Человек в высоком замке

           "Goodday,"themanmurmured,movingaroundthestoretoinspectthedisplays.Then,allatonce,heapproachedthecounter.Hereachedintohiscoat,producedasmallshinyleathercardcase,setdownamulticolored,elaboratelyprintedcard.

           Onthecard,theImperialemblem.Andmilitaryinsignia.TheNavy.AdmiralHarusha.RobertChildanexaminedit,impressed.

           "Theadmiral’sship,"thecustomerexplained,"liesinSanFranciscoBayatthismoment.ThecarrierSyokaku."

           "Ah,"Childansaid.

           "AdmiralHarushahasneverbeforevisitedtheWestCoast,"thecustomerexplained."Hehasmanywisheswhilehere,oneofwhichistopaypersonalvisittoyourfamousstore.AllthetimeintheHomeIslandshehasheardofAmericanArtisticHandcraftsInc."

           Childanbowedwithdelight.

           "However,"themancontinued,"duetopressureofappointments,theadmiralcannotpaypersonalvisittoyouresteemedstore.Buthehassentme;Iamhisgentleman."

           "Theadmiralisacollector?"Childansaid,hismindworkingattopspeed.

           "Heisaloverofthearts.Heisaconnoisseur.Butnotacollector.Whathedesiresisforgiftpurposes;towit:hewishestopresenteachofficerofhisshipavaluablehistoricartifact,asidearmoftheepicAmericanCivilWar."Themanpaused."Therearetwelveofficersinall."

           Tohimself,Childanthought,TwelveCivilWarsidearms.Costtobuyer:almosttenthousanddollars.Hetrembled.