyoftheoraclehere,Frinkthought.Icouldconsultitonthis;taketheissuetoitforitsfivethousandyearsofwisdom.AndthenherecalledthattherewascopyoftheIChingintheloungeofthebusinessofficeofW-MCorporation.Sohemadehiswayfromtheworkarea,alongthecorridor,hurriedlythroughthebusinessofficetothelounge.

           Seatedinoneofthechromeandplasticloungechairs,hewrotehisquestionoutonthebackofanenvelope:"ShouldIattempttogointothecreativeprivatebusinessoutlinedtomejustnow?"Andthenhebeganthrowingthecoins.

           ThebottomlinewasaSeven,andsowasthesecondandthenthethird.ThebottomtrigaminCh’ien,herealized.Thatsoundedgood;Ch’ienwasthecreative.