Человек в высоком замке

           "Asiswellknown,"themancontinued,"yourshopsellssuchpricelessantiqueartifactsfromthepagesofAmericanhistory.Alas,alltoorapidlyvanishingintolimbooftime."

           Takingenormouscareinhiswords—hecouldnotaffordtolosethis,tomakeonesingleslip—Childansaid,"Yes,itistrue.OfallthestoresinPSA,IpossessfineststockimaginableofCivilWarweapons.IwillbehappytoserveAdmiralHarusha.ShallIgathersuperbcollectionofsuchandbringaboardtheSyokaku?Thisafternoon,possibly?"

           Themansaid,"No,Ishallinspectthemhere."

           Twelve.Childancomputed.Hedidnotpossesstwelve—infact,hehadonlythree.Buthecouldacquiretwelve,ifluckwerewithhim,throughvariouschannelswithintheweek.AirexpressfromtheEast,forinstance.Andlocalwholesalecontacts.

           "You,sir,"Childansaid,"areknowledgeableinsuchweapons?"

           "Tolerably,"themansaid."Ihaveasmallcollectionofhandweapons,includingtinysecretpistolmadetolooklikedomino,Circa1840."

           "Exquisiteitem,"Childansaid,ashewenttothelockedsafetogetseveralgunsforAdmiralHarusha’sgentleman’sinspection.

           Whenhereturned,hefoundthemanwritingoutabankcheck.Themanpausedandsaid,"Theadmiraldesirestopayinadvance.AdepositoffifteenthousandPSAdollars."

           TheroomswambeforeChildan’seyes.Buthemanagedtokeephisvoicelevel;heevenmadehimselfsoundatriflebored."Ifyouwish.Itisnotnecessary;amereformalityofbusiness."