Человек в высоком замке

           Wouldhedotherightthing?Knowtheproperactandutteranceateachmoment?Orwouldhedisgracehimself,likeananimal,bysomedismalfauxpas?

           Thegirl’snamewasBetty.Suchunderstandinginherface,hethought.Thegentle,sympatheticeyes.Surely,evenintheshorttimeinthestore,shehadglimpsedhishopesanddefeats.

           Hishopes–hefeltsuddenlydizzy.Whataspirationsborderingontheinsaneifnotthesuicidaldidhehave?Butitwasknown,relationsbetweenJapaneseandyanks,althoughgenerallyitwasbetweenaJapanesemanandyankwoman.This…hequailedattheidea.Andshewasmarried.Hewhippedhismindawayfromthepageantofhisinvoluntarythoughtsandbeganbusilyopeningthemorning’smail.

           Hishands,hediscovered,werestillshaking.Andthenherecalledhistwoo’clockappointmentwithMr.Tagomi;atthat,hishandsceasedshakingandhisnervousnessbecamedetermination.I’vegottocomeupwithsomethingacceptable,hesaidtohimself.Where?How?What?Aphonecall.Sources.Businessability.Scrapeupafullyrestored1929Fordincludingfabrictop(black).Grandslamtokeeppatronageforever.CratedoriginalminttrimotorairmailplanediscoveredinbarninAlabama,etc.ProducemummifiedheadofMr.B.Bill,includingflowingwhitehair;sensationalAmericanartifact.MakemyreputationintopconnoisseurcirclesthroughoutPacific,notexcludingHomeIslands.

           Toinspirehimself,helitupamarijuanacigarette,excellentLand-O-Smilesbrand.

           ***

           InhisroomonHayesStreet,FrankFrinklayinbedwonderinghowtogetup.