Человек в высоком замке
Chapter 4
AndwhoamI?Thewrongperson;Icantellyouthat.
Ishouldtakemytools,getmymotorsfromMcCarthy,openmyshop,startmypiddlingbusiness,goondespitethehorribleline.Beworking,creatinginmyownwayrightuptotheend,livingasbestIcan,asactivelyaspossible,untilthewallfallsbackintothemoatforallofus,allmankind.That’swhattheoracleistellingme.Fatewillpoleaxuseventuallyanyhow,butIhavemyjobinthemeantime;Imustusemymind,myhands.
Thejudgmentwasformealone,formywork.Buttheline;itwasforusall.
I’mtoosmall,hethought,Icanonlyreadwhat’swritten,glanceupandthenlowermyheadandplodalongwhereIleftoffasifIhadn’tseen;theoracledoesn’texpectmetostartrunningupanddownthestreets,squallingandyammeringforpublicattention.
Cananyonealterit?hewondered.Allofuscombined…oronegreatfigure…orsomeonestrategicallyplaced,whohappenstobeintherightspot.Chance.Accident.Andourlives,ourworld,hangingonit.
Closingthebook,helefttheloungeandwalkedbacktothemainworkarea.WhenhecaughtsightofMcCarthy,hewavedhimovertoonesidewheretheycouldresumetalk.
"ThemoreIthinkaboutit,"Frinksaid,"themoreIlikeyouridea."
"Fine,"McCarthysaid."Nowlisten.Here’swhatyoudo.YouhavetogetmoneyfromWyndam-Matson."Hewinked,aslow,intense,frightenedtwitchofhiseyelid."Ifiguredouthow.I’mgoingtoquitandgoinwithyou.Mydesigns,see.What’swrongwiththat?Iknowthey’regood."
