Человек в высоком замке

           Layingdownaleatherandfeltboxhesaid,"HereisexceptionalColt.44of1860."Heopenedthebox."Blackpowderandball.ThisissuedtoU.S.ArmyBoysinbluecarriedtheseintoforinstanceSecondBullRun."

           ForaconsiderabletimethemanexaminedtheColt.44.Then,liftinghiseyes,hesaidcalmly,"Sir,thisisanimitation."

           "Eh?"Childansaid,notcomprehending.

           "Thispieceisnoolderthansixmonths.Sir,yourofferingisafake.Iamcastintogloom.Butsee.Thewoodhere.Artificiallyagedbyanacidchemical.Whatashame."Helaidthegundown.

           Childanpickedthegunupandstoodholdingitbetweenhishands.Hecouldthinkofnothingtosay.Turningthegunoverandover,heatlastsaid,"Itcan’tbe."

           "Animitationoftheauthentichistoricgun.Nothingmore.Iamafraid,sir,youhavebeendeceived.Perhapsbysomeunscrupulouschurl.YoumustreportthistotheSanFranciscopolice."Themanbowed."Itgrievesme.Youmayhaveotherimitations,too,inyourshop.Isitpossible,sir,thatyou,theowner,dealer,insuchitems,cannotdistinguishtheforgeriesfromthereal?"

           Therewassilence.

           Reachingdown,themanpickedupthehalf-completedcheckwhichhehadbeenmakingout.Hereturnedittohispocket,puthispenaway,andbowed."Itisashame,sir,butIclearlycannot,alas,conductmybusinesswithAmericanArtisticHandcraftsInc.afterall.AdmiralHarushawillbedisappointed.Nevertheless,youcanseemyposition."

           Childanstareddownatthegun.

           "Goodday,sir,"themansaid.