Человек в высоком замке

           RightnowI’mnothing,butifIcanswingthis,thenmaybeleangetJulianaback.Iknowwhatshewants—shedeservestobemarriedtoamanwhomatters,animportantpersoninthecommunity,notsomemeshuggener.Menusedtobemen,intheolddays;beforethewarforinstance.Butallthat’sgonenow.

           Nowondersheroamsaroundfromplacetoplace,frommantoman,seeking.Andnotevenknowingwhatitisherself,whatherbiologyneeds.ButIknow,andthroughthisbig-timeactionwithMcCarthy—whateveritis—I’mgoingtoachieveitforher.

           Atlunchtime,RobertChildanclosedupAmericanArtisticHandcraftsInc.Usuallyhecrossedthestreetandateatthecoffeeshop.Inanycasehestayedawaynomorethanhalfanhour,andtodayhewasgoneonlytwentyminutes.MemoryofhisordealwithMr.TagomiandthestaffoftheTradeMissionstillkepthisstomachupset.

           Ashereturnedtohisstorehesaidtohimself,Perhapsnewpolicyofnotmakingcalls.Doallbusinesswithinstore.

           Twohoursshowing.Muchtoolong.Almostfourhoursinall;toolatetoreopenstore.Anentireafternoontoselloneitem,oneMickeyMousewatch;expensivetreasure,but—heunlockedthestoredoor,proppeditopen,wenttohanguphiscoatintherear.

           Whenhere-emergedhefoundthathehadacustomer.Awhiteman.Well,hethought.Surprise.

           "Goodday,sir,"Childansaid,bowingslightly.Probablyapinoc.Slender,ratherdarkman.Well-dressed,fashionable.Butnotatease.Slightshineofperspiration.